Author: Nadirian Emma

TURQUIE : PéTITION DE PROTESTATION CONTRE L’ARTICLE 301

Info Collectif VAN –
Publié le : 12-07-2007

Le Collectif VAN vous propose de signer cette pétition de protestation
contre l’Article 301.

Dear Armenian brothers and sisters

Arat Dink, Serkis Seropyan, Karin Karakashli, Aydin Engin, all
members of the staff of "Agos" weekly in Istanbul, and Erdal Dogal,
the Dink family lawyer, are charged with "denigrating Turkishness"
under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. Some of them may face
three years of jail time if convicted. The pretext is the publication
of an old interview with the Reuters News Agency in which the late
assassinated Hrant Dink had referred to the Genocide of the Armenians.

Renowned writers, scholars and journalists such as Orhan Pamuk, Elif
Shafak, Taner Akcam, Ragip Zarakolu and others were charged with
similar criminal offences over the last while. Some of them have
chosen self-exile and are now living in Europe, the United States
and elsewhere for fear of their own lives and avoiding the destiny
that the late Hrant Dink faced.

Please visit to voice your opinion by
endorsing an open letter of protest. This letter will be delivered to
International PEN at Whether the
letter will have any impact on the outcome of the trials is unknown,
however, it will be yet another document in the annals of Human Rights
abuses in Turkey. As such it could help bring attention to the plight
of Turkish Scholars, Human Rights activist, writers, journalists and
people at large to end a Draconian rule that prevents Turkey to explore
its own past history without fear of persecution. Furthermore, it may
highlight the timeliness of the application that Taner Akcam filed
before the European Court of Human Rights on the 20th of June 2007.

Your endorsement, dear friend, is solicited, because on previous
occasions you have supported similar initiatives. The website
is privately owned, free of advertisements
and is not supported by any organization or third party whether
financially or otherwise. Your privacy is valued; other than your
name and location no other personal information will be displayed
anywhere and will not be used without your permission.

Sincerely,

Dikran Abrahamian BA MD

–Boundary_(ID_KPvYEO92NdxZ/s7yNHUMzA)–

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
July 11, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ASSEMBLY HAILS RECORD SUPPORT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Legislation Clears Milestone with 218 House Cosponsors

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly announced today that the
Armenian Genocide resolution (H. Res.106) achieved a major milestone
by garnering the support of a bipartisan majority in the House of
Representatives. With the addition of Representatives Donna
Christensen (D-VI) and John Yarmuth (D-KY), H. Res. 106 now has 218
cosponsors. Along with the resolution’s sponsor, Congressman Adam
Schiff (D-CA), the bill has a total of 219 supporters (this number
takes into account two Members of Congress that are still technically
listed as cosponsors, one of whom has since passed away and another
who resigned from Congress.)

"With the threshold of 218 cosponsors having been reached, it is clear
that a majority of the House supports recognition of the historical
fact of the Genocide," Schiff told the Assembly. "Affirmation and
re-affirmation of the Armenian Genocide remains a compelling human
rights issue, and I hope that our majority support will prompt early
passage of the resolution."

"Only by remembering and learning from the past, can we hope to
prevent future atrocities," Schiff continued.

H. Res. 106, which was introduced in late January, calls upon the
President to "ensure that the foreign policy of the United States
reflects appropriate understanding" of the "Armenian Genocide" and to
"accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation
of  1,500,000 Armenians as genocide," in the President’s annual
message. 

Passage of the legislation would reaffirm the U.S. historical record
which includes thousands of pages documenting the premeditated
extermination of the Armenian people. American intervention prevented
the full realization of Ottoman Turkey’s genocidal plan, while the
first major U.S. humanitarian assistance effort provided much needed
relief to those who survived.

"The Armenian Genocide resolution has reached a record level of
bipartisan support, proving that despite the intense lobbying efforts
by those who seek to deny the truth, the momentum continues to grow
for reaffirmation of the historical truth," said Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.

"We are pleased by this record level of support which once again
proves that there are sufficient votes in the House to pass this
resolution," said Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.  "We
will continue to work with the members of the Armenian Caucus, the
cosponsors, and with the leadership of both parties to secure a
concluding, affirming vote on this legislative measure.  U.S. clarity
on this fact of world history is of critical importance and long past
due."

"We are getting exceedingly closer to our goal of passing the Armenian
Genocide resolution and properly recognizing this historic tragedy,"
said Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA).  "This recognition is
especially poignant given the tragedies occurring today in Darfur."

Executive Director Bryan Ardouny praised Assembly supporters and
activists, as well as the entire Armenian-American community for
reaching out to their elected officials. "Having crossed this
important threshold, we will continue our advocacy efforts to secure a
vote and successful passage of this critical human rights
legislation. We are encouraged by the groundswell of support – both
inside and outside of Congress."

"In addition to the strong bipartisan support of the Members of
Congress and grassroots activism, there are also some 50 diverse
organizations and human rights groups that also support H.Res.106,"
Ardouny continued [see complete list below].

Ardouny also encouraged activists to continue their advocacy efforts,
explaining that "the greater the number of cosponsors, the greater our
chances the legislation will be brought to the House floor."

H. Res. 106 is currently pending before the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, of which Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
serve as the Chair and Ranking Member. Both Lantos and Ros-Lehtinen
voted in favor of an identical resolution (H. Res. 316) before the
Committee last Congress.  

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues.  It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

###
NR#2007-081

The Following Organizations Support H. Res. 106:

American Federation of Jews from Central Europe, American Hellenic
Council of CA, American Hellenic Institute, American Hungarian
Federation, American Jewish World Service, American Latvian
Association in the U.S., American Values, Arab American Institute,
Belarusan-American Association, Bulgarian Institute for Research and
Analysis, Center for Holocaust and Genocide, University of Minnesota,
Center for Russian Jewry with Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry,
Center for World Indigenous Studies Christian Solidarity
International, Congress of Romanian Americans, Council for the
Development of French in Louisiana, Estonian American National
Council, Genocide Intervention Network, Global Rights, Hmong National
Development, Inc., Hungarian American Coalition, Institute on Religion
and Public Policy, International Association of Genocide Scholars,
Jewish Social Policy Action Network, Jewish War Veterans of the USA,
Jewish World Watch, Joint Baltic American National Committee,
Leadership Council for Human Rights, Lithuanian American Community,
Lithuanian American Council, National Ethnic Coalition of
Organizations, National Council of Churches USA, National Federation
of American Hungarians, National Federation of Filipino American
Associations, National Lawyer’s Guild, Polish American Congress,
Progressive Jewish Alliance, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College,
Slovak League of America, The Georgian Association in the USA, The
Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring, U.S. Baltic Foundation, Ukrainian
Congress Committee of America, Ukrainian National Association,
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, United Hellenic
American Congress, Washington Chapter Czechoslovak National Council of
America and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION

Noyan Tapan
Jul 10, 2007

ANTILIAS, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Catholicos of the
Great Cilician House Aram I received Pertch Sedrakian, the Chairman
of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, in the St. Astvatsatsin
monastery of Bikfaya on July 9.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the
Catholicosate of the Great Cilician House, issues concerning the
colonies in the Diaspora, Armenian-Diasporan relations, a better
organization of the Armenian school, as well as many other national
issues were touched upon during the meeting, which lasted about
two hours.

His Holiness appreciated the work done by the Benevolent Union and
stressed the necessity to implement this work with world inclusion
as well as to consider the issue of Armenian schools, in particular,
a primary task in the Diaspora. In this respect, Pertch Sedrakian
introduced, in general, the work done by the Union in Armenia and
the Diaspora.

JUDOIST GOR KHOROTIAN WINS BRONZE MEDAL IN EUROPE YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Jul 09 2007

VALLETTA, JULY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Europe Judo Youth Championship finished
on July 8 in the city of Valletta, Malta. Seven sportsmen represented
Armenia in the championship. Gor Khorotian (Yerevan) took the third
place and won bronze medal among 24 judoists in the 90 kg weight
category. Grigor Ivanian (55 kg, Yerevan) won three victories and
was the last one in the first seven.

THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF ISTANBUL HAS BECOME A HOSTAGE IN THE HANDS OF THE AUTHORITIES AND THE OFFICIAL PROPAGANDA

PanARMENIAN.Net
Analytical Department
05.07.2007 GMT+04:00

The history of the Armenian annihilation in Turkey traces back to
1915 and continues up to present.

Dink’s murder is just a single example of the annihilation and pursuit
of the Armenian Nation in Turkey.

The trial of Dink’s case began on July 2 and already on the next day
it was put off till October 1. In fact this decision was no shock
to anyone. The Turkish Prime-Minister Redgep Erdoghan has a lot to
put at stake. Strong is his belief that the Justice and Development
Party will win in national elections which is to be held on July
22. He doesn’t want to take any risk for such a scandalous case,
because mass media and the whole world community will be concentrated
on the trail, and many details not profitable for Turkey to be known
will be revealed; something which will do no good to the reputation
of the Prime Minister.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the Spanish magazine El Pais, the given
process will reveal the objectiveness of the Turkish court. The New
York Times confirms that this investigation may not be just because of
the great interest and popularity it enjoys. In its turn the French
Le Monde reminds that the police was well aware of the fact that the
crime was being organized, however nothing was done to prevent it.

As for the police, it has already disseminated information according
to which Yasin Hayal, who is suspected in instigation of the murder of
Hrant Dink, is the founder of the grouping which aimed at organizing
Dink’s murder. In the report of the General Security management of
Turkey it is mentioned that Hayal established the grouping after
being released from prison, where he had been taken for the organized
blast in McDonalds in Trabzon. Yasin Hayal accused Dink of "insult to
Turkishness", by the way, Hayal accuses the Nobel Prize laureate Orhan
Pamuk of the same, who almost right after Dink’s murder left Turkey.

According to Anatolia News Agency Hayal has been the leader of the
grouping, where the suspect involved himself. The report is referred
to felony crime court with documents about terrorist organization,
the leader of which supposedly were the suspects Yasin Hayal and Erhan
Tunjel. The truth is though, that it was mentioned in the report that
the latter had nothing in common with Hayal’s grouping. After Dink’s
murder it was discovered that Tunjel had several times informed the
police about the imminent attack on Dink, though the police naturally
didn’t pay or didn’t want to pay any attention to it. Nevertheless,
the Court of Istanbul, which held the first hearings of Dink’s case
on July 2, decided to expand the framework of the investigation and
blamed the officials for negligence.

In the result of the 12-hour hearing the Court released 4 of the 18
suspects, as well as put off the session till October 1. "The police
of Istanbul and Trabzon are responsible for the grave mistakes and in
fact for the deliberate negligence," announced the advocate of Dink’s
family Ergin Cinmen. Meanwhile more than 1000 people gathered in front
of the Court on July 2, where the judicial process had begun. All
of them carried posters which said; "We are all Armenians", "We are
all Dinks", "We are all witnesses and we demand justice". According
to Anatolia News Agency the participants of the demonstration signed
below a document about establishing a Coordinating Council to observe
the judicial process. Hrant Dink’s widow, Rakel Dink, expressed her
appreciation to all those present, who greeted her with cheers as
she headed to the Court.

In her speech Rakel Dink spoke about the destiny of the Armenian Nation
of Turkey, and especially about the Armenian Community of Istanbul,
which has become a hostage in the hands of the authorities and the
official propaganda. "For Turkey Armenian and criminal, or Armenian and
a second class person are synonymous. We have no freedom of speech. The
history of the Armenian annihilation in Turkey traces back to 1915
and continues up to present. Dink’s murder is just a single example
of the annihilation and pursuit of the Armenian Nation in Turkey,"
she emphasized.

IMAGE OF ENEMY CULTIVATED IN TURKEY AGAINST RUSSIA HAS DISAPPEARED

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.07.2007 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkey and Russia enjoy wonderful relations at
present. The image of enemy cultivated in Turkey against Russia has
disappeared," RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian said in
the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University.

"The commodity turnover between the two states makes $15
billion annually. Some 700 Turkish companies are functioning in
Russia. Moreover, Russia is interested in Turkey as a transit country
for delivery of energy resources to Europe," Mr Kirakossian emphasized.

TER-PETROSYAN IS BEST CANDIDATE FOR ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT

Lragir.am
06-07-2007 15:19:57

The parties which lost the parliamentary election stand the last
chance in the upcoming few months to change the government and
enable the country to face internal and external challenges, stated
Aram Manukyan, member of the All-Armenian Movement, on July 6 at the
Pastark Club. He means the presidential election of 2008. According
to him, the parliamentary election was not a lesson for the opposition
forces which ran in the election separately, for "as the parliamentary
election is drawing nearer, they are already stirring up trouble,
they say if the opposition forces act separately from one another,
they have more possibility to win."

For Aram Manukyan and the All-Armenian Movement, the best candidate
of the united opposition is Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Today Aram Manukyan,
as well as the All-Armenian Movement, see no other candidate who is
able to unite the controversial forces. However, Aram Manukyan stated
today there are some 100 people in Armenia whose past, abilities,
fame can make them stronger than the "Robert Kocharyan-Serge
Sargsyan tandem." Aram Manukyan points to Vazgen Manukyan and
Stepan Demirchyan. "The personality is not important, the goal is
important – victory." Aram Manukyan thinks Levon Ter-Petrosyan will
succeed. He thinks the international organizations may be helpful to
the process inside Armenia if they see a real partner. At the same
time, Aram Manukyan said relying on his experience of collaboration
with international organization that they often prefer pragmatism
and stability to justice.

"THERE IS SERIOUS COMPETITION INSIDE POWER," VIKTOR DALAKIAN BELIEVES

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. There is a serious competition between
the President of the Republic of Armenia and the Prime Minister. This
statement was made at the July 4 press conference by Viktor Dalakian, a
RA MP.

According to him, the current government is a temporary one and was
formed as a result of the compromises made between Robert Kocharian,
the RA President, and Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister. Viktor
Dalakian also mentioned that the RA President, who is not entitled to
relieve the Prime Minister of his post without the agreement of the
parliamentarian majority, is changing into an "English queen."

According to this MP, in case Serge Sargsian defeats Robert Kocharian
in the 2008 presidential elections, the executive and legislative
bodies will appear in the hands of one political force, that is, the
Republican Party of Armenia. Viktor Dalakian mentioned that, thus, if
Serge Sargsian is eager to have a maximum power, then Robert Kocharian
strives to retain his influence among the authorities as much as
possible after the elections. He quotted the President’s expression,
according to which the latter does not want to become the youngest
pensioner of the country. However, according to Viktor Dalakian, the
Prime Minister will not want to have the current President on the post
of the Prime Minister.

This competition will intensify on the eve of the elections. According
to Viktor Dalakian, one more candidature will be put forward for the
elections from the power wing in addition to the Prime Minister. He did
not give names, but mentioned that it may also be an ARF Dashnaktsutiun
representative.

Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 4 2007

Armenian festival to hold retrospective of Jafar Panahi

TEHRAN, July 4 (MNA) — The 4th Yerevan Film Festival, commencing
July 9, is scheduled to honor Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi by
holding a retrospective of his works.

The festival will open with Panahi’s `Offside’ and his other movies
`The Circle’, `The White Balloon’, `Crimson Gold’, and `Mirror’ are
scheduled to be screened during the gala.

Over 68 films including `Aleksandra’ (Russia), `Climates’ (Turkey),
`Flanders’ (France), `Import/Export’ (Austria), `Love Conquers All’
(The Netherlands/Malaysia) and `Yella’ (Germany) are to compete for
the gala’s Golden Apricot award.

`The Banishment’ from Russia will be the closing film of the festival
on July 14.

ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, OSCE ENVOY DISCUSS KARABAKH, RELATIONS

Arminfo
2 Jul 07

Yerevan, 2 July: Armenian Defence Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan received
OSCE chairman-in-office special representative Andrzej Kasprzyk on
30 June 2007.

The Defence Ministry’s press service reported that Kasprzyk first
congratulated Harutyunyan over his appointment as Armenian defence
minister.

Speaking about the Karabakh conflict settlement, the parties pointed
to the priority of maintaining peace talks, ruling out a possibility
of resuming the war.

The parties also exchanged views on the actions plan of the European
New Neighbourhood Policy as well as Armenia’s relations with the
neighbouring countries. Other issues of interest were also discussed.