Author: Nahapetian Samvel

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

PRESS RELEASE

May 3, 2008
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

CBC Ombudsman Rejects Turkish Government’s Denial of the Armenian Genocide

Ottawa – A well-financed campaign to censor CBC Radio’s `As It
Happens’ program, orchestrated by the Turkish government and its
agents, has been rejected by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
Ombudsman Vince Carlin.

After a professional examination of the Turkish denialists complaint
that CBC `did not give sufficient attention to Turkey’s official claim
that the events of 1915 did not constitute a genocide,’ Mr. Carlin
said, `While not ignoring significant dissent from ‘mainstream’ views,
the journalist must not distort the concepts of ‘balance’ by giving
equal weight to any contending theory.’

The ombudsman added, `In the cases at issue, the preponderance of
credible academic work has found that the Turkish government took
deliberate action against the Armenian population and those actions
fit what became the definition of Genocide.’

The ombudsman elaborated on the journalist’s ethical conundrum of
`giving voice to those who deny events which were part of the
historical consensus.’ On this thorny issue, Mr. Carlin said, `the
implications of such notion are evident when one thinks of giving
substantial time to those who deny that there was a genocide directed
against Jews during World War II.’

In the ombudsman’s view, ` while fairness and balance would impel
journalists to be on the look-out for credible contradictory evidence,
appropriate weight must be given to broad-based conclusion, in this
case not only academic-based, but also endorsed by UN agencies and the
Canadian Government.’

The CBC ombudsman concluded his findings by noting that `the concept
of balance is not mathematical.’ Accordingly, he found that `no
violation of CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices in treatment
of theses items.’

The latest campaign of silencing freedom of speech in Canada was
launched after CBC’s `As It Happens’ program interviewed United States
Congressman Adam Schiff (Oct. 18, 2007), Turkish historian Taner
Akçam (Oct. 12, 2007), and an official from the Toronto District
School Board on the proposed Grade 11 Genocide Curriculum (Dec. 14
2007).

The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) cognizant of the
campaign, responded to the Turkish government’s misinformation by
making essential presentation (testimonies of historians’ and
scholars, books, and other relevant documents) to the ombudsman to
refute the Turkish denialist fabrications.

Aris Babikian, Executive Director of ANCC, commended the CBC
ombudsman’s findings and conclusions. ‘Once again CBC has demonstrated
that it is not willing to compromise its journalistic integrity. We
congratulate the CBC ombudsman and `As It Happens’ staff for not
capitulating to the Turkish government’s propaganda machine, threats,
intimidation, and bullying.’

`It is high time the Turkish government recognized that its Armenian
Genocide denial policy is a bankrupt one and that Turkey can not
muzzle freedom of the press and suppress freedom of expression in the
civilized world, as it has done in Turkey,’ Babikian said, urging the
Turkish people to rise against the `Turkish Deep State’ and
utranationalists who are running the country’s denialist policy.

Dr. Girair Basmadjian, President of ANCC observed that `By its
persistent policy of denial, the present Turkish Government is making
itself automatically the inherent target of responsibility for the
1915 Genocide.’

####

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.

——

Le CNAC est l’organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s’occupe activement des
inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.

Regional Chapters/Sections régionales

Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St. Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

In-Forum, ND
May 3 2008

Roundup: Remembrance and denial move to U.S. Congress

Published Saturday, May 03, 2008
Los Angeles Times

History can comfort or afflict us, and affliction was the order of the
day Thursday as Armenians around the world commemorating the genocide
of their people by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917 were met by
Turks protesting that the genocide never took place.

The argument over remembrance and denial of the Armenian genocide has
in recent years moved from France to the U.S. Congress and now to
Israel, which faces its own moral and political dilemmas in deciding
whether to debate the issue in the Knesset. Turkey is strongly
lobbying to prevent such a debate. Like the United States, Israel is
now torn between its commitment to confront genocide deniers of all
kinds and its geopolitical interest in maintaining relations with its
only Muslim ally.

It’s a lose-lose proposition for any nation involved in the dispute,
and for the millions of Turks and Armenians alive today who will have
to continue to live next to each other. It’s a winner, however, for
Russia, which has been competing with the United States for influence
in Armenia and which has leverage over the former Soviet republic’s
economy.

A friendly, democratic government in Ankara could help Turkey rebuild
its frayed ties with the West, improve its economy and, eventually,
negotiate peace with Azerbaijan over the disputed enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Demonstrating the political maturity to pursue
rapprochement with Armenia could bring Turkey closer to its goal of
joining the European Union. History need not be destiny.

ANOTHER TWO CASES ON MARCH 1 EVENTS SENT TO COURT

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Northern Criminal Court on April
23 received a criminal case, by which Edik Khachatrian is accused of
keeping ammunition belonging to the owner of the Vanatur Restaurant
Sasun Mikaelian (city of Hrazdan) in the yard of the restaurant’s
fish-farm from October 2007 to March 1, 2008. NT correspondent was
informed about it by spokeswoman for the RA Cassation Court Alina
Yengoyan. By the indictment, in order to hide the crime traces,
E. Khachtrian had thrown the boxes full of ammunition into the lake
near the yard.

The court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities on April
29 received a criminal case, by which Masis Aivazian is charged with
violence against a representative of authorities. According to the
indictment, on March 1st, at about 7:30 am he together with a group
of persons near North Avenue "committed violence, not dangerous for
life or health, by hitting policemen with the hand and foot".

NO FORCES IN AZERBAIJAN CAPABLE OF UPSETTING STABILITY

Interfax News Agency, Russia
April 29 2008

Azeri presidential chief of staff Ramiz Mekhtiyev has said he is upbeat
about the current socio-political situation in the country."Stability
ranks today among the most important issues for Azerbaijan. Stability
is leading Azerbaijan towards development. If anyone attempts to upset
stability, the entire nation must offer resistance," Mekhtiyev told
journalists on Tuesday.

"The future of Azerbaijan strongly depends on stability. Although there
are no forces in the country capable of destabilizing the situation,
individual people are there," he said.

Commenting on the situation in Armenia after the elections and on
whether similar events could be repeated in Azerbaijan, Mekhtiyev said,
there are no forces in the country capable of organizing such events.

"I do not know who has what plans, but no one will allow similar events
to unfold in Azerbaijan. And no one will be strong enough to venture
unrest similar to that in Armenia," the presidential chief staff said.

Again, absolute stability reigns in Azerbaijan. The future presidential
elections will be open and democratic. There are no doubts today that
the people and President Ilham Aliyev are one and that he will again
be elected president with a large margin, Mekhtiyev said.

The upcoming presidential elections will be model elections, he
also said.

The elections will be observed by international organizations. We
will not hide anything from anyone. Again, we will hold open elections.

The current socio-political situation shows that really good, model
elections will be held in Azerbaijan, he said.

10-12% GROWTH OF STONE FRUIT HARVEST EXPECTED IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Spring sowing started earlier than usual
this year due to the unprecedentedly high temperature as compared
with the previous years, the RA deputy minister of agriculture Samvel
Galstian said at the April 30 press conference. According to him,
it is planned to sow 200-205 thousand ha with grain crops instead of
the previous 100 thousand ha.

He said that the first reproduction of elite barley seeds brought
from Ukraine last year will be used for spring sowing. Their average
crop yield made 45-50 centners in 2007.

In his words, the weather can be considered as favorable for
agriculture but if there are no rains in foothills and mountains –
along with a rising temperature, the agricultural sector will incur
losses.

The deputy minister said that no fruit trees or vines were harmed
by frost, except for a few early-ripening peach trees and vines. 260
thousand tons of fruit and 218.9 thousand tons of grapes was harvested
in 2007, and a 10-12% growth of harvest is expected this year.

EU WELCOMES 301 AMENDMENT BUT CALLS FOR MORE

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
May 1 2008

The European Commission has welcomed the Turkish Parliament’s amendment
of a disputed law used to prosecute writers for insulting Turkishness,
but said it seeks more changes to ensure that such prosecutions come
to an end.

In the early morning hours on Wednesday Parliament approved the
long-awaited amendment to a penal code article criticized by
rights groups, activists and the European Union for limiting free
speech. However, intellectuals, journalists and writers say the
amendment is not sufficient.

"This amendment is, of course, a welcome step forward and the
commission now looks forward to further moves that change similar
articles in the penal code, because this article was not the only one
addressed … in order to ensure in fact that unwarranted prosecutions
stop," European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio said
on Wednesday.

"Now the Turkish authorities need to focus on implementation of
the reform to guarantee full freedom of expression for all Turkish
citizens," he told a news conference. The EU has said easing
restrictions on free speech is a test of Turkey’s commitment to
political reform as Ankara looks to advance slow-moving membership
talks which began in 2005.

While Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has welcomed the amendment of
301, labeling it "a step forward," Joost Lagendjik, the co-chairman
of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, said, "It was
an acceptable compromise." Cautious in his positive reaction to
the amendment, Rehn drew attention to other articles in the penal
code curbing freedom of expression that should be changed. "This
amendment is a welcome step forward, and the commission looks forward
to further moves to change similar articles in order to ensure that
ungrounded prosecutions stop," Rehn said, signaling that he would
like to see the implementation before a full assessment. "Now the
Turkish authorities should focus on implementation of the reform
to guarantee full freedom of expression for Turkish citizens," the
enlargement commissioner added.

A strong critic of 301 since 2004, Lagendijk said the amendment was
an acceptable compromise in the face of fierce polarization within
the Turkish community. Expressing his hope that 301 would not be used
again, as the new version requires the permission of the minister of
justice, Lagendijk said, "The new version has now come, to a great
extent, to be parallel with other penal codes of EU members. There
are similar laws in the Polish and Italian penal codes." However,
Lagendijk made it clear that he was for the abolition of the article
once and for all. "This will not win the beauty contest of the legal
reforms. But I think the immediate effect will be that there won’t
be any more cases opened on the basis of 301," he added. Similar to
the words of the enlargement commissioner, he voiced his concern over
the other articles that could be used with the same purpose.

In its 2007 progress report on Turkey, the European Commission had also
cited certain other articles of the penal code that need to be amended.

Changes the amendment introduces

The change to Article 301 of the penal code was approved with 250
votes for and 65 against amid fierce criticism from the nationalist
opposition. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party),
which dominates the 550-seat Parliament with 340 lawmakers, was the
only party that voted in favor of the amendment, while opposition
parties voted against it. The amendment has to be approved by the
president before it can go into effect.

The article has been used to prosecute hundreds of writers, including
Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk, for insulting Turkishness.

After the reform goes into effect, it will be a crime to insult the
Turkish nation, rather than Turkishness, and the justice minister’s
permission will be required to open a case under 301. The maximum
sentence will be cut to two years from three.

Although no one has ever been sent to jail on a 301-related charge,
the publicity of such cases has done great damage to individuals who
were suspects in these trials. Some, such as Armenian-Turkish editor
Hrant Dink, have paid dearly. Dink, who was tried for insulting Turkish
identity in 2006, was shot dead by a militant nationalist in January
of last year.

Defending the reform against criticism from the opposition, Justice
Minister Mehmet Ali Å~^ahit said there would still be restrictions
on insulting Turkey. This change will not allow people to insult
Turkishness freely, he told Parliament.

Critics say Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose AK Party is
facing possible closure for allegedly violating secular principles,
is now keen to be seen as advancing Turkey’s EU bid.

Opponents of Article 301, meanwhile, say the government-proposed
changes are only cosmetic and will have little impact on Turkey’s
EU bid. They also state that there are other freedom-curbing laws in
Turkey’s penal code that need to be changed.

Parliamentary opposition to 301 reform

The bill, passed after eight hours of mostly late-night debate,
had been delayed several times amid stiff opposition from nationalists.

Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) accused the
government of betraying the country’s identity and instead pandering
to EU demands that it reform laws prohibiting Turks from insulting
their nation.

MHP leader Devlet Bahceli told a meeting of his party ahead of the
vote the reform would be a historical mistake. Slandering Turkey’s
honorable history, insulting the Turkish nation and the values of
Turkishness has become a habit in the AK Party’s political thinking,
which lacks a sense of identity, he said.

MHP Secretary General Faruk Bal, in a meeting of the MHP’s
parliamentary group on Monday, said the problem with 301 was its
image outside Turkey. He said 301 was introduced in the West as an
article that incited the murders of journalists, referring to the
death of Dink, who had been tried under Article 301. "Article 301 has
been accepted as the only obstacle to EU admission, which is a lie,"
Bal said.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) also opposed the
reform. The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), whose members
often end up in court for expressing views on the Kurdish issue,
wanted to abolish the article.

Article 301 has notably been used against writers such as Pamuk
for comments on the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in
1915-16. Turkey denies Armenian claims that the killings constituted
genocide.

–Boundary_(ID_InsJ1cxBfxcY v6VKOYbWFQ)–

SAFAR ABIYEV: "AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY HAS MANY COMMON FACTORS, INCLUDING DEMAND TO ARMENIA TO RELEASE THE OCCUPIED LANDS OF AZERBAIJAN"

Today, Azerbaijan
.html
May 1 2008

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev received commander of
Turkish air forces general Aydoghan Babaoghlu.

The due information was provided by the press service for the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan.

Safar Abiyev noted that Azerbaijan also felt Turkey’s support in hard
times and this country was the first to recognize the independence
of Azerbaijan.

He noted that successful cooperation has been established in the
military and all other spheres and there is a need for their further
development.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defense informed the visitor about the great
progress in the national army, conduction of military trainings and
education, meeting modern standards. He noted that the Turkish armed
forces have always supported Azerbaijani army in this issue.

"Azerbaijan and Turkey have many common factors, including the demand
from Armenia to release the occupied lands of Azerbaijan", said Abiyev.

In turn, Babaoghlu noted that Turkey will always remain loyal to the
principle "One nation-two states".

The meeting was attended by Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan Khulusi
Kilich and military attache of Turkey to Azerbaijan Fahri Kyr.

CONNECTICUT ARMENIANS GATHER AT STATE CAPITOL IN REMEMBRANCE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 29 2008

YEREVAN, 29.04.08. DE FACTO. On Saturday April 26, 2008, over 120
Armenians gathered at the Hartford State Capitol for a commemorative
service in recognition of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America, Eastern Region.

The program included an invocation from the local Armenian Churches;
recognition of Armenian Genocide survivors in the Connecticut
area; remarks by Rep. John Geragosian (D-25); and presentation of a
proclamation by the Governor; as well as remarks and singing by the
youth and requiem service. Greg Kuo from the Genocide Intervention
Network gave an informative update on the actions GI-Net is taking
to have the teachings of genocide in the school system.

Keynote speaker ANCA Eastern Region Director Karine Birazian talked
about taking action and being part of the solution. During her
comments she said, "As Samantha Power, Pulizer Prize winner, for
her book a Problem from Hell has discussed on several occasions,
you can either be a bystander or an upstander. I implore all of you
to become upstanders. And not watch another survivor pass without
proper recognition or watch another Darfurian die. We must continue,
as Armenian Americans, to raise our voices about the truth and ensure
that our children will not have to bear witness to similar atrocities."

Following the special requiem service a "Madagh" was donated by the
St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Church of the
Holy Resurrection, and St. George Armenian Apostolic Church where
gatherers met with Birazian.

Earlier that week on April 24 community members gathered at the State
Capitol for an annual Armenian flag raising ceremony. Following the
events Geragosian commented: "For years we have been told that it is
‘not a good time’ to press for such a resolution". Enough is enough;
it’s time for us to come to grips with what many nations the world
over have already recognized–the 1915 massacre of Armenian–Turks
was a genocide."

To note, as Majority Caucus Chair, Geragosian was elected to the
Connecticut House of Representatives in 1994. Representing the 25th
district located in New Britain he serves on the Appropriations,
Insurance & Real Estate, and Judiciary Committees.

IRANIAN AUTHORITIES THIS YEAR ALSO DO NOT PERMIT ARMENIANS TO ORGANIZE PROCESSION TO TURKISH EMBASSY

Noyan Tapan
April 28, 2008

TEHRAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A holy liturgy was
served on April 24 in the Saint Sargis Church in the capital city of
Iran, Tehran.

At the end of the liturgy representatives of the local Armenian
community laid flowers to the memorial of victims of Armenian Genocide
of 1915 in the church yard.

As the Zaman daily reports, this year, either, representatives of
Iranian Armenian community were not permitted to organize a procession
towards the Embassy of Turkey in Iran.

It should be mentioned that on April 24, 2007 the Iranian Armenian
community was not allowed to organize a procession, either.

No surprise but anxiety about the rise in price of gas

Anahit Danielyan
26-04-2008 13:33:25 – KarabakhOpen

`First the prices of food went up, now the gas bill. You don’t know to
buy food first or to pay the bills on the monthly retirement benefit
that the government pays us. Hard though you may try, the pension is
hardly enough for bread and the bills. How are we supposed to live?’
said an elderly woman to us.

The rise in price of gas is now the most frequently discussed topic.
From May 1 the users will pay 84 drams instead of 65. Prime Minister
Ara Harutiunyan says the government cannot afford to subsidize the
difference. The citizens of Armenia who used to pay 59 drams because
the government of Armenia subsidized the price will not get a subsidy
any more.

`So what, says Lyudmila, 58 years, who has not been working for 5-6
years, why is subsidy impossible? They used to raise the money so why
is it a problem now? The government promises to raise the pension and
benefits, while the prices of food grow day by day. We can hardly make
both ends meet.’

`We are lucky that they raised the bill now and not in winter, thanks
God we survived the winter. God knows what we will be doing next
winter. We will have to count what is cheaper, gas, wood or
electricity. Our government won’t let us get bored,’ Sergey, 46, says.

`The gas bill was not a surprise, moreover, there will be more
surprises for Russia manages the gas sector in Armenia. It is amazing
how the Armenian government gave the pipeline Iran-Armenia to Russia,’
said a worker of a privately-owned company.