Author: Ophelia Vardapetian

Libération, France
jeudi 26 mai 2005
Le génocide arménien privé de débat
Sous pression du gouvernement Erdogan, l’université du Bosphore
annule son colloque.
Par Marc SEMO
e génocide arménien de 1915 reste tabou au niveau officiel en
Turquie. Soumise à de lourdes pressions du gouvernement de Recep
Tayyip Erdogan (issu du mouvement islamiste) la présidence de
l’université du Bosphore a finalement annulé hier au dernier moment
un colloque , le premier du genre à Ankara, avec des historiens turcs
qui, comme Taner Akçam, remettent en cause la version officielle et
reconnaissent l’évidence du caractère génocidaire de ces tueries
planifiées qui ont fait entre un million et un million et demi de
morts. Ankara avance le chiffre de 350 000 victimes et affirme que
les massacres ont eu lieu des deux côtés. «C’est un coup de poignard
dans le dos du gouvernement et de l’Etat que d’organiser une telle
réunion dans un tel moment», avait martelé mardi devant le Parlement
le ministre de la Justice Cemil Cicek accusant les organisateurs de
«trahison» de l’intérêt national. Alors qu’Ankara devrait commencer
en octobre prochain les négociations d’adhésion avec l’Union
européenne, de plus en plus de voix s’élèvent parmi les 25 pour
inciter la Turquie à affronter cette page tragique de son histoire.
Les autorités appellent sans conviction à «un débat d’historiens».
Une partie de l’intelligentsia est bien décidée à assumer ce travail
de mémoire. «Ce colloque sans précédent montrait que les choses
commençaient à bouger, souligne Ahmet Insel, professeur à Paris-I et
à l’université de Galatasaray, son interdiction de fait ne peut que
servir les franges les plus radicales de la diaspora arménienne qui
veulent démontrer que rien ne peut changer sur ce sujet en Turquie.»
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

French mediator denies Karabakh talks deadlocked – Azeri agency
Turan news agency
27 May 05
BAKU
“I do not agree that negotiations on the Karabakh settlement have
reached deadlock,” the French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Bernard Fassier, told today’s press conference in Baku.
Fassier noted that before the Warsaw meeting between the presidents of
the two countries [Azerbaijan and Armenia on 15 May], the co-chairmen
had contacted the foreign ministers once a week or once in 10
days. The co-chairmen are scheduled to meet [Armenian] Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan in early June, and the foreign ministers will
meet each other in mid-June. The co-chairmen will visit the region
again at the end of the month, Fassier said. He said that “a big step
forward” was made at the Warsaw meeting.
“We have moved from discussions to negotiations of the principles of
the settlement. There is some progress on some parameters. Efforts are
now concentrated on two parameters: withdrawal of Armenian troops from
the territories around Nagornyy Karabakh and the future status of this
region,” Fassier said.
Commenting on yesterday’s meeting with Defence Minister Safar Abiyev,
Fassier noted that he did not say anything new there. “Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity has been recognized by many, and nobody has
recognized Nagornyy Karabakh yet,” Fassier said.
When asked what was behind harsh statements by the two countries’
presidents, Fassier noted that they were meant for “internal
consumption”.
The launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline “will accelerate”
the settlement of the conflict, Fassier said. Both sides understand
that time has come to reach a peace agreement, the French co-chairman
concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Amnesty demands changes in the new Turkish Penal Code
Kurdish Media
May 16 2005
16/05/2005 Info-Turk A new version of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC)
currently before the Turkish parliament for approval may be used
to unnecessarily restrict the right to freedom of expression and
couldresult in people being jailed as prisoners of conscience. It also
leaves open the possibility of discrimination on grounds of sexual
orientation within the law, and retains obstacles to prosecutions
for torture.
The new TPC has been presented as a reforming measure designed to
improve human rights protection in Turkey, as it attempts to bring its
laws into line with the requirements for membership of the European
Union. While the new TPC does propose many positive changes – for
example, it increases the punishment for those convicted of torture –
it contains numerous restrictions on fundamental rights. Provisions
covering freedom of expression, which have been used in the past to
prosecute people or imprison them as prisoners of conscience, remain.
Article 159 of the old TPC, which criminalized acts that “insult or
belittle” various state institutions, is one that Amnesty International
has repeatedly called on the authorities to abolish. It reappears as
Article 301 of the new TPC in the section entitled “Crimes against
symbols of the state’s sovereignty and the honour of its organs”
(Articles 299 – 301). Amnesty International is concerned that this
section could be used to criminalize legitimate expression of dissent
and opinion.
New articles have been introduced which appear to introduce further
restrictions to fundamental rights. Article 305 of the new TPC
criminalizes “acts against the fundamental national interest”. The
explanation attached to the draft, when the law was first presented to
Parliament, provided as examples of such crimes, “making propaganda for
the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from Cyprus or for the acceptance
of a settlement in this issue detrimental to Turkey… or, contrary
to historical truths, that the Armenians suffered a genocide after the
First World War.” Amnesty International considers that the imposition
of a criminal penalty for any such statements – unless intended or
likely to incite violence – would be a clear breach of international
standards safeguarding freedom of expression.
The law was supposed to enter into force on 1 April 2005. However, in
the face of forceful objections by Turkish journalists that the TPC
could be used to greatly restrict their activitiesand even imprison
them, the government agreed to delay this until 1 June 2005 in order
to make amendments.
On 3 May, the ruling Justice and Development [AK] party submitted its
proposed changes to the draft TPC. While some small changes have been
made – mainly the removal of provisions that allowed for increased
sentences when breaches of the code took place in the media – most of
the restrictive articles remain and have not been changed. In at least
one instance, the ruling party is apparently trying to introduce even
greater restrictions: for example, the proposal suggests that Article
305 should be altered to explicitly allow for the prosecution of
“foreigners” as well as Turkish citizens
Article 122 of the draft, which forbids discrimination on the basis
of “language, race, colour, gender, political thought, philosophical
belief, religion, denomination and other reasons” originally listed
“sexual orientation”, but this was removed from the draft at the
last moment. Amnesty International is therefore concerned that
discrimination on the basis of sexuality is not criminalized in the
new law.
In addition, Amnesty International is concerned that the statute
of limitations (the time limit) still applies in trials of people
accused of torture. While the new law has extended this time limit
from seven-and-a-half years to 10 years, it is common for trials
of alleged torturers to be deliberately protracted and ultimately
abandoned because of this provision, thereby contributing to a
climate of impunity. Given the frequency with which this happens,
Amnesty International considers that there should be no statute of
limitations for the crime of torture.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as
possible, in English or your own language:
– expressing concerns about the draft new TPC, much of which may be
used to unnecessarily restrict fundamental human rights and which may
lead to people being imprisoned for the peaceful exercise of their
right to freedom of expression;
– welcoming the amendments tabled by the ruling AK party but stating
that these seem to be insufficient to guarantee the right to freedom
of expression in Turkey;
– urging the authorities to listen to the concerns of press and human
rights groups, and take further steps to amend or abolish problematic
articles of the TPC, such as Articles 305 and 301;
– expressing concern that the statute of limitations remains for
crimes of torture and ill-treatment;
– asking the authorities to take steps to ensure that discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited. (AI Index, 13 May 2005)
APPEALS TO:
Prime Minister Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik 06573 Ankara Turkey Salutation: Dear Prime Minister Fax:
+ 90 312 417 0476
Leader of the Republican People’s Party Mr Deniz Baykal Leader of the
Republican People’s Party Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi Cevre sokak No:38
Cankaya, Ankara Turkey Salutation: Dear Sir Fax: +90 312 467 0996
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA’S CHIEF PROSECUTOR TO PROMISE TO PUNISH VANDALS
By Ruzan Poghosian
AZG Armenian Daily #088, 18/05/2005
Cooperation
The chief prosecutor of Georgia, Zurab Adeishvili, will take a
harder line against those destructing Armenian cultural monuments in
Georgia. Georgian delegation headed by Adeishvili arrived in Armenia
on invitation of Armenian chief prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian to
discuss face to face issues of the region. In a press conference at
the Prosecutor’s Office yesterday the two chief prosecutors briefly
presented two-sided projects. Aghvan Hovsepian said that during the
last 5 months Armenia’s law-enforcement bodies received 30 orders
from Georgia and sent only 7. The sale of vehicles hijacked from
Georgia has got intensified for the last period. They are imported
to Armenia mainly by the citizens of South Ossetia. Georgian chief
prosecutor spoke of their experience in fight against corruption
citing examples of toppling ministers and imprisoning judges. The
prosecutors assured that the new cooperation will help in creating
mechanisms to minimize crimes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #084, 11/05/2005
Poll
WHO TRUSTS WHO IN CAUCASUS?
Gellap international initiated public opinion poll in 3 Transcaucasian
republics, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, to find out in which world power
leader the citizens of these states put their trust and their attitude
towards those powers. President of Armenian Sociological Organization Gevorg
Poghosian informed that 1 thousand people from every class of society took
part in the poll in every state.
So, 87% of Armenians, 51% of Azeris and 15% of Georgians trust President
Vladimir Putin of Russia, US President George W. Bush won the trust of 45%
of Georgians, citizens of the other two states are equal in their likings
for America: 32%. Georgians, 64%, believe in Ukrainian President Viktor
Yuschenko too. In Azerbaijan and Armenia the numbers were 34% and 27%.
As it could be expected, no one in Azerbaijan trusts Armenian President
Robert Kocharian but 19% of Georgians and 63% of Armenians still do so. 2%
of our compatriots, 38% of Georgians and 77% of Azeris themselves trust
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Georgian President Ilham Aliyev is most
mistrusted in Armenia – 26%. In Azerbaijan and Georgia it is 54% and 72%.
The President of Byelorussia Alexander Lukashenko won most of the votes in
Armenia – 40% and the least in Georgia – 15%. In Azerbaijan the number was
22%.
Most of the respondents, 38%, see Russia as the next possible target of a
revolution. 26$ pointed to Armenia, 17% to Azerbaijan.
By Ruzan Poghosian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Chinese Undercut Armenian Diamond Tool Maker
By Ketan Tanna Posted: 5/3/2005 8:07 AM
Diamonds.net, NY
May 3 2005
(Rapaport…May 3, 2005) Armenia’s synthetic diamond tools manufacturer
Almast faces stiff competition from China for its Armenia, Iran,
Russia, and European Union markets.
Armenia’s news agency ARMINFO reported on April 27 that China dumped
cheap diamond tools on Armenia’s market as well, which has limited
Almast’s profit, already low at $40,000 in 2004. The plant employs
180 people at an average wage of $114 per month.
Almast was founded in 1954. The designed capacity of the plant is 50
million carats of diamond powder annually.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
April 30 2005
Press Scan
ERDOGAN: POLITICAL RELATIONS CAN BE SET UP WITH YEREVAN
MILLIYET- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a historic opening
and said political relations could be set up with Yerevan.
Erdogan gave the message that, ”while on the one side, historians
work on Armenian issue, political relations can be carried out on the
other side.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Die Türkei sieht sich immer noch als Opfer
Die Türkei sieht sich immer noch als Opfer
Ankara fordert die Ã-ffnung aller Archive, um die Wahrheit über
die “armenische Tragödie” herauszufinden
von Boris Kalnoky
In Eriwan hängt eine Fotowand mit Bildern von 90 noch lebenden
Zeitzeugen
Foto: dpa
Istanbul – Wer dem türkischen AuÃ=9Fenminister Abdullah Gül
lange genug zuhört, dem beginnt die Türkei leid zu tun. Eine
kleine Gruppe geistig verwirrter Menschen, die nicht mehr wissen, wer
sie sind, bringt das unschuldige Land mit bösartigen Lügen in
derartige politische Bedrängnis, daÃ=9F am Ende noch der ersehnte
EU-Beitritt darunter leiden könnte.
Die Irren, von denen die Rede ist, sind “gewisse Teile der armenischen
Diaspora”, sagt Gül, “die an Schuldkomplexen und
Identitätsproblemen leiden”. Sie, die groÃ=9Fe Worte schwingen,
um Gerechtigkeit für ihr Volk zu fordern, weigern sich selbst,
irgend etwas für ihr Volk zu tun: “Ihren ganzen Reichtum, den sie
im Westen erworben hatten, müÃ=9Ften sie nach Armenien bringen.
Sie müÃ=9Ften selbst in die Heimat zurückkehren, wie die
Juden das mit Israel machen”, giftet Gül. Aber nein, die
Exil-Armenier sind zu geizig und bequem. Statt dessen verbreiten sie
Lügen über einen Völkermord, der, so Gül, nie
stattgefunden hat.
Am Sonntag gedenken die Armenier des groÃ=9Fen Sterbens, das vor 90
Jahren begann. Sie selbst und weite Teile der Weltöffentlichkeit
nennen es den ersten Völkermord der modernen Geschichte. Gül
und die türkische Regierung nennen es, wie alle türkischen
Regierungen seit den Greueltaten, neutral und ohne Schuldgefühle
eine “Tragödie”.
Insbesondere Gül hat jedoch erkannt, daÃ=9F die Genozidfrage
allmählich zu einem ernsten diplomatischen Problem wird.
Europäische Länder und Politiker, die einen EU-Beitritt der
Türkei verhindern wollen, fordern als Vorbedingung ein
Schuldeingeständnis, das politischen Selbstmord für jede
türkische Regierung bedeuten würde. Die Armenier nutzen
ihrerseits die Gunst der Stunde und drängen die Parlamente der
Staaten immer erfolgreicher dazu, die Massaker von 1915 bis 1923
offiziell als “Völkermord” anzuerkennen.
Die Türkei hat bislang nie mehr als defensive Allgemeinheiten zu
der Debatte beigetragen. Es herrschte Krieg, die Armenier machten mit
dem Feind gemeinsame Sache, daher war die Regierung gezwungen, sie zu
deportieren, lautet die Argumentation. Der Rest sei eine Folge
unglücklicher Umstände gewesen – mörderische Angriffe der
Lokalbevölkerung gegen die Deportierten, mangelnde Hygiene und
versagende Bürokraten, die aber oft für ihre Haltung vor
Gericht zur Verantwortung gezogen, teilweise sogar hingerichtet worden
seien.
DaÃ=9F das nicht genügt, hat Gül erkannt. Er steht an der
Spitze einer neuen türkischen Kampagne, die die
Weltöffentlichkeit mit Fakten und Argumenten überzeugen will,
daÃ=9F zwar viel Blut vergossen wurde, aber kein Völkermord
stattgefunden hat. Zentrale StoÃ=9Frichtung dieser Strategie ist die
Forderung, “alle Archive zu öffnen”. Dann werde man sehen, wer
recht hat.
Es ist ein geschickter Schachzug. Die Türkei hat wirklich ihre
Archive geöffnet, “sogar die Militärarchive”, sagt Gül.
“Wir sind dabei vollkommen ehrlich. Wenn wir etwas verstecken oder
zerstören würden und erst dann die Historiker an die Dokumente
lassen, dann würden die Experten das sofort merken. Wir sind also
völlig offen in dieser Sache.” Er fordert nun auch “Frankreich,
Deutschland und Armenien” auf, ihre Archive vorbehaltlos zu öffnen
und von Historikern auswerten zu lassen. Das richtet sich vor allem
gegen Armenien, das bislang offenbar keinen freien Zugang zu seinen
Archiven gewährt. Das zeigt die Türkei in gutem Licht, und
Armenien sieht so aus, als habe es etwas zu verbergen. Gül droht
nun gar, “wir werden versuchen, die Ã-ffnung der Archive zu
erzwingen”.
Die türkischen Staatsarchive haben es ihrerseits mit der “Wahrheit”
so eilig, daÃ=9F sie gar nicht erst auf die Historiker warten.
Kürzlich wurde aus Archivquellen eine Liste von Massakern an
türkischen Zivilisten durch armenische Gruppen zusammengetragen.
Laut türkischen Medienberichten ergibt sich daraus die
atemberaubende Opferzahl von mehr als einer halben Million
türkischer Zivilisten. Nach herkömmlicher türkischer
Auffassung starben “nur” etwa 300 000 Armenier in jenen Jahren. Ein
Genozid nicht also an Armeniern, sondern an Türken?
Man muÃ=9F schon genau hinsehen, um die entscheidende Schwachstelle
der türkischen Taktik zu erkennen. Die Staatsarchive enthalten
wahrscheinlich wirklich keinen Hinweis darauf, daÃ=9F die Vernichtung
eines groÃ=9Fen Teiles der armenischen Bevölkerung Staatspolitik
war, weil die Staatsorgane nicht mit der Umsetzung des Völkermordes
betraut waren. Neutrale, der Türkei wohlgesinnte Historiker wie
Erik J. Zürcher (Turkey – a Modern History, 1993, jüngste
Ausgabe 2001) weisen darauf hin, daÃ=9F die Opferzahlen wohl irgendwo
zwischen den Angaben beider Lager liegen, vermutlich bei 600 000 bis 800
000 Menschenleben, und daÃ=9F weder der formale Verwaltungsapparat
noch das Militär Order hatten, die Armenier als Volk zu
liquidieren.
Ein “innerer Kreis” der damals regierenden Jungtürken unter Leitung
von Innenminister Talaat Pascha habe jedoch vermutlich sehr wohl
beabsichtigt, die Armenier unter dem Deckmantel der Deportationen
auszurotten. Mit der Umsetzung seien jedoch weder Staat noch
Militär, sondern die ideologisch verläÃ=9Flicheren internen
Parteistrukturen betraut worden, vor allem die sogenannte
Spezialorganisation, ein ZusammenschluÃ=9F jungtürkischer
Offiziere, die in vielen Konflikten im In- und Ausland bereits als
Untergrundorganisation gewirkt hatten. Und hier kommt der springende
Punkt: Die Archive dieser Organisation sind zerstört, und jene der
Jungtürken (das Komitee für Einheit und Fortschritt) gelten
als verloren.
Die Ã-ffnung der türkischen Staatsarchive sieht mithin sehr gut
aus, ist aber vermutlich irrelevant. Wenn es je türkische Dokumente
gab, die einen Genozid belegen, dann waren sie nie dort.
Artikel erschienen am Sa, 23. April 2005
Artikel drucken
© WELT.de 1995 – 2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan News Service
March 29 2005
JEWISH DIASPORA MAY TAKE QARABAQ CONFLICT TO U.S. CONGRESS DEBATE
2005-03-29 09:23
Jewish diaspora in the United States of America may bring Daqliq
Qarabaq issue to discussion of Congress. President of `Veinberg’ fund
of Jewish community in America Sheyd Steller visiting Azerbaijan said
he will appeal to the Congress regarding the issue. Mr. Sheyd Steller
said he needs to collect detailed information on the conflict before
suggesting discussion at Congress and other international
organizations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPE MOURNS THE POPE WHO HELPED REUNITE A CONTINENT
Agence France Press
Friday, 8 April 2005
ZAGREB, April 8 (AFP) – Europeans Friday took time out to remember
Pope John Paul II, credited with setting in motion a chain of events
which led to the collapse of communism and the reunification of a
continent torn apart by war.
Around Europe, almost a year since 10 mostly communist countries
joined the European Union swelling the EU family to 25 nations,
people were remembering the role played by the pope in modern post-war
European history.
In Zagreb, the flag was flying at half-mast above the city’s imposing
cathedral, where dozens of candles were lit inside in remembrance of
the pontiff.
“When I learnt of his death, I felt as if I had lost someone very
close,” said businessman Miljenko Berislavic, watching the pope’s
funeral in Rome on a television screen in one of the city’s cafes.
Croatians, like many peoples in the region, felt overwhelming gratitude
towards Pope John Paul II, for his support as it struggled for its
independence from Yugoslavia in the bloody 1991-95 conflict.
Pope John Paul II, who was born in Poland, was the first eastern
European to be appointed at the head of the Roman Catholic church.
He was never to forget his roots, and during his first visit to Poland
in 1979 just after being appointed, he appeared before the crowds
and said: “May the spirit come down and renew the face of this land.”
His words were interpreted by many as an exhortation to stand up to
the oppressive communist regime.
The fledgling Solidarity union movement took strength from the pope’s
words, and a decade later the Berlin Wall fell, leading to the collapse
of the Soviet Union and its grip on eastern Europe.
In mostly Orthodox Ukraine, churches in the Catholic west of the
country were packed to mark the funeral of the man revered for leading
a revival of Catholicism after the breakup of the Soviet Union.
“This day is the hardest in my life,” Ganna Kovalets, a 76-year-old
Greco Catholic worshipper said at one of the churches, with tears in
her eyes. “There is an emptiness in my soul.”
In Russia hundreds were watching the funeral in silence on a giant
screen in the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the centre
of Moscow.
Some were crying, others had their heads bent in prayer, in front of
a large photo of John Paul II, after Russian television refused to
broadcast the ceremony live.
“The pope for me was a moral voice and it is a great misfortune and
injustice that he could not come to Russia,” said museum employee
Yevgenia.
The Russian Orthodox church had refused to allow the pope to visit
the country, judging the time was not right.
In France, thousands of people applauded outside the Notre Dame
cathedral when the pope’s coffin was shown on giant screens inside
and outside the church being borne aloft in Rome.
A few hundred people also gathered at the Sacre Coeur which towers
above the French capital. There were similar gatherings across France,
and in churches in parts of Germany, particularly the Catholic
strongholds in the south.
Despite reluctance from the Serbian authorities, the funeral was
broadcast live in Belgrade as it was in Bulgaria.
Church bells also tolled across the Czech Republic at midday, with
flags on public buildings, including the building of the Czech Senate,
flying at half-mast as the country, like Hungary, observed a day of
national mourning.
Meanwhile, gypsies in Romania announced they were postponing for a day
an international festival as a mark of respect for the late pontiff.
“John Paul II worked a lot for multi-cultural respect. For us his
26-year pontificate was historic. The Roma people of all religions
in Romania loved him a lot,” said Roma leader Aven Amentza.
In largely Roman Catholic countries, such as Spain and Portugal,
bells tolled and special masses were held, although most people
appeared to have chosen to watch the pope’s funeral in their own homes.
In Lisbon, a giant television screen was set up outside a Roman
Catholic church in the heart of the Portuguese capital, and the
small crowd stood in silence or quietly prayed as they listened to
the proceedings.
And in a small orphanage in northern Armenia built with the pope’s
help after the 1988 earthquake, the pope’s death was being felt as
a very personal loss.
“We prayed for the peace of the pope’s soul. It is a great loss for
all the Catholics in the whole world. He was an exceptional spiritual
leader with his humanism and courage,” said Sister Aruciak.
In Brussels, the heart of the European Union, the bells tolled and
all the flags on the European institutions were flying at half-mast.
But in the Netherlands and Britain, ceremonies were more low-key with
only a few hundred people turning out for special masses.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress