Author: Kanayan Tamar

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : LA BELGIQUE NE TRANCHE PAS VRAIMENT

REVUE DE PRESSE

Les Armeniens de Belgique commemoreront le vendredi 24 avril le
centenaire des massacres qui ont coûte la vie a 1,5 million de leurs
ancetres en 1915. Lors d’une manifestation a Bruxelles, les membres de
la communaute demanderont aux autorites belges de penaliser la negation
de ce “genocide”, terme qui reste polemique notamment parce que la
Turquie nie la campagne d’elimination perpetree par l’Empire Ottoman
lors de la Première Guerre mondiale. La position de la Belgique reste
ambiguë sur le sujet. Chez nous, la communaute armenienne represente
20.000 a 30.000 personnes, selon Christian Vrouyr, le president
du Comite des Armeniens de Belgique. Ses membres commemoreront les
victimes du genocide de 1915 vendredi matin lors d’une messe suivie
d’un requiem en l’Eglise Apostolique Armenienne Sainte Marie-Madeleine
a Bruxelles. Ensuite, vers midi, il y aura une marche silencieuse vers
le Monument commemoratif du genocide des Armeniens au square Michaux,
où se deroulera la ceremonie officielle de recueillement. Christian
Vrouyr s’y exprimera en presence de mandataires publics comme les
bourgmestres d’Ixelles, de Molenbeek-Saint-Jean ou l’ambassadeur
d’Armenie en Belgique.

L’après-midi, un cortège de manifestants partira de la gare centrale
a Bruxelles pour rallier le Parlement europeen, en passant devant
l’Ambassade de Turquie. “Nous allons demander la reconnaissance et la
reparation du genocide armenien”, explique Peter Petrossian, membre du
comite organisateur et president du Comite de defense de la cause des
Armeniens de Belgique. “En tant que Belges armeniens, nous avons le
droit de demander que la Belgique fasse pression sur le gouvernement
turc pour reconnaître le genocide”, explique-t-il. “Nous allons aussi
demander la penalisation en Belgique du negationnisme de ce genocide
“, comme c’est deja le cas dans la legislation francaise par exemple.

“La majorite des Armeniens seraient rassures par une loi”, precise M.

Vrouyr. Des associations assyriennes, yezidies, syriaques mais
aussi kurdes et turques devraient participer a ce meeting politique
et s’associer au slogan de la manifestation “100 ans de deni, ca
suffit !”.

Si une vingtaine de pays reconnaissent le genocide armenien, dont
la France, l’Italie ou la Russie, la position de la Belgique reste
toutefois plus ambiguë. Le senat belge a bien reconnu, dès 1998, le
massacre armenien en tant que “genocide” dans une resolution invitant
le gouvernement turc a emboîter le pas. Cependant, la position du
gouvernement belge n’est pas liee par une resolution parlementaire.

“Le terme ‘genocide’ a une signification juridique specifique
et il appartient a des tribunaux (nationaux ou internationaux)
de se prononcer en la matière”, explique Hendrik Van de Velde,
le porte-parole de la diplomatie belge. “Il ne nous paraît
pas opportun que d’autres instances se substituent au pouvoir
judiciaire”, conclut-il. Á ce jour, la Belgique se contente donc
d’encourager l’Armenie et la Turquie a poursuivre leurs efforts pour
la normalisation de leurs relations bilaterales.

Le ministre des Affaires etrangères, Didier Reynders, pourrait
s’exprimer a ce sujet le lundi 27 avril lors de son deplacement en
Armenie dans le cadre de la presidence belge du Comite des ministres
du Conseil de l’Europe.

La Belgique sera en outre representee par l’ambassadeur belge a Moscou
aux commemorations du genocide a Erevan, le vendredi 24 avril. les
presidents russe, Vladimir Poutine, et francais, Francois Hollande,
devraient aussi participer a la ceremonie au Memorial dedie aux
victimes du genocide armenien.

jeudi 23 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LA CONTRIBUTION ARMENIENNE A LA CULTURE OTTOMANE

REVUE DE PRESSE

Le 24 avril approche et avec cette date, les commemorations des
evenements de 1915. Le chroniqueur Gunal Kursun du journal turc Zaman
evoque dans ces lignes un aspect particulier de l’Histoire, celui de
la dissolution de la culture qui a eu lieu pendant les deportations
armeniennes.

lire la suite…

jeudi 23 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : LES TURCS EN ALLEMAGNE PROJETTENT DE MANIFESTER A BERLIN

ALLEMAGNE

Des milliers d’immigrants turcs devraient rallier Berlin samedi pour
protester contre les decisions et declarations “qui affirment qu’un
genocide armenien a ete commis en 1915”.

L’association Communaute turque de Berlin (TGB), qui organise la
manifestation, a annonce mardi que 10 000 personnes sont attendues pour
se joindre a la manifestation dans la capitale allemande ; un jour
après que le gouvernement allemand devrait qualifier les massacres
des Armeniens dans l’Empire ottoman comme exemple “de massacres,
de deportations forcees et de genocides du 20ème siècle”.

La plus grande association des immigres turcs en Allemagne – l’Union
Turco-Islamique pour les Affaires religieuses (DITIB) ; l’Union
des democrates turcs conservateurs europeens (UETD), l’Association
de l’ideologie laïque Ataturkt (ADD) et l’aile droite des Alperen
Ocaklari de Berlin (extreme-droite) ont tous soutenu l’appel.

Le TGB et 14 autres ONG ont exprime “leur sympathie pour les
souffrances des Armeniens ottomans dans des conditions en temps de
guerre” dans une declaration commune, mais ont declare que “les
revendications de genocide n’etaient pas etayees par des faits
historiques”.

“Sur une telle question en litige, en lisant les incidents de 1915
unilateralement avec la thèse des Armeniens cela n’apportera pas de
contribution positive aux relations entre la Turquie et l’Allemagne,
ou les relations entre la Turquie et l’Armenie” ont dit les ONG.

Ils ont souligne que non seulement les Armeniens, mais des centaines
de milliers de citoyens ottomans de differentes origines ethniques
et religieuses ont souffert lors de la Première Guerre mondiale

jeudi 23 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ATTENTION, RUSSIAN-TURKISH DEAL ON ARMENIA HAPPENED

Haikazn Ghahriyan, Editor-in-Chief
Comments – 23 April 2015, 12:24

The advisor to the Russian president has announced that Putin has
discussed his visit to Yerevan with the Turkish president Erdogan,
and Erdogan is aware of Putin’s programs. Earlier, the Russian foreign
minister had announced that Putin’s visit cannot be interpreted as
an occasion for spoiling relations with other countries. He said
that Russia will do everything to normalize Armenian-Turkish and
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and return the Armenian-Turkish
protocols to the agenda.

There happened what Lragir.am has written about so many times. The next
Russian-Turkish deal in Armenia was made. There was a similar attempt
in 2008-2009 but the West prevented it because then Armenia was engaged
in the process of integration with the EU. However, after September
3 the green light went on for the Russian-Turkish arrangements.

Turkey gave Putin an ultimatum on April 24. Apparently, Moscow has
persuaded and convinced Ankara that Putin’s visit stems from Turkey’s
interests because in case of not visiting Yerevan there could be such
problems. Putin’s visit was uncertain for a long time. Apparently,
Moscow was finalizing all the issues with Ankara before making a
final decision.

Turkey and Russia are doomed to be together because they are in a
similar international situation of isolation and blockade.

Incidentally, the policy of the West and the United States was aimed
at placing these two countries in the same “pack” because thus it was
easier to act in a unified front against them and to restrain their
expansion. In the face of these two countries the West creates a new
enemy camp to which other marginal states and terrorist organizations,
such as the Islamic State, will be attached.

Armenia has appeared in this camp, whatever excuses are brought
by the circles acting against the Armenian sovereignty: the
government, political parties, experts etc. Armenia has appeared
in the Russian-Turkish alliance, and the Armenian issues will be
addressed in the context of the interests of this alliance.

What is the essence of the new Russian-Turkish deal around Armenia?

Russia has committed to closing the Armenian issue and preventing the
international recognition of the genocide. Armenia gives up on its
claims, Moscow and Ankara initiate the Armenian-Turkish “normalization”
without premises, Turkey opens the border in return for surrendering
the territories of Karabakh to Azerbaijan and deployment of Russian
troops there.

Although claims are laid down in the Pan-Armenian declaration adopted
on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, Serzh Sargsyan did not
mention them among the four core issues during the global forum in
Yerevan. Besides, yesterday he told CNN Turk “we have not recalled
our signature, if Turkey ratifies [the Armenian-Turkish protocols],
we will ratify too.”

Will the new Russian-Turkish deal succeed, like in 1921-1923? At least,
Armenia is alone in front of this alliance. The West will not intervene
because after September 3 it has no rationale to interfere.

Moreover, it is cleared of responsibility for the Armenian problems,
leaving them up to the discretion of the Russians and Turks. The
Armenian issues are currently an “object” of international politics
opposite the civilization camp.

We congratulate everyone who has pushed Armenia to the mercy of the
Russians and Turks: the Armenian political class, different pro-Russian
political scientists, freeloaders of Gazprom.

US WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE PAST WHILE CONTINUING WORK WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS – STATE DEP. REP. ON GENOCIDE ISSUE

11:56 * 23.04.15

An acting spokesperson for the US Department of State has as reiterated
the country’s official position on the Armenian Genocide, practically
ruling out any language change in President Barack Obama’s annual
address to the Armenians.

Speaking at the daily press briefing on Thursday, Marie Harf said
they find that the policies pursed are the right choice allowing the
country to both acknowledge the past and continue work with regional
partners (i.e. Turkey).

“I’m sure this is what the White House said too, but we know there
are some who I think were hoping to hear some different language
this year. We certainly understand their perspective. Even as we
believe that the approach we have taken in previous years remains
the right one – and again, the approach we’re taking this year –
both for acknowledging the past and also for our ability to work with
regional partners to save lives in the future. So this is something
that we feel is important.

“The President has consistently stated his views about what happened
in 1915 and, again, we know people wanted to hear – some people wanted
to hear different language this year, and we are certainly aware of
that,” she said.

Asked why President Barack Obama failed to fulfill his electoral
pledge to recognize the mass killings of the Armenians in Ottoman
Empire as genocide, Ms Harf refrained from giving any comments.

She also warned against comparing the Jewish Holocaust with the
Armenian Genocide when asked about the differences in the US attitudes
to the two major atrocities (that the US has officially recognized
the Holocaust but it hasn’t affected its relations with Germany).

“I’m just not going to compare those two events. And I think we’ve
said what we’re going to say on this. And I think you’ll hear more
statements from the Administration on the anniversary itself. And I
don’t have much more analysis of it to do for you today,” she said.

“L’ECLISSE”: UN MELOLOGO DI SONYA ORFALIAN A RADIOTRE-RAI

RAI-Radiotre – A cento anni dal Genocidio degli Armeni: “L’Eclisse”,
un melologo di Sonya Orfalian

VENERDI’ 24 APRILE 2015 – h. 21.00

Nel giorno della commemorazione internazionale del centenario
del Genocidio degli Armeni, RAI-Radiotre mandera in onda, in
prima assoluta e in diretta dalla Sala A di via Asiago a Roma, un
melologo di Sonya Orfalian, scrittrice e figlia della diaspora armena,
nell’interpretazione di Maria Paiato e dell’Anahit Ensemble. A seguire,
riflessioni e testimonianze con la partecipazione di Sargis Ghazaryan,
Gianni Bonvicini e Manuela Fraire. Conduce Annamaria Giordano.

diretta in streaming:

Ho scritto L’Eclisse avendo in mente e nel cuore la ricorrenza del
centenario del genocidio del mio popolo.

E’ un testo pensato per una voce sola – quella dell’attrice Maria
Paiato – ma che al tempo stesso evoca e sovrappone una moltitudine di
voci: sono le voci dimenticate, quelle di chi è dovuto soccombere, e le
voci della testimonianza, i sussurri di chi è riuscito a sopravvivere
all’orrore senza fine e ha cercato di opporsi al silenzio crudele
della Storia.

L’Eclisse ripercorre, assieme alla storia degli Armeni e del loro
olocausto, le intermittenze espressive di una tradizione antica e
i miti di creazione del cosmo culturale armeno, componendo in un
affresco comune la storia e la mitologia, la memoria e il sogno,
il linguaggio della fiaba e quello della realta più cruda.

Le musiche che attraversano il testo – eseguite dall’Anahit Ensemble –
sono opera del compositore e musicologo armeno più venerato in patria e
nella diaspora, Soghomon Soghomonian, più conosciuto come Komitas. E
la storia stessa di Komitas si identifica con il genocidio degli
Armeni: era il 24 aprile del 1915 quando il governo dei Giovani
Turchi diede ordine di arrestare e in seguito eliminare tutti i
circa duecentocinquanta intellettuali e notabili armeni di Istanbul,
cancellando in tal modo i referenti civili e religiosi degli armeni
della citta e dando così il segnale d’avvio dello sterminio di massa.

Komitas fu tra questi martiri.

TURKISH PARTY MEMBERS TO COMMEMORATE GENOCIDE VICTIMS IN YEREVAN

09:25, 23 April, 2015

YEREVAN, 23 APRIL, ARMENPRESS: The representatives of the Turkey’s
Greens and the Left Party of the Future will be in Armenia on April 24
to pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide and take part
in the centennial commemoration events. Armenpress was informed by
the Turkish Party that the Spokesperson of the Party Naci Sonmez, the
deputy of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Ufuk Uras, as well as
the member of the Party, journalist Adnan Genc will arrive in Yerevan.

The representatives of the Turkey’s Greens and the Left Party of the
Future stated that such historical tragic events, like the Armenian
Genocide, have their impact not only on the victims, but also other
people, living in that particular region. They said that speaking
and discussing what had happened, is both a debt before the victims
and a humanitarian and conscience responsibility before the future
generations.

RUSSIAN STATE DUMA VICE SPEAKER: “RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT WILL ADOPT A STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL ON APRIL 24”

Thursday, April 23, 13:58

Genocide cannot be erased from history of humanity, Nikolai Levichev,
Russian State Duma Speaker said at the Public and Political Global
Forum Against the Crime of Genocide in Yerevan on April 23.

“We feel the pain of the fraternal people of Armenia. Our peoples
have common religion, history and culture. In Moscow and other towns
in Russia the people are holding events to commemorate Genocide – the
crime against humanity. The people learned nothing from the tragedy of
Armenia. We have no right to remain silent about that crime,” he said.

Levichev said the aggression against the Christians in the Middle East
has grown into a systematic genocide, which is also a result of the
unrecognized genocides of the past. The State Duma will adopt a special
statement on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, he said.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL MUST BE CRIMINALIZED ON INTERNATIONAL LEVEL: F. ROCHEBLOINE

14:23, 23 April, 2015

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The French MP Francois Rochebloine is
confident that the best way of preventing the genocides is not merely
condemning them, but defining the denial as a crime. “I see something
irritating in the Armenian Genocide denial, which represents a threat
to the public freedom, as it violates the justice and human dignity,”
Francois Rochebloine noted.

As reports “Armenpress”, among other things, the French MP underscored:
“It’s necessary to define a criminal punishment for such an activity
to prevent the repetition of such genocidal actions. I am sorry that
the Constitutional Council hindered the adoption of such a law in
France. We’ll continue our activities to eliminate those obstacles.”

THE GUARDIAN WANTS TO MAKE BEST USE OF THE ARMENIAN STORIES

April 23, 2015 12:23
EXCLUSIVE

The Guardian pays special attention to the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide. Recently, The Guardian’s Middle East Editor Ian Black paid
a visit to Yerevan and wrote a series of articles. Besides, the
newspaper suggested its readers that they shared their stories on
genocide. Mediamax decided to learn the details of this initiative
from Maeve Shearlaw from The Guardian’s World Networks as she leads
in the project.

– How the idea of collecting the Armenian Genocide stories arose?

– The idea came from a similar project ran by the Guardian to mark
the centenary of World War One. After the Observer journalist Toby
Helm shared the story of his grandfather’s war time experiences,
based on his diary entries and letters that he had recently found,
we asked our readers to do the same resulting in over 800 stories
from across Europe which we used in our coverage.

– How many stories have you received so far? Do you receive the
stories mainly from Diaspora Armenians, or also from Armenia?

– Over 500. We’ve been overwhelmed at the responses we’ve had, from
first-hand experiences of persecution to how the massacre has shaped
people’s family trajectories 100 years on. In the words of one reader:
“there is almost no Armenian family in the world without a story
about 1915”. Numerous people have got in touch to thank the Guardian
for paying attention to the issue, we even received an invitation to
a wedding in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

– Do you plan to verify the stories in any way? If yes, what will be
the mechanisms?

– Verification integral to all of the Guardian’s user generated
projects. We asked everyone uploading submissions to share email
addresses and have followed up to clarify details. A lot of the
stories we’ve used are based on transcripts recorded by the ancestors
of survivors, some of whom are still alive.

We have also made an effort to map the testimonies to the widely
accepted historical version of events – but recognise that these
are disputed. That being said it is difficult to fully verify all
of the details in people testimonies as many of the people who have
since passed away and the stories have been passed from generation
to generation, so we must, and will, be transparent about that.

– How you will be “utilizing” the stories? I guess you can’t publish
all the stories, do you have any plan for those that will not appear
in The Guardian?

– It’s important to me that we use as much of content as we can. I
am in the process of writing a elegiac piece based on the responses
which we’ll publish on the site to mark the anniversary, we’ll also
be pulling a collection of the other stories into an interactive
template, a format we’ve previously used on everything personal
accounts ofracial profiling in the US after Michael Brown was shot
by police Ferguson to the experiences of the LGBT community around
the world. These pieces will run alongside other coverage of the
centenary which can be found here.

– Do you think that the collected material could become a book or
some multimedia project?

– As I said it’s important to us that we use as much as the content
as we can, but there are no immediate plans for a book and whilst
the interactive is a multimedia project of sorts i’m sure more can
be done – we are open to ideas.

Ara Tadevosyan talked to Maeve Shearlaw