Author: nina hovnanian

TURKISH TV AIRS HOLOCAUST DOCUMENTARY

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, ARMENPRESS: Turkish state television channel
(TRT) has broadcast the first episode of a nine-hour-plus documentary
on the Holocaust which has sparked reactions from Turkish community,
Armenpress reports.

“Shoah”- the Hebrew word for the Holocaust – is a 1985 French
documentary directed by Claude Lanzmann which was aired on Thursday
as part of an Israeli campaign to fight Holocaust denial and to halt
what some Jewish groups have called increasing anti-Semitism in Turkey.

The documentary mainly consists of interviews with those who survived
Holocaust, exploring the alleged killing of European Jews in Nazi
death camps during the World War II.

It is the first time a predominantly Muslim country shows such a film
on state TV.

The documentary was also aired amid the dispute between Turkey and
France about French legislation to criminalize the denial of the
Armenian Genocide.

FRENCH-ARMENIANS DO NOT DOUBT IMPARTIALITY OF THE MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL OF FRANCE

ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, ARMENPRESS: The Coordination Council of Armenian
Organizations in France has circulated a statement before discussion
of the Armenian Bill at the country’s Constitutional Council. The
statement calls on the French-Armenians to concentrate their forces
as much as possible, Armenpress reports.

“Adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide Denial
will be a world-level victory against the denial policy of Turkey,
which has invested its last forces in this fight,” the statement runs.

French-Armenians note that the Turkish legislative and executive
authorities exert pressure on the members of the Constitutional
Council of France.

“Does the bill contradict the constitution? Our answer is very distinct
~V no. We do not demand caring attitude, but justice. We are fighting
not against the French citizens of Turkish descent, but against the
Turkish state denial policy,” the statement reads.

The Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations in France is sure
that President Sarkozy will be resolute in bringing the work he has
started to an end. French-Armenians also trust in the soberness of
the members of the Constitutional Council and are ready even to apply
to the European Court of Human Rights for proving the truthfulness
of their work.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

February 2, 2012

ORIENTAL ORTHODOX AND ROMAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUE CONCLUDES

The final session of the ongoing Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic
dialogue took place last week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Armenian
Church was represented by Bishop Armash of the Holy See of
Etchmiadzin, and Archbishops Oshagan and Nareg of the Holy See of
Cilicia.
Bishop Armash celebrated the Liturgy at the Armenian Church in Addis
Ababa on Sunday, January 21, and Archbishop Nareg delivered the sermon
and transmitted the blessings of Their Holinesses Catholicos Karekin
II and Catholicos Aram I.
The next meeting of the Dialogue Committee will take place in Rome in
January 2013.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL CELEBRATE LITURGY AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH
Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy this Sunday,
February 5, at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York, on the
occasion of the churchs name day celebration. A Requiem Service will
be offered in memory of Archpriest Asoghig Kelejian, the parishs first
pastor. A luncheon in Chadrjian Hall will follow after the
services. For information: 718-224-2275.

In one of those unexplained internet glitches, the following obituary
was received by some of our readers in a garbled fashion, mixed in
with the item right above it. We are, therefore, repeating it this
week.

OBITUARY: ARMEN TANIELIAN
Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive Council expressed
profound sorrow on the death of Armen Tanielian, eldest brother of His
Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern
Prelacy. Mr. Tanielian passed away on Tuesday, January 24, in Beirut,
Lebanon, following a stroke. Bishop Anoushavan immediately left for
Lebanon upon receiving the news of his brothers serious illness.
Funeral services took place on Wednesday, January 25, at Forty
Martyrs Armenian Church in Beirut. Interment followed at the National
Cemetery in Bourdj Hamoud.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Bishop Anoushavan and all members
of the Tanielian family.
May he rest in heavenly peace.

OBITUARY: SOSIE KACHIKIAN
Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive Councils received
the news of the passing of Sosie Kachikian with great
sorrow. Mrs. Kachikian died on Tuesday, January 31.
Mrs. Kachikian was a long-time supporter of the Armenian Church and
especially the Eastern Prelacy. She was a Pillar of the Prelacy since
the Pillars program was inaugurated, and was a generous supporter of
projects and events. She sponsored the publication of a number of
books in the United States, Lebanon, and Armenia. She was also a
valued and generous volunteer at the Hovnanian School in New Milford,
New Jersey.
Her late husband, Dr. Rouben Kachikian, served on the Prelacys
Executive Council and at the time of his death in 1993, he was the
vice-chairman of the Council.
The Prelate, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, will preside over the
funeral services. The family will accept visitors at the Wake on
Friday, February 3, from 6 to 9 pm (service at 8 pm), at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New
Jersey. Funeral services will take place Saturday, February 4, at
10:30 am at Sts. Vartanantz Church, followed by interment at George
Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.
She is survived by a daughter, Karen Mazzar, a son, Robert and his
wife Kim, and grandchildren Val Andrew, Robin, Madeleine, and
Olivia. She is also survived by three siblings, in Philadelphia, Rose
Arpajian, Mary Zakarian, and Paul Zakarian.

VICARS 40th ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION
TO BE CELEBRATED ON MARCH 25
The 40th anniversary of the ordination of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy, will be celebrated on Sunday,
March 25. His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy Sunday morning
at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, where he served as the
parish priest for many years. This will be followed by a celebratory
banquet at Terrace on the Park in Flushing, New York.

GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING
The annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and the Priests will take place February 13 to 16. Clergy
from the Eastern and Canadian Prelacies will be meeting jointly this
year at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey.

PUPPET THEATER OF ARMENIA PERFORMS
The celebrated State Puppet Theater of Armenia performed at
St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York, on January 29. Two plays, The
Foolish Man and The Birthday Gift were performed to a sold-out
audience. Children of all ages, as well as their parents, enjoyed the
talented cast, puppets, folk songs and dances. At the conclusion of
the performance the audience joined the performers in song and
dance. The event was organized jointly by Hamazkayin Armenian
Educational and Cultural Society of New York, and St. Illuminators
Cathedral.

The Puppet Theater of Armenia performs at the Cathedral.

Delighted audience enjoys the performance.

BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for Sunday, February 5, Sunday of the Catechumens, are:
Isaiah 63:7-18; 2 Timothy 3:1-12; John 6:22-38.

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus
had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples
had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place
where they had eaten they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given
thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples
were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum
looking for Jesus.
But when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to
him, Rabbi when did you come here? Jesus answered them, Very truly, I
tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but
because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that
perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the
Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set
his deal. Then they said to him, what must we do to perform the works
of God? (John 6:22-28)

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (

).

Note about the readings: Today is the last of the four days in our
liturgical calendar where there are no Bible readings, the only days
without readings. This coincides with the Fast of the Catechumens,
which began on Monday and ends on Friday. There is only one Bible
reading for Friday, a reading from the Book of Jonah. This period is
traditionally a time for reflection and repentance, and a time for the
clergy and laity to witness their faith to the unbaptized. The Fast of
the Catechumens, which is practiced only in the Armenian Church, leads
to the Churchs remembrance of the prophet Jonah, whose entombment in
the belly of the whale represents the three-day burial of Jesus, and
Jonahs release represents the resurrection of our Lord.

THE PROPHET JONAH
Tomorrow, Friday, February 3, the Armenian Church commemorates the
Prophet Jonah (Hovnan), one of the twelve so-called Minor
Prophets. The Minor Prophets are not considered less important than
the ones designated Major Prophets, but their books in the Bible are
shorter. All of the Minor Prophets were servants of God who proclaimed
His will to people in need of repentance.
The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the better-known stories
in the Old Testament. Jonahs feast falls on the last day of the Fast
of the Catechumens. Just as the people of Nineveh fasted and repented
from their wicked ways, so too do the people of God during this
preliminary fast before Great Lent (Medz Bahk), the most penitential
season of the year.

ST. SARKIS THE WARRIOR
This Saturday, February 4, the Armenian Church commemorates St. Sarkis
the Warrior, his son Mardiros, and 14 faithful soldiers. This is a
moveable feast that can occur between January 11 and February 15. It
follows the Fast of the Catechumens. Although the fast is not
connected to the feast of St. Sarkis, it has come to be associated
with this saint, even often incorrectly referred to as the fast of
St. Sarkis.
Sarkis lived during the fourth century and was from Cappadocia in
Asia Minor. He rose through the military ranks because of his valiant
campaign on behalf of the Emperor Constantine. With the accession of
Emperor Julian, Sarkis took refuge in Armenia with his son. Later they
went to Persia to join the Persian army in fighting Julian. Both
fought with exceptional bravery. The Persian leader, Shapur II, tried
to convince them to abandon their Christian faith and embrace
Zoroastrianism. Both refused, and father and son were
martyred. Fourteen loyal Christian soldiers who went to claim the
bodies were also killed. Eventually, Christians secured the remains
and sent them to Assyria, where they remained until the fifth century
when Mesrob Mashdots had the remains transferred to the city of Karpi
in the area of Vaspurakan in Armenia. A monastery was built over the
site of the grave.

GENERAL SECRETARY OF WCC MEETS WITH CATHOLICOS
Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches, met with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia, on January 28, at the Catholicosate in Antelias,
Lebanon. Dr. Tveit informed His Holiness of the activities of the WCC,
and they discussed the impact of the WCC on the life of the member
churches.
Based on his experience as Moderator of the WCC from 1991 to 2006,
His Holiness shared his views on the Council as the privileged
instrument of the ecumenical movement, and said that it should enable
the churches to respond to the current challenges posed by the global
order.

ERIC BOGOSIAN IN SEARCH OF TEHLIRIAN TONIGHT
Writer and actor Eric Boghosian will discuss his writing and acting
career as well as his new book and ongoing research on Soghomon
Tehlirian, at the inaugural lecture of the Hamazkayin Arts & Letters
series, tonight, February 2 at The Cornell Club, 6 East 44th Street,
New York City, 7 to 9 pm. Admission is $75 for advanced orders and $85
at the door. For students with valid ID the fee is $40 in advance and
$50 at the door. Advance orders accepted up to January 30. For
information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]?subject=) and for tickets go to
hamazkayin.ticketbud.com/eric (

).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 2Inaugural lecture of the Hamazkayin Arts & Letters Series,
Searching for Tehlirian, by Eric Bogosian, discussing his writing and
acting career and his new book and ongoing research on Soghomon
Tehlirian, at the Cornell Club, 6 East 44th Street, New York City, 7
to 9 pm. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]?subject=) and for tickets:
hamazkayin.ticketbud.com/eric (

).

February 2Grammy composer Hayg Boyadjian will discuss his music during
a noontime Avak luncheon at St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North
Andover, Massachusetts. Public is invited.

February 12St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts,
Consecration of new baptismal font and special prayer for the newly
renovated sanctuary, and 42nd anniversary celebration, under the
auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, at 1 pm in the churchs
Jaffarian Hall. Adults $40; children $10. Tickets must be purchased in
advance.

February 13-16Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering, Eastern and Canadian
Prelacies, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

February 19Traditional Poon Paregentan Manti Luncheon and Program, at
St. Illuminators Cathedrals Pashalian Hall, New York City. Adults $25;
children $10.

March 3Mid-Atlantic Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 3Hovnanian Schools 35th Anniversary Gala at Westmount Country
Club, Woodland Park, New Jersey. Honorees are Dr. John Apovian and
Mr. Hratch Kaprielian. Cocktail hour 6 pm; dinner and dancing 7:30
pm. Art Exhibition during cocktail hour. Entertainment by Kevork
Artinian and his band; Ara Dinkjian; and Yuri Yunakov. $175 per
person. For reservations, information or sponsorship contact at:
[email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]?subject=) or 201-967-5940.

March 4Book reading and signing by childrens author, Talene Dadian
White, at 1 pm, in Pashalian Hall, St. Illuminators Cathedral, New
York City. Proceeds will benefit the Cathedrals Armenian Day and
Sunday Schools. For information: 212-689-5880.

March 17Mid-West Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am to
3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) at
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

March 24New England Regional Seminar for Sunday school teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

March 25Celebration of the 40th anniversary of Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielians ordination to the priesthood. Save the date.

March 30Musical Armenia 2012 (29th concert of the series), sponsored
by the Eastern Prelacy and Prelacy Ladies Guild, 8 pm, Weill Recital
Hall, at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Featured artists: Marta
Bagratuni, cello (with Zhao Zhao Yank, piano); Hayk Arsenyan,
piano. Please note that this year Musical Armenia is on Friday
evening.

May 9-12National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted by
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island. Clergy conference on
May 9; full delegation May 10 to 12. Accommodations at Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Warwick, Rhode Island. Details will be forthcoming to parishes
and delegates.

May 11-12National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), 30th
anniversary celebration and annual conference in conjunction with the
National Representative Assembly, Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Rhode
Island. For information: Mary Derderian 781-762-4253.

May 4 thru May 24Sixteen performances in May (including matinee
performances on Saturdays and Sundays) of Herand M. Markarians new
play commissioned by the New York State Theater Institute,
Silence. With award-winning actress Lorraine Serabian. This story of
love, loss, and relentless search by a women for her son after the
Armenian genocide of 1915, is directed by Kevin Thomson. Performances
at the Shell Theater in the Times Square Arts Building, 300 West 43rd
Street, New York City. Reserve tickets now ($18): SmartTix.com or
212-868-4444. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]?subject=).

July 14Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild and ARS Ani Chapter,
Providence, Rhode Island, A Hye Summer Night VI dance, featuring
Hachig Kazarian, Richard Hagopian, Kenneth Kalajian, Jason Naroian, 8
pm to 1 am; $35 adults; $15 children 16 and under. At the Annunciation
Greek Orthodox Church, 175 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston, Rhode
Island. Mezza will be served. Limited seating. For tickets and
information: 401-434-4467 (Joyce Bagdasarian); 401-354-8770 (Joyce
Yeremian).

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

L’EQUIPE D’ALPINISTES D’ARMENIE EST PARVENUE AU SOMMET DU DEMAVEND (5 671 M)
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 4 fevrier 2012

Le 24 janvier une equipe d’alpinistes d’Armenie est parvenue a triomphe
du mont Demavend (5 671 m), le plus haut sommet d’Iran.

L’Armenie avait ete admise en 2011 pour participer a cette competition
d’alpinisme comprenant 216 sportifs venus de 25 pays. Au cours des
dix dernières annees, l’Armenie n’avait pas participe a des competions
internationales d’alpinisme.

CERTAINS SENATEURS EN VISITE EN AZERBAIDJAN
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
samedi 4 fevrier 2012

Du 5 au 10 fevrier, une delegation de senateurs ayant fait appel au
Conseil Constitutionnel dans l’objectif de faire abroger la loi Boyer
criminalisant la negation du genocide des armeniens, se rendront en
Azerbaïdjan a l’invitation du Comite d’Etat des Affaires religieuses.

Cette delegation comprends les senateurs Nathalie Goulet (Orne /
UCR)), Sylvie Goy-Chavent (Ain / UCR), Jean-Marie Bockel (Haut-Rhin /
UCR)), Herve Maurey (Eure / UCR), Andre Reichardt (Bas-Rhin / UMP)
et Jeanny Lorgeoux (Loir-et-Cher / PS), lesquels assisteront a des
reunions au sein du Parlement d’Azerbaïdjan et a des entretiens avec
certains ministres.

LA SENATRICE NATHALIE GOULET ET UNE DELEGATION D’ELUS FRANCAIS EN AZERBAIDJAN
Krikor Amirzayan

armenews.com
samedi 4 fevrier 2012

L’Azerbaïdjan sait recompenser ses amis. La senatrice Nathalie
Goulet l’une des pires opposantes a la Loi de penalisation du
negationnismene, très hostile aux Armeniens et très proche des interets
de l’Azerbaïdjan en France, se rendra a la tete d’une delegation
francaise en Azerbaïdjan. L’agence azerie Trend vient d’informer
qu’un groupe de Senateurs francais qui avait vote contre la loi de
penalisation de la negation du genocide armenien va se rendre du 5
au 10 fevrier en l’Azerbaïdjan. Ces Senateurs etant invites pour ce
sejour par le ministère azeri de la Diaspora. Cette delegation de
Sectateurs francais emmenee par Nathalie Goulet qui brille par ses
declarations anti-armeniennes, iront a Bakou goûter au caviar de la
Caspienne et louer les qualites du president azeri Aliev, l’un des
derniers dictateurs de la planète.

JAILED PUBLISHER ZARAKOLU UP FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Hurriyet Daily News
Feb 3 2012

Swedish MPs have applied to the Nobel Peace Committee to nominate
jailed publisher Ragıp Zarakolu for the peace prize, daily Radikal
reported today.

The MPs said Zarakolu was a symbol for the freedom of press, as well
as a defender of human rights.

The application further mentioned the books Zarakolu had published
on the Armenian and Kurdish issues, as well as Islam, and said his
efforts, for which he was jailed, contributed to bringing cultures
together.

Zarakolu is also a member of the Turkish PEN Center, as well as a
recipient of numerous prestigious international awards.

He was arrested on Nov. 1, 2011, alongside prominent academic BüÅ~_ra
Ersanlı and dozens of other suspects upon the order of an Istanbul
court over his alleged links with the KCK, the alleged urban wing of
the outlawed Kurdistan Workersâ~@~Y Party (PKK).

YEREVAN HOSTS IRANIAN ART EXHIBITION

Vestnik Kavkaza
Feb 3 2012
Russia

The Armenian National Gallery opened an exhibition of Iranian arts
and crafts dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution
on Wednesday, News Armenia reports.

Sayed Ali Sagayan, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of
Iran to Armenia, said that friendly ties of Armenia and Iran have
lasted for centuries , as seen in similarity of art and culture of
the two peoples.

The ambassador emphasized that close relations of Iranian and Armenian
artists serve an example for other peoples.

About 90 works of modern Iranian art, including vases, trays, wooden
clocks, utensils, stands for the Quran and books, were displayed.

Works of painter Ali Mohammad Sheikh were a highlight of the
exhibition. His style mixes modern and traditional art. The painter
said that his works use symbolism of sand and water, that he likes to
work with clay, dominating with natural blue, green and sand colours.

The exhibition was organized by the Iranian Embassy in Armenia.

HISTORY OF POST-SOVIET COUNTRIES NEEDS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION – EXPERT

Vestnik Kavkaza
Feb 3 2012
Russia

Today Vestnik Kavkaza hosted a conference devoted to the 20th
anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy. Member of the Moscow State
Institute for Foreign Affairs Leonid Gusyev took part in the event.

According to Gusyev, the history of post-Soviet countries needs
serious consideration.

“Twenty years ago the Soviet Union was a place where several
tragic events were unfolding. I mean those of Sumgait, Khojaly and
Nagorno-Karabakh,” Gusyev said.

“Those who were born in the 90s do not remember these events.

Moreover, they do not learn about them at school, as the history of
the late 20th century is taught rather badly,” he admitted.

“We – experts and tutors – should do our best to fill this gap,”
he concluded.

FRENCH HISTORIAN GAUIN: “THE DECISION WILL BE BLOW TO ARMENIAN NATIONALISM IN FRANCE”

Journal of Turkish Weekly

Feb 2 2012

JTW conducted an exclusive interview with Maxime Gauin on the current
debate regarding the appeal of French senators against the bill
prohibiting the denial of genocide.

Q: Seventy French senators collected the required number of signatures
demanding the repeal of a law criminalizing denial of the so-called
“Armenian genocide.” What are the general characteristics of those
seventy senators? Are they generally left wing or right wing? We know
that Jacques Mezard and Michel Diefenbacher spearheaded the appeal
for example but who else?

Maxime Gauin: More exactly, 77 senators and 65 deputies signed two
distinct, albeit similar, applications. For the Senate, this is very
mixed: 22 Socialists, 18 UMP (Nicolas Sarkozy’s party) members,
15 Liberals, 12 Centrists, 8 Greens and even 2 Communists. Such a
convergence of senators from all the groups is absolutely exceptional.

The motivations are mainly driven by the respect for constitutional law
and concern for maintaining good relations with Turkey. The relatively
strong presence of MPs of both the left and right from Alsace,
the region of France with, in proportion to the general population,
the biggest Turkish community, is easy to understand. In addition,
the absence on the list of signatures of some senators notoriously
against the bill is explained by the pressures exerted on them. I
think, for the UMP, on people like Gérard Larcher, former President of
the Senate, currently chairman of the Franco-Turkish friendship group;
for the Socialists, on people like Jean-Claude Carrère, Chairman of
the Foreign Affairs Committee, who interrupted speakers many times
during the debate of January 23, saying “Very good!” when a speech
was against the bill or “The argument is specious!” when an address
was in favor of the text.

Jacques Mézard is from the Radical Party, which is now rather small,
but was the main political party in France from its creation in 1901
to 1936 or 1940. There is a pro-Turkish and even more pro-Kemalist
tradition in this secular and humanist party. Mr. Mézard explicitly
placed his stance in this continuity.

In the Senate, two other main leaders who collected signatures were:
Nathalie Goulet (Centrist), supporter of Azerbaijan against the
Armenian occupation and now a vice-chairperson of the Franco-Turkish
friendship group in the Senate; and Bariza Khiari (Socialist), Vice
President of the Senate, who has a very objective approach of the
Turkish issues.

In the National Assembly, it is clearly different. Among the 65
signatories, you have 52 deputies of the UMP or a center-right party
closely allied to it, 11 Socialists and 2 independents. This is clearly
a kind of revolt by the UMP group, where Mr. Sarkozy was actually
never very popular, except perhaps during the first six months of his
mandate. UMP deputy Lionel Tardy said: “This is an atomic bomb for
the Ã~Ilysée [presidential palace, so Mr. Sarkozy himself], which
did not see anything coming.” I join in this appraisal. Mr. Sarkozy
did not notice the shift, and to be even more explicit, the anger in
the UMP bloc of the National Assembly.

In addition to chairman of the Franco-Turkish Friendship group Michel
Diefenbacher, the leaders in the National Assembly were: Jacques Myard,
a member of this group and a politician notorious for his contempt of
the politically correct; and two deputies of Alsace, Jean-Philippe
Maurer and Ã~Iric Straumann, who even asked the government to use
the urgent procedure, which means the Constitutional Council having
to decide in eight days instead of one month. For Mr.

Diefenbacher and Mr. Myard, the philosophical and foreign policy
reasons are predominant. I loved Mr. Diefenbacher’s comment on
his website: “This law is nonsense. […] France, the ‘country
of Enlightenment,’ has no vocation to join the exclusive club of
countries where the law imposes upon the citizens a certain way of
thinking. We are not North Korea or Cuba. Liberty, dear Liberty!”

For Mr. Maurer and Mr. Straumann, these reasons exist as well,
incontrovertibly; the presence of thousands of French citizens of
Turkish origin in their districts is probably also a reason.

Q: We know how Turkish officials reacted to the appeal, Prime Minister
Erdogan, President Gul, Foreign Minister Davutoglu and EU Minister
BagıÅ~_ all hailed the appeal. What about the French reaction?

Maxime Gauin: Mr. Sarkozy said to UMP deputies, with a considerable
understatement: “It did not help me.” That is very understandable:
He knows that the law is unconstitutional, but he hoped the
Constitutional Council could be seized only by a priority question of
constitutionality (Question prioritaire de constitutionnalité, QPC),
i.e., an application during a court case. The law would be crushed,
too, by a QPC, but later, after the presidential election. Mr. Sarkozy
even used an unsubstantiated argument: The applications of MPs would
threaten the Gayssot Act. This is false. The Gayssot Act forbids the
denial of the existence of a “crime against humanity” condemned by the
Nuremberg tribunal or by a French court. The qualification of these
crimes is left to freedom of expression. The word “Jews” is never
used. For example, if you deny that the Gypsies were subjected to mass
killing by the Nazis, you can be sued in the name of the Gayssot Act;
if you say that there were gas chambers and other criminal ways to
kill Gypsies but challenge the “genocide” label, nobody will sue you.

The Gayssot Act is backed only by the authority of res judicata and
contains no vague incrimination, unlike the Boyer bill. Such a comment
indicates how embarrassed Mr. Sarkozy–a lawyer by profession–is,
because of his improper initiative.

I did not find any comment on the website of the Socialist Party,
which apparently prefers to speak about economic and social concerns.

Actually, such problems are much more important for most of the
electorate than the limitation of free speech regarding events which
happened nearly a century ago in a foreign country.

Q: How will French-Turkish relations stand after the appeal?

Maxime Gauin: Engin Solakoglu, deputy chief and spokesman of the
Turkish embassy’s mission in Paris, stated that the relations, close
to rupture, will ease and the Turkish authorities are now awaiting the
decision of the Council. The applications to the Constitutional Council
are based on a solid argument, and there is no suspense regarding
the fate the Boyer bill, including in the eyes of several Armenian
nationalists. It would only be logical for the Council to censor the
“recognition” of the “genocide” allegation as well, even more since
the application of senators, and as far as I know of deputies as well,
uses Article 34 of the Constitution among other arguments. This article
precisely defines the field of law, and you cannot find any place to
qualify historical events. The MPs were sufficiently clever to avoid
any direct attack against the “recognition” of 2001, but to include
Article 34 in the argument is a barely implicit invitation to suppress
this law as well. Such a suppression would be in perfect accordance
with the jurisprudence of the Council: This institution has for years
considered it perfectly normal, in case of application by QPC or any
other way, to check not only the law charged of unconstitutionality,
but also any other law which is closely connected to it.

If both texts are deleted, excellent prospects will arise. On
the other hand, the Franco-Turkish associations must continue
the movement started during the last weeks and create a structure
comparable to the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
or the Federation of Turkish Associations in the United Kingdom
(FTA UK). These associations should be assisted by all legal means,
too. The decision of the Constitutional Council will be a considerable,
perhaps unprecedented , blow to Armenian nationalism in France, but
will not destroy it completely. For the Turkish side, in every aspect,
it is just the beginning.