Author: Nalbandian Eduard

THE ARMENIAN MEMORIAL OF BUDAPEST DESECRATED ON APRIL 24

armradio.am
28.04.2008 11:11

The Khachkar dedicated to the memory of Armenian Genocide victims
located at Petõfi Square of Budapest was desecrated by unknown
persons a few hours before the ceremonies of commemoration of the
93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by pulverization of black
painting, Jean Eckian and Ingrid Hutterer inform from France.

At the back of the monument the painting entirely covers the text
engraved in Armenian. On the Hungarian text is written "Lie" and the
word Genocide covered with painting.

The Genocide Memorial was erected in Budapest in 2000. It’s the
first time that such an act of vandalism is perpetrated against the
Armenian monument.

–Boundary_(ID_vJjl5l4DF3rViGF7RQoPDA)- –

AMENDMENT AIMS TO OPEN EU PATH
By Andrew Borowiec

The Washington Times
April 24, 2008 Thursday

Amidst an increasingly acerbic political debate, the Turkish parliament
has amended parts of a penal code in an attempt to ease the path to
negotiations for EU membership.

Diplomatic sources said the proposed text attempts to appease the
nationalist opposition but falls short of satisfying those who claim
that Article 301 of the code, which imposes a penalty for " insulting
Turkishness, " violates freedom of expression.

The amended version eliminates the term " Turkishness " and reduces
the penalty for " denigrating the Turkish nation " from three to
two years in prison. Dozens of journalists and writers, including
Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, have been tried under the article,
mainly for writing about the treatment of the Kurdish minority and
of the World War I massacres of Armenians, which Turkey persistently
denies. Criticism of the Turkish army also is considered to be a crime.

Critics of the proposed amendment say the governing Justice and
Development party (AKP) has mainly " tinkered with the wording of
the law " but kept most of its problematic features.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg,
France, has asked that the article be repealed because " it judicially
limits freedom of expression and validates legal and other attacks
against journalists. "

The Turkish opposition Nationalist Action Party has campaigned against
any changes, saying the law is part of the heritage of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, founder of the Turkish republic, who struggled to instill
patriotic values and strong national identity in a country once known
as " the sick man of Europe. "

Cengiz Aktar, a political scientist at Istanbul’s Bahcesehir
University, said the way Article 301 has been amended is unlikely to
impress the European Union.

Besides, he said, other articles in the penal code " kill freedom of
speech. "

Turkey’s negotiations for EU membership have stumbled over several
issues. The government insists it will continue reforms despite
considerable opposition in Europe to admit a predominantly Muslim
nation of more than 70 million.

On Monday, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik joined other
European officials who have suggested that a formula of association
would be more practical than full Turkish membership.

" I could imagine a Turkish-European community as another rational,
realistic alternative, " she said while visiting Ankara. The idea was
rejected by Turkey and mooted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday reiterated Turkish
opposition to any formula other than full EU membership. " We view
Turkey’s accession to the EU as one of the most important peace
projects of the 21st century, " he said.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION HIGHLIGHTS STRUGGLE FOR CAUCASUS
Bill Weinberg

World War 4 Report, NY

April 24 2008

Thousands marched in Yerevan April 24, the 93rd anniversary of the
start of the mass killing campaign of at least 1.5 million Armenians
by the Ottoman Empire. More than 10,000, mostly youths and students,
carried torches and candles, demanding Turkey join several other
countries around the world in officially recognizing the massacres as
genocide. After burning a Turkish flag in Yerevan’s Freedom Square,
participants marched to a monument to the victims of the genocide,
where they laid wreaths and flowers. Many carried flags of the
23 countries whose governments or parliaments have recognized the
killings as genocide, including Canada, France, Switzerland and Poland.

Turkey rejects the killings constituted genocide, saying that 300,000
Armenians and at least an equal number of Turks were killed in civil
strife between 1915 and 1917. The dispute remains a major obstacle in
relations between Turkey and Armenia, which have no diplomatic ties
and whose border has remained closed for more than a decade. Some
marchers in Yerevan held banners reading "Save Europe! Keep Turkey
out of the EU!" (The Austrialian, April 24)

Turkish media reports highlight recent overtures by Ankara to normalize
relations. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan wrote a letter to
his Armenian counterpart April 22, saying that Turkey is open to
dialogue. Yerevan also says it is for dialogue, but calls for the
re-opening of closed borders first. (Turkish Daily News, April 22)

In October 2007, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of
Representatives approved a resolution officially recognizing the
Armenian genocide. The issue is yet to be discussed on the House floor.

Armenian political scientist Arman Ayvazyan, head of Yerevan’s Center
of Strategic Research, said US reluctance to recognize the genocide is
due to Washington’s need to secure Turkey’s cooperation in stabilizing
northern Iraq. He said the Armenian genocide "should be considered
not as a historical but as a modern problem," and also linked it to
the contest over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The problem of Nagorno-Karabakh emerged as a result of genocide
of Armenians," he said. "Turkey calls us aggressors, saying that we
occupied Nagorno-Karabakh… Turkey…occupied the western part of
our territory and now helps Azerbaijan occupy our eastern lands as
well." (Today.az, Azerbaijan, April 23)

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic–known to Armenians as Artsakh–has been an
unrecognized de facto independent state since a 1994 ceasefire left
Armenian separatist forces in control there. Negotiations continue
on the return of Azeri prisoners of war still held by the Artsakh
authorities. (De Facto News, April 23) A two-day conference on the
Armenian genocide held at Artsakh State University was pointedly
entitled "Western Armenia: past and present"–a name clearly implying
that Turkey’s eastern provinces are considered occupied Armenian
territory. (PanArmenian.net, April 11)

ARMENIANS MARK 93RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2008 12:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, on April 24, Armenians throughout the globe
mark the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire. Mass arrests of the Armenian intellectual, religious, economic
and political elite started in Constantinople on that very day in 1915
what resulted in entire annihilation of a whole pleiad of outstanding
Armenian cultural workers.

Writers, actors, musicians, teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists,
businessmen, political and religious leaders were detained till
the end of May 1915 without being incriminated anything. In the
course of several weeks some 800 celebrated Armenians were arrested
in Constantinople. By the end of summer there had been few of them
left alive. During the period of 1915-1923, 1.5 million of Armenians
were killed.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Russia, France, Lebanon,
Uruguay, Cyprus, Argentina, Greece, Belgium, Sweden, Slovakia,
Vatican, Germany, Lithuania, House of Commons of Canada, the House of
Representatives of the Netherlands, National Council of Switzerland,
Lower House of the parliament of Italy and Sejm of Poland as well as
many states of the U.S.

PROBLEMS OF EDUCATION ARE MANY

KarabakhOpen
24-04-2008 12:51:45

After the construction of 18 and renovation of 20 school buildings the
program of school building will be complete, said the NKR minister
of education and science Vladik Khachatryan during the meeting of
the delegation of the Armenian ministry of education with the NKR
government.

He said besides the problem of buildings there is also a shortage
of teachers, especially in the regions of Kashatagh and Shahumyan,
as well as the remote villages of Martakert, Shushi and Hadrut.

With regard to vocational colleges, he said the premises of the
agricultural college, the college of humanities of Shushi and the
music college of Stepanakert are in a bad state.

For nursery schools, the minister informed that soon training will be
held for the directors and teachers of nursery schools in cooperation
with the Armenian ministry of education and science.

SERGE SARGSIAN: NEGATIONISM IN ISSUE OF CONDEMNATION OF GENOCIDE HAS NO FUTURE

Noyan Tapan
April 24, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the commemoration
day of the Armenian Genocide victims RA President Serge Sargsian
addressed to the Armenian people. The address read:

"Dear compatriots,

Today we are commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

As a result of the genocide planned and committed at the state level
in Ottoman Turkey a huge part of Armenian people was exterminated in
its native land and was deprived of the territory where it lived. Many
civilization, cultural, and material values that the Armenian people
had created for many thousands of years were exterminated and continue
to be exterminated today.

The issue of international recognition and condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide is the regular and inevitable part of Armenia’s
foreign political agenda. Armenia, the homeland of all Armenians,
should continue its efforts aimed at restoring historic justice
with multiplied diligence. Negationism has no future in the issue of
condemnation of the Genocide: especially today when many countries
of the world have joined their voice with the voice of the truth.

The recognition and condemnation of the Genocide is not purely the
national issue of the Armenian people. The crime committed against
mankind has universal significance and resonance, therefore it
should receive a universal response. Our goals have nothing in common
with revenge and hostility. Keeping the memory of innocent victims,
meanwhile we are ready just tomorrow to establish normal relations
with Turkey without any preconditions.

Dear compatriots,

The causes and prehistory of the Armenian Genocide have been much
spoken and written about. Many new facts and analyses wait for their
publication, but one thing was clear from the very start: such a crime
could be committed only under conditions of lack of Armenian statehood.

Today, on April 24, we are obliged with a special acuteness to realize
the exclusive significance of the Armenian statehood. All Armenians
should develop and become strong sticking to their state, which is
the guarantor of our people’s security."

THE WAY TOWARDS PREVENTING GENOCIDE
Naira Khachatryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on April 23, 2008
Armenia

"There was a group of people among the Armenians for whom April 24
also became a day of struggle. They made political appeals under the
Soviet rule.

These were the people who chanted ‘our lands’, a slogan behind
which lay the idea of eliminating the consequences of Genocide,"
PARUYR HAYRIKYAN, Head of the National Self-Determination Union,
said yesterday in "Urbat" club, recalling the events of April 24, 1965.

According the leader of the National Self-Determination Union,
April 24 is also a day of learning lessons from history. "We tried to
understand what were the historical regularities that led to Genocide
and how it was possible to prevent them. My colleague Movses Gorgisyan,
a national hero, used to say that the shortest way towards recognizing
Genocide is restoring the statehood."

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the elimination of its
consequences is a strategic issue, and it is necessary to reveal its
political and legal background. "We have a potential; we have serious
legal and political opportunities in the form of an international
document, and all this should be summed up."

Among those strategic issues, P. Hayrikyan singled out the questions
concerning the Armenian-Turkish relations. In particular, he offered
to reject the agreement signed on March 16, 1921. "The Turks are
well-aware that the agreement is illegal. They are also aware that
the issue will be raised sooner or later."

He is convinced that other politicians, political scientists and
scholars will advance a proposal on the elimination of the consequences
of Genocide, but the issue may be resolved only through a coordinated
state approach.

"In my opinion, from the first day of establishing our statehood, it
was necessary to set up a committee elaborating packages applicable
to different situations and specifying the strategic trends."

The times when the publication of a book written by a historian or an
opinion expressed by the latter could arouse happiness are in the past.

"The state has to sum up and bring to life the interests which are
to its benefit."

According to the leader of the National Self-Determination
Union, no matter how much we may try to build the Armenia-Turkish
relations without any preconditions, they have fallen to our lot by
destiny, and the 1921 treaty is one of those preconditions. "After
declaring it null and void, there emerges the problem of Kars,
Ardahan and Nakhijevan. These are not only political-moral but
also legal opportunities. Two states signed a treaty concerning a
third state. From the point of view of international law, this is
unacceptable, and I believe the relations with Turkey should be
started at this point."

P. Hayrikyan insisted that it is impossible to build relations with a
state which denies the fact of genocide, a fact that was recognized
by around 20 countries of the world. "Turkey is the successor of a
criminal state that committed murders and now it tries to deny the
fact of Genocide by its policy, whereas the world recognizes it. The
European Union recognized the fact back in 1987."

By the way, this period of time is favorable in terms of introducing
a turning point in the Armenian-Turkish relations since our
country’s president is supported by the overwhelming majority of the
parliamentary factions. "The President should feel that 80 percent of
the entire political arena supports him and he can really undertake
serious steps."

The leader of the National Self-Determination Union also submitted his
proposals to the political coalition. Perhaps, they seem unfeasible
at present, but he always has the hope of bringing them to life. "The
Supreme Council used to condemn us for desiring to have a ‘national
army’ and refusing to admit the absurd principle that said, ‘our
protection consists in our being unprotected’. When we spoke about
the constitution, they would say we didn’t need any constitution at
all. And today, these are usual, regular achievements. Ideas should
be put into circulation, developed and represented."

DAVID HAROUTYUNYAN: ARMENIAN POLICEMEN HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO BECOME PROFESSIONALS

arminfo
2008-04-22 23:02:00

ArmInfo. Armenian policemen have a long way to go yet to become
professionals, the head of the Armenian delegation to PACE, says the
chairman of the standing committee on state and legal issues of the
Armenian Parliament David Haroutyunyan.

"The Armenian police were not ready for the Mar 1 disorders. Today
we need experts for explaining why this all happened and who is
really to blame for that. Our key goal is to prevent the recurrence
of such incidents in the future. The ombudsman of Armenia must take
a very active part in the study of the case. As a representative
of the authorities I am also responsible for what happened," says
Haroutyunyan.

AZERI CAPTIVE TO BE CONVEYED TO HOMELAND

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.04.2008 17:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri soldier Yakub Mukhtarov, who crossed the
Armenian border on March 11, 2008, will be conveyed to the Azeri side
at Kayanavan-Ghazakh border sector on April 23, RA Defense Minister’s
spokesman, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Azerbaijani citizen Yakub Alaverdi ogly Mukhtarov crossed the
Armenian-Azeri border near the settlement of Kolagir, Tavush region.

"Mukhtarov said he repeatedly asked the commanding officer for
treatment. Being turned down, he addressed to the brigade commander
but was beaten severely.

Leaving the weapon at the post, Mukhtarov crossed the border. The Azeri
soldier said that numerous impact marks and bruises are the evidence
of acts of violence committed against him," colonel Shahsuvaryan said.

WALK FOR GENOCIDE AWARENESS
By Daniel Tedford

Daily Pilot
0/religion/dpt-armeniangenocide042108.txt
April 21 2008
CA

The Rev. Fr. Moushegh Tashjian, the pastor at St. Mary Armenian
Apostolic Church, has been waiting a long time for the U.S. government
to give him what he wants.

Tashjian’s father was orphaned when Tashjian’s grandmother was
killed during the Armenian Genocide, which began April 24, 1915. And
since he first learned of the tragedy he has wanted justice from
the U.S. government — something he thinks is found in the simple
acknowledgment of what took place early in the 20th century.

"There are millions of Americans that sympathize with us, but it is the
government that stubbornly is standing with the [Turkish government]
on this issue," Tashjian said. "It’s not a hopeless thing we are
pursuing."

Tashjian and many others in the Armenian community took to the streets
of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana for an Armenian Genocide awareness walk
starting at 1 p.m. Sunday. More than 250 people walked from St. Mary
Armenian Church to Forty Martyrs Armenian Church in Santa Ana, an
8-mile walk. Congressman Edward Royce spoke briefly to begin the
event while Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez meet the group at Forty
Martyrs for the closing ceremonies.

"Our efforts here begin with the children," Royce said of the large
amount of youths who turned out for the walk. "We have to remind them
of their heritage."

Royce has worked on legislation concerning the Armenian Genocide and
spoke out against the refusals of both President George W. Bush and
former President Bill Clinton to acknowledge the atrocities documented
since 1915.

Ara Malazian, one of the organizers of the event from the Armenian
National Committee of Orange County, reiterated the congressman’s
thoughts by describing how vast the genocide has affected the Armenian
people.

"Talk to any Armenian here, every one of us has been touched in
some way," said Malazian, whose grandfather escaped the country at
5 years old.

"We are looking at the Armenian Genocide as the first crime against
humanity in the 20th century."

The event was free to anyone who wanted to register and walk, but
the Armenian National Committee did ask for donations it would use
toward generating educational opportunities, Malazian said.

Those educational benefits would go to educating teachers on how to
teach students about the Armenian Genocide in schools and raising
awareness in the public, Malazian said.

"[The youth] will be the torch bearers for justice," Tashjian
said. "There is hope."

This was the second awareness walk the group has put on in Orange
County.

Last year’s walk generated $15,000 in donations and the organization
was hoping for more of the same this year, Malazian said.