Author: Tadevosian Garnik

Agence France Presse — English
October 18, 2007 Thursday 1:53 PM GMT

Five Turks face life for Christian murders

A Turkish prosecutor sought life sentences Thursday for five youths
accused of the gruesome murders in April of three Christians, one of
them a German, a report said Thursday.

The suspects, aged 19 and 20, are expected to go on trial within a
month, the Anatolia news agency said.

A German missionary and two Turkish converts to Christianity, members
of the tiny Protestant community in the eastern city of Malatya, had
their throats slit in the offices of a Christian publishing house
there on April 18.

They were tied to chairs and tortured as the assailants interrogated
them on their missionary activities before killing them.

Four of the suspects were captured at the scene.

Their alleged leader, 19-year-old Emre Gunaydin, jumped from the
third-floor office’s window as police arrived and was hospitalised
with serious head injuries. He has since recovered.

The murders followed those of a Roman Catholic priest last year and
an ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in January, fuelling concern
that nationalism and hostility against non-Muslims is on the rise in
Turkey.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the time that she was
troubled by an "unacceptable intolerance" in Turkey, a candidate for
European Union membership.

Gunaydin had reportedly visited the publishing house, Zirve, several
times and attended an Easter dinner hosted by the Protestant
community in Malatya.

The publishing house distributed bibles and published Christian
literature.

Details of the charges brought against the suspects were not
immediately known.

They had been accused of setting up a terrorist organisation and
murder when they were jailed in April pending trial.

Iranian president to pay an official visit to Armenia on October 22-23

2007-10-19 17:48:00
ArmInfo.

The Armenian presidential press-service told ArmInfo that on October 22
Armenian and Iranian Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad will have a face-to-face meeting, which will be followed by
an enlarged meeting of Armenian and Iranian delegations. The sides will
sign documents on bilateral cooperation. Afterwards the presidents will
give a joint press-conference. M.Ahmadinejad will also meet Speaker of
the Armenian National Assembly Tigran Torosyan and make a speech in the
Armenian parliament. The Iranian president will visit the
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex dedicated to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide 1915 in Ottoman Turkey, and the Museum of Genocide.
He will meet lecturers and students of the Yerevan State University,
visit the Blue Mosque in Yerevan, and meet
representatives of the Iranian community in Armenia.

The Iranian delegation headed by President Ahmadinejad will leave
Yerevan on October 23.

KOTAYK CHURCH REANOINTED

Panorama.am
20:33 18/10/2007

Archbishop Arakel Karamyan, leader of the diocese of Kotayk, recently
reanointed the St. Karapet church in the village of Akunk.

On the occasion, the Holy Father passed the blessings and
congratulations of Catholicos Garegin II to the people. In Bishop
Arakel’s words, the renovation of the church was not the end purpose,
but instead was the spiritual fulfillment of the people. "With
our daily presence, and our prayers, we give this beautiful stone
structure life and breath, and make this stone temple a spiritual
temple," he said.

Vladimir Gasparyan, head of the Armenian Military Police and the
sponsor of the church’s renovation, along with provincial and
government representatives, was present at the day’s events.

RIZHKOV ARRIVING

A1+
[11:59 am] 18 October, 2007

The 13-th session of the RA NA and the Armenian-Russian
Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Commission will start their work
tomorrow at the NA.

Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly, and Co-Chairmen of
the Armenia-Russia Inter- Parliamentary Cooperation Commission, Vahan
Hovhannisyan and Nikolay Rizhkov will make speeches at the session.

Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly will receive the
Co-Chairman of the Commission Nikolay Rizhkov.

The works of the RA NA and the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation
Commission will be concluded by the press conference of the
Co-Chairmen.

ARMENIA SHOULD RELEASE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN

demaz.org, Azerbaijan
Oct 18 2007

October 16, Milli Mejlis chairman, Ogtay Asadov, met with delegation
headed by the leader of inter-parliamentary group Germany-South
Caucasus of German Bundestag, Steffen Raiche.

Milli Mejlis chairman said: such visits serve for further development
of our relations. Cooperation with Germany, which occupies special
place in Europe, is very important for Azerbaijan. Our nations have
historical close relations. Early XIX century representatives of our
intellectuals studied in Germany, and German businessmen used to be
occupied in different productive fields of our country. Ancient and
rich culture of Azerbaijan always attracted Germans. Early XIX century
in Gandja, Khanlar, Tovus and other regions of Azerbaijan there were
created first German settlements.

After restoration of independence of Azerbaijan relations between two
countries stepped in new stage. Political will and mutual visits of the
heads of both states greatly contributed in development of cooperation.

It was underlined that our country, which achieved successes in
building legal, secular state, takes use of German experience. Close
cooperation has been established between parliament of
Azerbaijan and Bundestag of Germany. In Milli Mejlis work group on
inter-parliamentary relations with Germany is functioning, and in
Bundestag – inter-parliamentary group Germany-South Caucasus. Mutual
visits, fruitful activity of our deputies in different international
structures makes us closer, developing our relations.

O. Asadov said that Society on Technical Cooperation of Germany
is realizing number of projects in our country. German Government
actively partakes in realization TRACECA, INOGATE projects, program
of commercial security. Fruitful cooperation has been established in
the fields of science, education, culture.

Milli Mejlis chairman specially emphasized that Azerbaijan contributes
in energetic security of Europe, underlining that owing to oil-pipe
line Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, gas pipe line Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum,
development of transport infrastructure our country plays the role
of specific bridges between Europe and Asia.

Having provided guest with detailed information relating to
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, O. Asadov declared that this problem
impedes Azerbaijan’s integration in Euroatlantic area and revival
of the whole region. He stressed that Azerbaijan advocates peaceful
regulation of the conflict within the frames of the standards of
international law. Milli Mejlis chairman expressed hope for German’s
support of just position of Azerbaijan.

Head of inter-parliamentary group Germany-South Caucasus, Steffen
Raiche, said that they are satisfied with meetings they had in
Azerbaijan and ongoing development of the country. He said; Germany
takes interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan in political, economic,
cultural fields, in the field of science, education, tourism.

Azerbaijan’s progress attracts German investors. Taking certain steps
to facilitate visa related issues is envisaged.

Having declared that they support territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
in regulation of Nagorni-Garabagh conflict, guest stressed: Armenia
should release occupied territories of Azerbaijan. They should
understand that hostility with strong state is useless.

View exchange concerning issues in which sides take interests was held.

Génocide arménien : l’armée turque met en garde Washington
LE MONDE | 15.10.07 | 15h50 . Mis à jour le 15.10.07 | 15h50

,1-0@2-3 214,36-967001@51-963706,0.html

Le chef d’état-major de l’armée turque, le général Yasar Büyükanit, a
averti, dimanche 14 octobre, dans un entretien publié dans le quotidien turc
à grand tirage Milliyet, que les relations entre la Turquie et Washington
seraient altérées de façon irréversible si le Congrès américain votait un
projet de loi qualifiant de génocide le massacre d’Arméniens au début du XXe
siècle dans l’Empire ottoman.

"Si la résolution qui a été votée en commission (mercredi 10 octobre) est
adoptée par la Chambre des représentants, nos relations dans le domaine
militaire avec les Etats-Unis ne seront plus jamais les mêmes", a-t-il
souligné, en précisant : "Les Etats-Unis sont clairement un allié important
(pour la Turquie). Mais un pays allié ne se comporte pas d’une telle façon."

Au lendemain de l’adoption du texte de la commission des affaires étrangères
de la Chambre des représentants – contre lequel s’était élevé le président
américain George Bush -, Ankara avait rappelé pour consultations son
ambassadeur à Washington. Les dirigeants civils et militaires turcs se sont
depuis concertés afin d’envisager des mesures de rétorsion contre les
Etats-Unis. Une visite du ministre turc du commerce a été annulée ainsi
qu’une réunion du Conseil du commerce américano-turc.

La Turquie pourrait en outre restreindre l’accès des forces américaines à la
base aérienne d’Incirlik, plaque tournante du transit américain vers l’Irak
ou l’Afghanistan, et prendre d’autres mesures de représailles dans le
domaine de la coopération militaire entre les deux alliés de l’OTAN. Près de
70 % du ravitaillement aérien destiné à l’Irak, un tiers du carburant et 95
% des engins blindés, vitaux pour les soldats américains transitent par la
Turquie. – (AP, Reuters.)

HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION LOOMS OVER BILL

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 15 2007

Washington stepped up efforts over the weekend to soothe Ankara’s
anger over the US House’s adoption of a resolution labeling the mass
killings of Anatolian Armenians during World War I as genocide, but
there do not seem to be even any minor signs of backing down in the
Turkish capital, which asserts that the resolution is a fatal blow
to the future of bilateral relations between the two NATO allies.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said that Turkey would not be
deterred by the possible consequences, if it decides to stage a
cross-border offensive into Iraq.

The US administration’s efforts to contain possible damage are also
facing a daunting challenge from the rival Democrats, who remain
determined to press ahead with the resolution despite Ankara’s fury
and calls from the Republican administration against the motion.

"I said if it passed the committee that we would bring it to the
floor," Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said on
ABC television, claiming that possible reprisals affecting Turkey’s
cooperation with the US military were "hypothetical" and would not
derail the resolution. "Some of the things that are harmful to our
troops relate to values — Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, torture. All of
those issues [are] about who we are as a country. And I think that
our troops are well served when we declare who we are as a country
and increase the respect that people have for us as a nation."

Despite openly and loudly expressed concerns by the US side over
Turkey’s intention to launch a military operation into northern Iraq
to tackle the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bases there,
a government bill seeking the go-ahead to launch an incursion in the
next year is expected to be submitted to Parliament after a Cabinet
meeting on Monday.On the military front, the top Turkish commander
bluntly warned Washington about the fatal impact of the resolution on
the deeply strategic military cooperation between the two countries,
describing the resolution as "a shot in the foot" for the US side.

US-Turkish military ties will never be the same if US lawmakers confirm
the committee vote, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaþar Buyukanýt said
in remarks published in the Sunday edition of the Milliyet daily.

Republicans are accusing Democrats, who control Congress, of waging an
"irresponsible" campaign of dubious historical validity that will hurt
US troops in Iraq. Turkey’s furious reaction to the congressional
vote has fuelled fears within the Bush administration that it
could lose access to a crucial military base in NATO ally Turkey,
affecting a vital supply line for US troops in Iraq. Adm. Metin Atac,
the commander-in-chief of the Turkish navy, has cancelled a planned
visit to the United States in protest.

While acknowledging strains in the US-Turkish relations following a
vote last week by the US Congressional committee on the resolution,
US Secretary of State Condoleez-za Rice said that she urged restraint
concerning Ankara’s plans for a military incursion into northern Iraq
during her telephone conversations on Friday with Turkey’s president,
prime minister and foreign minister.

"If terrorism is based in a neighboring country and if that country
does very little about it, then it falls upon us to act. After taking
this road, the cost is already calculated. The bill will be paid,"
Erdoðan said on Friday, responding to questions about international
reaction should such an operation take place. Erdoðan, in remarks
particularly critical of US demands, stressed that "nobody asked our
permission before launching an attack on Iraq from tens of thousands
of kilometers away." He also said that his country "had no need of
advice from anyone on the subject of an operation" against Iraq.

On Saturday, US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Dan
Fried and US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman flew
to Ankara from Moscow, where they had accompanied Rice. The hastily
held visit came as an apparent signal of the depth of US concerns
over the future of bilateral relations as well as of US recognition
of the gravity of Turkey’s resentment.

Edelman and Fried faced harsh criticism from Turkish officials over
the resolution in Ankara, which last week recalled its ambassador
in Washington, Nabi Þensoy, as part of its moves to demonstrate that
it is not "bluffing." Turkish officials told Fried and Edelman that
"if the resolution is passed in the House, it will lead to irreparable
damage in our relationship with the United States."

While the White House said it hoped for Þensoy’s speedy return to his
post, Þensoy, for his part, has made it clear that his being called
to the Turkish capital for consultations was "more of a protest."

Upon his arrival in Ýstanbul on Saturday, when reminded of media
interpretations suggesting that "he was withdrawn from his post in
Washington," Þensoy said: "The term ‘withdrawing’ is also used for
‘consultations’ in our diplomatic use [of terms]. This has a sui
generis meaning. It expressed more of a protest. It [my being called
for consultations] should be considered within that framework."

——————————– ————————————————

Report: Turkey shells Iraq border areas

Turkish troops have begun shelling areas across the Iraqi border in
the autonomous Kurdish region, a news report said yesterday. "The
shelling began on Saturday night around 10 pm (1900 GMT)," Agence
France-Presse quoted an Iraqi officer as saying, speaking on condition
of anonymity. "It carried on sporadically," he said, adding that
the shells had struck vacant areas without causing any casualties. A
witness said the shells hit around villages in the Al-Amadiyah area
about 15 kilometers from the frontier and 50 kilometers northeast of
the town of Dohuk. Wahid Kista, 42, who lives in the village of Kista,
said by telephone the shelling was targeting villages in the Mt. Metin
area "where the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] has bases."

Iraqi and Turkish officials met in Baghdad on Friday in an attempt to
reduce tensions. A terse statement from the Iraqi government gave few
details of what Iraqi Defense Minister Abdel Qader Mohammed Jassim
and Ambassador Derya Kanbay discussed.

–Boundary_(ID_L7wWpIcTqsl+3AZTmbx/+A) —

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkey wrangles with US: Resolution in exchange for PKK
12.10.2007 19:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A delegation of Turkish members of parliament, who
were in Washington to lobby against the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
warned on October 11 that the US-Turkish alliance could suffer serious
damage unless Washington made a goodwill gesture, such as adopting a
much tougher stance toward the PKK, a Kurdish terrorist organization.

"The only remedy of yesterday’s mistake is concrete cooperation in the
fight against the PKK," said Egemen Bagis, an MP and foreign policy
advisor to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "I don’t know
of any other option that can somehow soften the hearts of 72 million
Turks."

"Some members of the US Congress yesterday wanted to play hardball,"
he continued. "I can assure you that Turkey can play hardball. Our
experience of having a state is 1,000 years old. The ball is in your
court, and you have to show us that Turkey matters. Show us on the
PKK, show us on bringing this to the floor or not bringing this to the
floor, or other issues."

Asked if the PKK-for-genocide-resolution trade might be the strategy
before the full House vote, another parliamentarian, Gunduz Aktan,
said, "We don’t know yet, but that is a possibility, that is a real
possibility." The Turkish MPs declined to speculate on what specific
action Ankara would seek from Washington regarding the PKK issue.

Meanwhile, Turkish leaders in Ankara were infuriated by the House
committee vote. "This unacceptable decision of the committee, like
similar ones in the past, is not regarded by the Turkish people as
valid, or of any value," the Anatolia news agency quoted President
Abdullah Gul as saying. Turkish officials indicated that the
ambassadorial recall would be temporary.

Bush administration officials said immediately after the vote that
they will continue to work to oppose the resolution. "The
administration continues strongly to oppose this resolution, passage
of which may do grave harm to US-Turkish relations, and to US
interests in Europe and the Middle East," said State Department
spokesman Sean McCormick in a statement.

"If what we saw before the committee vote was any indication, I think
the administration will continue to press," said Aram Hamparian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America. "But
we have truth and morality on our side."

For the October 10 hearing, both a large hearing room and an overflow
room were filled. Dozens of Armenian-Americans, including a handful of
elderly survivors of the 1915 tragedy, wore stickers reading "Stop the
Cycle of Genocide." A large Turkish press corps was also in
attendance, as were a much smaller number of Turks opposing the
resolution. In the overflow room, where a closed-circuit television
showed the proceedings, the Armenians and Turks alternately cheered or
booed the members’ statements.

Several members of Congress described agonizing decisions they had to
make on the resolution. Most recognized that that the events of 1915
met the standard of genocide; Many of those who opposed the resolution
said they did so out of respect for Turkey as a friend, or out of fear
that Turkey could retaliate by curtailing cooperation on Iraq. On the
other hand, many who voted for the resolution said they resented
Turkey’s threats

"There was indeed a genocide of the Armenians and it will not be
forgotten," said Representative Mike Pence, a Republican from
Indiana. "But I can’t support this resolution. With American troops in
harm’s way, dependent on a critical supply route from Turkey, this is
not the time for our nation to be speaking about this dark moment in
history."

Another Republican, Dana Rohrabacher of California, however, decried
the "the audacity that some Turks have to threaten to cut logistics to
US troops… Perhaps they’re not as good friends as they profess," he
said.

The hearing was broadcast live in both Armenia and Turkey, and the
Turkish parliamentarians said that even the tenor of the hearing
offended them. For example, several congressmen suggested that Turkey
might be bluffing and that if the resolution passes it will be
forgotten quickly in Ankara.

"Those people who claim Turkey is bluffing should not mock Turkey on
live TV," Bagis said. "I think that was a big mistake. Turks are very
peculiar about their honor."

"What was bothering me yesterday was that those [US representatives]
who were supporting the Turkish case, 21 of them, they said loud and
clear that the events of 1915 amounted to genocide," Aktam
said. "Despite this fact, because of the strategic importance of
Turkey, because of the national interest of the US, they are voting
no. This was unbearable," he said, Eurasia.net reports.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Oct 11 2007

Turkey tells US envoy about concern over Armenian resolution

Ankara, 11 October: Turkey’s uneasiness over approval of the
resolution regarding Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915 by
the US House of Representatives committee on foreign relations was
conveyed to the US ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson.

According to sources, Wilson was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) on Thursday [11 October] and he met MFA Undersecretary
Ertugrul Apakan. During the meeting, Apakan expressed Ankara’s
concerns about recent developments.

Earlier, Wilson released a written statement and expressed his
profound sorrow over approval of the resolution. Wilson added that he
will continue resorting efforts to convince US congressmen to prevent
passage of the resolution by the full house.

CBS News Transcripts
October 11, 2007 Thursday
SHOW: The Early Show 7:00 AM EST CBS

System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian speaks about recognizing
the genocide of Armenians in Turkey

ANCHORS: HARRY SMITH

REPORTERS: CHIP REID

A new debate over an old tragedy. Americans of a certain age, parents
of baby boomers, mostly, might remember hearing about starving
Armenians, what happened to the Armenians in Turkey around the start
of World War I. Now a House committee has voted to brand what
happened an act of genocide. CBS News Capitol Hill correspondent Chip
Reid is here with us in New York with details.

Good morning, Chip.

CHIP REID reporting:

Well, good morning, Harry.

You know, this debate has been ranging for–raging for generations.
The question, were Armenians the victims of genocide 92 years ago?
Now some say with all the problems in the world, why should we worry
about something that happened so long ago? Well, those who say it was
genocide say you can’t stop it if you don’t admit it.

Genocide, from the Holocaust to Bosnia to Darfur, brutal campaigns to
systematically exterminate entire ethnic groups. But before any of
those, there was Armenia, where as many as one and a half million
Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915 in what is now Turkey.

Unidentified Woman: (From "Screamers") So there’s a tendency to say,
`Well, you know, we didn’t know.’ After the Holocaust, you can no
longer give that alibi that you didn’t know.

REID: The documentary "Screamers" follows the Grammy Award-winning
band System of a Down as they campaign to raise awareness about
genocide. The band’s members are all descendants of Armenian
grandparents who survived.

Mr. SERJ TANKIAN (Lead Singer, System Of A Down): (From "Screamers")
The recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Turkish government
before his death would be the first step in redressing an injustice.
And I think it would help him go easier, if that makes any sense.

REID: Turkey insists the killing of Armenians was not genocide, but
the result of ethnic violence during World War I. Now after an
emotional debate, a key committee in Congress says by a vote of
27-to-21, yes, it was genocide.

Representative ED ROYCE (Republican, California): One-point-five
million Armenians were murdered, 500,000 were removed from their
homeland. Passing this resolution will be a victory for human rights.

REID: But President Bush opposes the move.

President GEORGE W. BUSH: This resolution is not the right response
to these historic mass killings.

REID: Why? Because he’s worried that Turkey, a vital ally in the war
in Iraq, will be so offended it will limit US access to Turkey’s
military bases. The rock group documentary is called "Screamers"
because, they say, it’s this generation, the screamers, who will
shine a light on all genocide. Because the only way to end it, they
say, is to admit it when it happens.

Mr. TANKIAN: (From "Screamers") I think it’s important. I think we
should all be screamers.

REID: Now, Democratic leaders in the House say the plan is to have
the full House vote on the genocide resolution later this year. To
soften the blow, they also say they may pass a separate resolution
affirming US friendship with Turkey.

SMITH: Chip Reid, thanks so much.

And joining us here to talk more about that documentary on genocide
is Serj Tankian, lead singer of System of a Down.

Thank you very much for taking the time to be with us.

Mr. TANKIAN: Thanks for having me, Harry.

SMITH: Talk to me a little bit about your grandfather.

Mr. TANKIAN: OK.

SMITH: Your grandfather miraculously somehow survived this holocaust
in Armenia. What was it like to know that, to have that as part of
your family history?

Mr. TANKIAN: Well, I mean, you know, since we were kids he told us
about how, you know, they survived in the desert. He–him and his
family went through the pogroms that the Turkish government had
placed, taken away from their homes, and his father and uncles were
taken away to labor camps and were never seen after. And he survived
by going to a number of orphanages. He actually went to an American
orphanage in Greece for a little while. And, you know, somehow he
survived and made it to Lebanon and thrived and had a family and was
able to, you know, bring us to where we are today.

SMITH: You and all the other members of your band are grandchildren
of survivors of this horrible thing.

Mr. TANKIAN: That’s correct. Mm-hmm.

SMITH: What is the bond that holds you together?

Mr. TANKIAN: You know, having to do with the Armenian genocide, it’s
the knowledge that, you know, we’re all lucky to be here, you know?
And we all know what our grandparents have gone through. We all know
the truth of what it means to feel genocide on your skin. I think it
makes it easier for us to empathize with other genocide. It makes it
easier for us to empathize with other injustices in the world.

SMITH: Yeah. I want to play a little portion of the documentary.
There are very sweet conversations with your grandfather. And people
waking up this morning, they’re seeing this in their papers, they’re
wondering what this controversy is about. And this really is a great
way to open the window to what actually happened almost 100 years
ago. Let’s take a look.

Offscreen Voice: (From "Screamers") My father, his father, his
brother, all the men that were there, they tied them all in chains.
We went closer to see him. And immediately a soldier came with a
weapon. `Away, away,’ he said. He didn’t let us. I mean, I came
forward to kiss my father. He didn’t let me. He forbade it.

SMITH: Incredible. Here’s vivid truth, first-person accounts of
something that did, in fact, transpire.

Mr. TANKIAN: Right. Mm-hmm.

SMITH: The Turkish government absolutely refuses to acknowledge that
what happened did, in fact, happen.

Mr. TANKIAN: Mm-hmm.

SMITH: What is that like living with that?

Mr. TANKIAN: Well, it’s a unique case in the sense that there’s not
that many genocides or holocausts that are still denied today. Even
the one happening in Darfur is pretty much out in the open. So, it’s
a very unique case and it’s very painful. It’s a painful
victimization process that the Armenian people have gone through for
92 years since the actual genocide.

SMITH: Mm-hmm.

Mr. TANKIAN: In living with that pain and it feels horrible that a
democracy will not, you know, ‘fess up to its own archives.

SMITH: Some people would say, though, that’s 100 years ago. How can
that possibly matter?

Mr. TANKIAN: Well, of course it matters. There’s genocide happening
today. There’s–the history, obviously, hasn’t been learned, you
know. We’re still allowing things to happen like that around the
world, and in Darfur. And you know, if we don’t learn the lessons of
the first genocide of the 20th century, how can we tackle this issue?
Genocide is a humanitarian problem. It’s a crime against humanity.
It’s not a national issue. It shouldn’t be treated as such.

SMITH: Right. Serj, thank you so much for being with us this morning.

Mr. TANKIAN: Thank you.

SMITH: We really appreciate it.

Mr. TANKIAN: Thanks, Harry. My pleasure.

SMITH: All right.