Author: Kanayan Tamar

100 YEARS AFTER THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: A MANIFESTO FOR MEMORY AND JUSTICE

20:42, 22 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On the day that marks the centenary of the Armenian genocide, the
first genocide of the twentieth century, FIDH (International Federation
for Human Rights) and its member organisations in Armenia, CSI (Civil
Society Institute) and in Turkey, IHD (Insan Haklari Dernegi), HRFT
(Human Rights Foundation of Turkey), pay tribute to the memory of
its victims.

In the continuation of the closing declarations of the FIDH Congresses
in Yerevan in 2010 and Istanbul in 2013, and on the occasion of
the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide, our
organisations adopt the following manifesto.

Preamble

Recalling the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide;

Considering that crimes of genocide affect the very essence of
humanity, defy imagination and are a profound affront to the human
conscience;

Affirming that the worst atrocities continue to affect the
consciousness and the trauma caused can be more effectively analysed
with time; that crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity
are a threat to international public order and affect the entire
international community; that it is inconceivable for the law of
“oblivion” to be applied to crimes committed against the community
of nations and humanity itself; that these crimes are by their nature
imprescriptible;

Recalling that about 1,5 million Armenians perished in the genocide at
the beginning of the 20th century, among which numerous were executed
and 1 million died during the enforced deportation and transfer of
the Armenian people from the Anatolian part of the Ottoman Empire;
and that numerous Armenians were subject to physical or mental harm;

Considering that the exact conditions of their death and the location
of their remains are, for the vast majority of victims, unknown, and
that the families and descendants of these victims could not grieve,
these enforced disappearances can be qualified as continuous crimes
under Article 8 of the International Convention for the Protection
of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance;

Recalling that the right of victims and their descendants to truth,
justice and reparation is fundamental and indispensable to lasting
peace and any process of reconciliation;

Recalling the dangers of hate speech and negationist discourse
concerning international crimes perpetrated, while calling for respect
for freedom of expression which is an essential vehicle for respect
for human rights;

Recalling the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy
and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human
Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law
(Resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on
16 December 2005), and the second and third paragraphs of its preamble
in particular.

Manifesto

FIDH and its member organisations in Armenia and Turkey, CSI, IHD
and HRFT:

1. Pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian genocide which haunts
the memory of humanity;

2. Salute the role of the “just” who saved Armenian lives during
the genocide;

3. Solemnly call on Turkey to officially recognise its responsibility
in the crime of genocide of Armenian populations, organised and
perpetrated by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire;

4. Call on Turkey to cease its official policy of denial and to meet
the cost of reparations due for the harm sustained and the suffering
endured by the victims, their descendants and the Armenian community
as a whole;

5. Affirm that this recognition alone, which is essential to the
task of memory, will enable Armenia and Turkey to re-establish a
relationship of trust and engage in a process of reconciliation
between the two States; a process in which civil society on both
sides is already engaged;

6. Urge Turkey to work towards a normalisation of its relations
with Armenia, without preconditions, in particular by opening the
common border;

7. Urge the Turkish government to counter hate speech and
stigmatisation of Armenians that its policy of denying the genocide
helps sustain;

Consider that complete fulfilment of human rights, particularly the
protection of rights and political freedoms, is essential to break
taboos and promote dialogue and exchange; and call on civil society
in Armenia and Turkey to campaign for grievances to be addressed,
and to contribute to building and promoting relations between the
two societies;

9.Call on Turkey and Armenia to ratify the Statute of the International
Criminal Court and to incorporate its provisions into their domestic
law, thereby clearly indicating their willingness to fight impunity
for international crimes and to guarantee regional and international
security and peace;

10. Remind governments around the world, members of the United Nations
Security Council as well as the European Union and Council of Europe’s
member states that the best way of preventing further crimes lies in
fighting impunity for past ones; to this end, urge the international
community to support this manifesto and intercede with the Turkish and
Armenian governments, so that ad hoc mechanisms are put in place to
satisfy the need for truth, justice and reparation for the genocide
committed against the Armenians.

“SHAME ON PRESIDENT OBAMA, IT IS HIS SHAME.” RICHARD KIRAKOSYAN

April 22 2015

Ankara, Washington, London have a position of not using term “Genocide”
.This opinion has the “Strategic and National Research Center`s”
director Richard Kirakosyan. To our question whether there is a
hope that this year, US President Barrack Obama will say the word
“Genocide”, he replied. -“I cannot answer that question, but I can say
shame on him, shame on President Obama, it is his shame, not ours “.

Asked whether there are conditions that Turkey will make concessions,
the analyst said. That this is not the problem of “if”, but it is
a problem of “when”: when the Turkish government will recognize the
Armenian Genocide. And “when” should be sought in Turkish politics.

-“International pressure on Ankara as a result, I think will
increase.” Referring to the scheduled events on 100th anniversary of
the battle of Gallipoli in Turkey he said. -“It has increased focus on
the events of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, the 100th anniversary
commemoration of the events and weakened the attention of Gallipoli
events. Leading politicians rather inclined toward the arrival to
Armenia than to Turkey.” Asked whether the Armenian-Turkish relations
can have any developments he said. -“The burden of responsibility
falls on Turkey, the issue really is the issue of Turkey. Only after
the elections in Turkey on June 7 will be possible to say something
but the “problem” is on the Turkish side.”

Arpine SIMONYAN

Read more at:

CYBER SECURITY EXPERT WARNS OF EXPECTED HACKER ATTACKS FROM AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY

YEREVAN, April 21. / ARKA /. Websites providing extensive coverage of
the centenary of the Armenian genocide will be targeted by Azerbaijani
and Turkish hackers on April 23-24, cyber security expert Samvel
Martirosyan warned today.

Speaking at a news conference he said the number of hacker attacks
has declined a little at the moment, most likely because “renowned>>
Turkish and Azerbaijani hackers, who have been suspiciously inactive
these days are preparing for a major attack against the Armenian
websites.

According to him, this repeats actually every year when Turkish and
Azerbaijani hackers attack Armenian websites on April 24 trying to
“drown” them, ‘because stories about the Armenian genocide trigger
the interest of people in other countries and they begin to search
relating information from other sources,” said Martirosyan.

He emphasized that heads of media outlets must not ignore this
‘practice’ and take care of the security of their sites by involving
professionals. M.V.-0-

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE OF CANADA
APRIL 20, 2015

CONTACT: DARON KESKINIAN
TELEPHONE: 416-670-7965
E-MAIL: [email protected]

— THOUSANDS OF TORONTONIANS COMMEMORATE THE CENTENARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE —

On Sunday, April 19, 2015 over 5000 Torontonians commemorated the centenary
of the Armenian Genocide. The event honoured the victims of the Armenian
Genocide, and celebrated a people’s survival. This historic event took
place at Queens Park and all levels of government were represented. A
number of passionate speeches were delivered to a large and diverse crowd.
Premier Kathleen Wynne called the Armenian Genocide `…a terrible
tragedy…and a dark moment in human history.’ She went on to say that
`…the passage of a century has not diminished the horror of these events,
nor has it diminished the importance of recognizing the atrocity in Armenia
as genocide.’ Defence Minister Jason Kenney and Toronto Mayor John Tory
among other political representatives, addressed the crowd, and
Armenian-Canadian director Atom Egoyan delivered an inspiring keynote
address. Members of parliament, foreign diplomats, and Consul Generals of
Germany, Lebanon, Argentina, and Cyprus were all present.

Those in attendance were asked to support Motion M-587 which will be
introduced and voted on very shortly in the Canadian House of Commons. When
adopted, the motion will recognize April as Genocide Remembrance,
Condemnation and Prevention month (visit emailmp.com)

Following the commemoration, supporters took to the streets together, and
marched to raise awareness and prevent future genocides. The march,
organized by the Armenian community on the event of the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide, also included Jewish, Ukrainian, Assyrian, Pontian,
Kurdish, and Rwandan communities, all who have suffered genocides during
the past 100 years.

The march was led by a group of boy scouts representing the Georgetown
boys, a group of Armenian orphans who were given shelter by Canada in 1923.
Jewish, Ukrainian, Assyrian, Pontian, Kurdish, and Rwandan communities all
joined the thousands-strong march. The procession ended at the Metropolitan
United Church where an Ecumenical church service was led by the Archbishop
of the Toronto Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Thomas Collins.

Today’s Unity March comes just a week after Pope Francis called the
slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians `Genocide’ and called on Turkey to take
responsibility for its actions. Several other events, including a sold-out
Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert presenting “Sounds of Armenia”, are
planned locally and across the country leading up to the Centennial of the
Armenian Genocide, commemorated internationally on Friday, April 24th.

The Armenian Genocide, which began on April 24, 1915, was the planned
extermination of a million and half Armenians at the hands of Ottoman
Turkey. More than two million Armenians were forcibly taken from their
homes and villages, men drafted into and murdered in the Ottoman Turkish
army, and women, children and the elderly driven into the Syrian deserts
where they were starved, beaten, raped, drowned, or burnt alive. Survivors
ended up in orphanages and refugee camps across the Middle East and the
West. 150 of the genocide orphans were brought to Canada starting in 1923
in what became known as Canada’s Noble Experiment.

Images:

Photo Credits: Ishkhan Ghazarian

Image 1 Caption: Thousands march united along Queen St. in downtown
Toronto

Image 2 Caption: Toronto Mayor John Tory passing on his message on the
Genocide Centennial, accompanied by members of Toronto City Council; the
mayor reaffirmed his promise to erect a public monument in memory of the
victims of the Armenian Genocide

Image 3 Caption: From left to right in the front row, Armenian National
Committee of Toronto member Mark Atikian, His Worship Toronto Mayor John
Tory, the Hon. Jason Kenney – Canadian Minister of National Defence, John
Carmichael – Canadian Member of Parliament, Soo Wong – Ontario Member of
Provincial Parliament, and the Hon. Kathleen Wynne – Premier of Ontario

Image 4 Caption: Standing room only at the Metropolitan United Church in
Toronto where the ecumenical church service was held led by Thomas Cardinal
Collins, Archbishop of Toronto

Armenian Article:

AUSTRIAN LAWMAKERS CONDEMN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

14:27 * 21.04.15

The Austrian Parliament’s lower chamber has adopted a declaration
condemning the Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire 100
years ago.

The measure received backing by all the six groups represented in
the National Council, diepresse.com reports

The website refers to Austria’s historical responsibility for the
tragic events, noting that the Ottoman Empire was the Austria-Hungary’s
ally during World War I.

The National Council, which is often described as the lower house of
Austria’s legislature, is said to practically enjoy more power than
the Federal Council, the second chamber.

AUSTRIA RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

April 21, 2015 13:22
EXCLUSIVE

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The Austrian parliament today adopted a resolution
condemning the Armenian Genocide.

As Bedo Demirdjian, Communications and PR Officer at European
Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) told Mediamax’s
correspondent, the joint statement adopted by 6 political parties
represented in the Austrian parliament notes that the mass killings
of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago were “a genocide”.

“The resolution also points out Austria’s moral responsibility
for recognizing the Armenian Genocide as during the World War I,
Austria-Hungary and German Empire were the allies of the Ottoman
Turkey”, said Bedo Demirdjian.

He added that the Austrian MPs will respect the memory of the Armenian
Genocide victims with a moment of silence tomorrow.

According to Bedo Demirdjian, on April 24, the Austrian official
delegation in Yerevan will be represented by Austria’s Ambassador
to Armenia.

RICHARD HOVHANNISIAN: OBAMA’S ANNUAL STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE VERY MUCH DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS ONES

by Nana Martirosyan

Tuesday, April 21, 15:37

American historian of Armenian descent, professor at Californian
University Richard Hovhannisian has told journalists that Obama’s
annual statement on the Armenian Genocide is going to be very much
different from the previous ones.

According to the professor, Obama has been using the term “Mets
Yeghern” instead of “genocide” for many years. “The problem is that the
American society does not perceive “Mets Yeghern” as a grave crime,
but as a horrible tragedy. The Armenian side is to make every effort
to make the American society realize the gravity of the issue”, he
said. The expert believes that Obama will take it upon himself and
utter the word “genocide” despite the pressure State Department and
Pentagon put.

The professor has said he takes a dim view of future candidates
for presidency who say they will recognize the Armenian Genocide
if elected. “Obama has promised the same, the Armenian community
constantly reminds him about that. Still there has been no result yet”,
he said.

To note, the four-volume-work “Republic of Armenia” by Richard
Hovhannisian was presented on April 21. The professor spent 25 years
working on the books.

PETITION CALLING ON NEW ZEALAND TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

12:51, 21.04.2015
Region:World News, Armenia, Diaspora
Theme: Politics, Society

A petition calling on the government of New Zealand to recognize the
Armenian Genocide has been launched onChange.org website.

“By downplaying, ignoring, or even forgetting entirely that the crime
of the Armenian Genocide happened, we encourage future Adolf Hitlers,
Joseph Stalins, and Talaat Pashas to commit such acts in the belief
that they too can get away with mass murder,” the resolution reads.

The petition was signed by Serj Tankian who also called on his
followers in Twitter to follow his lead.

MOTION TO THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

“The city council of Mantua officially recognize the genocide of the
Armenian people.” It serves as the municipal council of Sel, Fausto
Banzi, with an agenda for the …

March 15, 2015

“The city council of Mantua officially recognize the genocide of
the Armenian people.” It serves as the municipal council of Sel,
Fausto Banzi, with an agenda for the vote in plenary. “The City
Council expresses its full solidarity with the Armenian people on
the occasion of the centenary of the” Big Evil “reads the document
proposed by Banzi.

“On April 24 will mark the centenary of the Armenian genocide. I
accepted the invitation for the Council for the Armenian community of
Rome addressed to local authorities – states – for you to be approved
a motion of solidarity in memory of the drama took place back in 1915
and for many years kept hidden and unrecognized. ”

March 15, 2015

CENT ANS DE SOLITUDE POUR LES ARMENIENS

TRIBUNE DE CHARLES AZNAVOUR DANS LE MONDE

C’est vrai, je suis de ce peuple, mort sans sepulture. Mon père et ma
mère, qui ont pu echapper a la tourmente, ont eu la chance de trouver
refuge en France. Il n’en a pas ete de meme pour le million et demi
d’Armeniens qui ont ete massacres, egorges, tortures dans ce qui a
ete le premier genocide du XXe siècle.

Un vent de sable et puis d’oubli a longtemps recouvert ce meurtre
de masse. Les gouvernements turcs qui ont succede aux bourreaux de
1915 ont pendant des decennies pratique un negationnisme d’Etat. Ils
ont parie sur l’amnesie et sur la lâchete internationale. Et ils ont
failli avoir raison.

Pendant des annees, le crime a pu etre considere comme payant. Il
a fallu attendre les annees 1980 pour que les nations commencent a
le reconnaître. Sur la pointe des pieds, mezza voce. Le Parlement
europeen tout d’abord, en 1987. La France avec une loi promulguee le
29 janvier 2001. Une vingtaine d’autres Etats depuis. Et le Vatican
il y a quelques jours.

Face a une telle situation, tout etre humain doue d’un peu de raison et
de bonne foi ne peut que se trouver desempare. Je ne fais pas exception
a la règle. Je n’ai pas ete eleve dans la haine. Le ressentiment
ne fait pas partie de mon univers. Je n’en veux pas au peuple turc,
qui a ete eduque dans le deni. Je veux faire confiance a la jeunesse
de ce pays et a ce peuple que j’aime.

La suite sur le lien plus bas.

mardi 21 avril 2015, Ara (c)armenews.com

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