Author: Tambiyan Samvel

LOST PAGE IN HISTORY, FINALLY DISCOVERED
By Rebecca John
Assyria Times, CA
May 15 2006
Tragedy, loss and prejudice are only a few words we can use to describe
what the Assyrian and Armenian Christians suffered at the hands of the
Turkish Government. Only now, ninety-one years after these murders,
violations and acts of inhumanity took place, has this dark period
in history come to light.
The Genocide of the Assyrian people has been given the cutting name
‘SEYFO’, which translates to mean ‘sword’. This name was given to
represent the brutalities the Assyrians suffered as a result of
refusing to accept the policies of the ruling government which
was seeking to ‘Turkify’ the Christian people of the land. The
self-proclaimed aim of the Empire was to create a Pan-Turkish state,
or perhaps more importantly, a state where the only religion was
Islam. To achieve this ideal, the Turkish Government created laws
with the sole intention to make life for the Christians as difficult
as possible. By law, Christians could not take part in any political
issues, Assyrians could not speak their inherited language and taxes
for the non-Muslims were more than ten times higher than those who
were Turks and Muslims. Those too scared to stay in the villages they
were born in, fled to safety by foot to neighboring countries (most
of which died on their journey from exhaustion and hunger). Assyrians
refusing to leave their homes and deny their faith became targets
for the Turkish Government, which led to the most horrific event
in Assyrian history: The Slaughter of thousands upon thousands of
Assyrians and the forced deportations of many more.
Assyrians and Armenians have taken it upon themselves to educate
people of this Genocide which is often referred to as the ‘the lost
page in history’. Firodil Institute has been spreading the word of
SEYFO with the help of Government MP’s and by organizing ‘Genocide’
events. The most recent and successful event took place on 10th May
2006 at SOAS University (School of Oriental and African Studies)
and proved to be a powerful learning experience for those who attended.
Mr. Lamassu of Firodil Institute, who is an Assyrian himself, spoke
of the disturbing effect that the Genocide aftermath had on him:
“I grew up listening to stories of an uncle who had to watch his
six-month-old child be thrown into a burning clay oven. Juxtapose
the tragic tales I grew up with, with what normal children of normal
environments grow up to; and you will realize why the crimes of 1915
must be recognized as genocide … I am an Assyrian, I am the genocide
and the genocide is me: to deny it you are killing me twice!”
Guest speakers at this event included academic researcher, Sabri
Atman and winner of the ‘Golden Palm’ award, Swedish-Assyrian
Journalist Nuri Kino. Not only did both speakers shed some light
on the Assyrian and Armenian Genocide historically, but they also
spoke of these prejudices still living on in Turkey today. Mr. Kino
explained how Assyrian Christians are still referred to as ‘pigs’,
and how the slaughtering of Assyrians are discussed with a sense
of achievement. Turkey’s attitude towards the Christian People has
raised a question mark over whether Turkey should be allowed to join
the European Union (EU). This proposal has sparked a fear of history
repeating itself for the Assyrian and Armenian people, as many fled
their homeland to escape the Genocide Turkey subjected them to. Nuri
Kino gave his opinions on this matter:
“Turkey claims, yes, Armenians, Assyrians have been killed in ‘war’.
I have evidence it was a plot, a plan to rid Turkey of Christians,
non-Muslims…Turkey must face up to the Genocide towards the Assyrians
and apologize.”
Mr. Kino himself lost various members of his family during the
Genocide with his grandmother being the sole survivor from a tribe
consisting of over three hundred people. His documentary ‘Assyriska
a National Team without a Nation’ was the winner of the prestigious
‘Golden palm’ award (awarded for the first time for a non-American
and a non-fictional film). It was however, Kino’s first documentary
‘A Cry Unheard’ that set him on the road to success, as he followed
the Genocide road, interviewing survivors and performing extensive
research. This experience he claims was both stressful and upsetting
which even took a toll on his health.
Ninety-one years later, news of this haunting Genocide is finally
being spoken of, not with fear, but with sheer will and determination
to force the Turkish Government to admit and apologize for what
happened to the Christians in their country. After almost a century
of lost lives, tragedy and grief, the Assyrians feel they deserve
recognition and an apology, not for the sake of a “lost” nation,
but for the justice of a nation that was stolen.
For more information on upcoming events or on any issues raised
contact Rebecca at [email protected] or Firodil Institute
at [email protected].
e/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3205

RUSSIA BEGINS MOVING ARMS, EQUIPMENT FROM GEORGIAN BASE OUT OF COUNTRY
Kyiv Post, Ukraine
May 15 2006
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) – A train carrying Russian tanks and other arms
and equipment headed toward Georgia’s border on Monday, marking the
start of the withdrawal of Russia’s military bases from the former
Soviet republic under an agreement reached last year.
The train, loaded with equipment removed from the Russian base in the
southern town of Akhalkalaki, which is to be shut by the end of 2007,
was to take its cargo first to Azerbaijan, east of Georgia, and then
north to Russia.
It carried seven T-72 tanks, four armored personnel carriers, eight
combat reconnaissance vehicles, four communications vehicles and
340 cases of artillery shells, said Col. Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy
commander of Russian forces in the Transcaucasus.
Kuparadze said all heavy weapons and vehicles from the Akhalkalaki base
are to be pulled out of Georgia by Oct. 15, including on three more
trains this month and a total of 19 this year. Personnel, firearms
and base property are to be withdrawn and the base closed by the end
of next year, he said.
The other Russian base left over from the Soviet era, in the Black Sea
port of Batumi, is to be withdrawn by the end 2008 under the deal,
which represented a victory for Georgia’s pro-Western President
Mikhail Saakashvili in his effort to reduce Russian influence. The
bases were established in the Soviet era.
Some weaponry and equipment from Akhalkalaki is to be moved to
Russia’s military base in neighboring Armenia – an arrangement that
displeases Armenia’s enemy Azerbaijan. Armenian forces have held
parts of Azerbaijan since a war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave that ended with a shaky cease-fire in 1994.

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 14 2006
Liberation Publishes Turkish Intellectuals’ Statement: We Are
Extremely Concerned About The Draft Law
PARIS – Turkish intellectuals expressed concerns about the draft law
which was submitted to the French parliament by the Socialist Party
with the aim of punishing those who deny so-called Armenian genocide.
In a statement published by the French Liberation newspaper,
intellectuals said, “those who brought the draft onto agenda of the
French parliament have to take into consideration existence of
persons and institutions who are trying to prevent and punish
discussions on the events of 1915. Such a draft law will obstruct
free discussions both in France and Turkey. It will also disrupt the
process of questioning historical and common memory.“
The statement signed by Baskin Oran, Elif Safak, Etyen Mahcupyan,
Halil Berktay, Hrant Dink, Murat Belge, Muge Gocek and Ragip Zarakolu
said, “we, as citizens of the Republic of Turkey, feel the burden of
the inhuman calamity which Ottoman Armenians were subject to. We
share their pain. No one can deny the brutality of 1915. All efforts
to find a cause for those events will be in vain.“
“As the conference in Istanbul on September 23rd-24th, 2005, and
similar other initiatives revealed, democratization process has been
going on in Turkey. This process can enlighten the 90-year darkness.
We will maintain our struggle with calmness and determination to this
end,“ they said.
“However, we are extremely concerned about the draft law which will
be debated by the French parliament in the coming days. Such a draft
law will disrupt the process of questioning historical and common
memory. It will also obstruct free discussions both in France and
Turkey,“ they said.
Turkish intellectuals stressed, “we need to overcome countercharges
of Turks and Armenians in a vicious circle, and turn them into a
humanitarian dialogue and common history by conveying our memories to
each other. We can reach this target only through freedom of
expression and debate, and exchange of information. Like fight
against crimes against humanity, freedom of expression is also an
universal principle. Defending existence of one of these two elements
cannot eliminate existence of the other.“
“Today, unfortunately, both parties are far away from conveying
their way of perception to the other. In recent years, Armenian
nationalists have been supporting laws restricting freedom of
expression in response to the Turkish state`s policy of denial.
However, their efforts can trigger harder disagreements. Therefore,
we call on Armenians not to make a mistake which will be quite
difficult to correct in future,“ they added.

A1+
«JUSTICE» WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE NA PRESIDENT ELECTIONS?
[07:26 pm] 12 May, 2006
The «Justice» bloc will probably not participate in the elections of
the NA President. In 2003 too they boycotted the elections considering
that the Parliament is not legitimate and its President cannot be
considered legitimate either.
Let us remind you that Arthur Baghdasaryan will represent his letter
of resignation on May 22.
The «Justice» bloc will discuss the issue of participating the
elections in its coming session, Stepan Demirchyan, leader of the bloc
told «A1+» with commenting on the decision of the OYP.
As for cooperation with the OYP, he thinks it is early to speak about
it. Member of the bloc Stepan Zaqaryan thinks that the possibilities
of cooperating with Arthur Baghdasaryan will be more real if he
regrets the mistakes and crimes he committed while being in the
coalition.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PRESS SECRETARY CONFIRMS REPORT ON MEETING OF
SPEAKER AND PRESIDENT ON THURSDAY EVENING
Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. Press Secretary of Armenian President,
Victor Soghomonyan, confirms the report on the meeting of Armenian
Parliametnary Speaker,Leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party, Arthur
Baghdasaryan and President Robert Kocharyan late in the evening on
Thursday.
After the meeting, Arthur Baghdasaryan convened an extraordinary
session of “OY” party Board. In fact, the party adopted decision on
withdrawal from the ruling political coalition and on resignation of
the speaker. the most probable nominees to the post of the
parliamentary speaker are considered Karen Karapetyan, the head of
deputy group “People’s Deputy,” Vahan Hovhannissyan, Vice Speaker a
member of ARFD Bureau, Tigran Torosyan, Vice Speaker, Vice Chairman of
RPA.
In addition, the party resolved to recall its ministers from the
government: Sergo Yeritsyan, Minister of Education and Science, Aram
Haroutunyan, Town Planning Minister, Gevorg Gevorgyan, Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs. To recap, 10 big businessman-members of
the “OY” parliamentary faction have recently left the party. The party
representatives connect the developments around the party with a
certain pressure by the ruling circles that are dissatisfied with the
recent harsh statements by Arthur Baghdasaryan as well as with his
criticism of the state property privatization program 2001-2003.

RA PRESIDENT EXPRESSES HOPE THAT ACCREDITATION OF FIRST AMBASSADOR OF
NIGERIA TO ARMENIA TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL TIES

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Ibrahin Ganyama Abubakar, the newly
appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (residence in
Tehran) to Armenia, handed his credentials to RA President Robert
Kocharian on May 12.
According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, mentioning that at present relations with
Nigeria are limited only by the cooperation within the framework of
international organizations, the President expressed confidence that
accreditation of the first Ambassador of Nigeria to Armenia will
support development of bilateral ties and defining of possible
directions of mutual cooperation.

RA PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO RECEIVE CONDOLENCES
ArmRadio.am
11.05.2006 14:20
RA President continues to receive condolences connected with the
crash of the A-320 airplane of Armavia Company.
President’s Press Secretary Viktor Soghomonyan informs that telegrams
of condolence have been received from the King of Belgium Albert II,
President of India Abdul Kalam, President of Hungary Laslo Sholom,
President of Croatia Styepan Mesich, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan
Nazarbaev, President of Mongolia Nambarin Enkhbayer, President of
Egypt Hosni Mubarack.

Le Figaro
09 mai 2006
Crash de l’Airbus arménien : la France sollicitée par la Russie
Thierry Vigoureux
accident. Le ministre des Transports de Russie a retenu l’offre
française pour remonter à la surface les boîtes noires de l’Airbus
qui s’est abîmé en mer mercredi dernier près de Sotchi, dans le sud
du pays.
Comme à Charm el-Cheikh en 2004 lors de l’accident du Boeing de Flash
Airlines, le robot Scorpio 2000 de France Télécom Marine va être
chargé de retrouver les deux enregistreurs de vol immergés ici par
450 mètres de fond contre plus de 1 000 mètres au large de l’Égypte.
Le robot et ses équipements doivent être acheminés sur place par
avion spécial. Les circonstances météorologiques semblent avoir été
un facteur aggravant lors de cet accident : selon des responsables de
la compagnie Armavia, l’équipage de l’avion aurait hésité à atterrir
à Adler, l’aéroport de Sotchi, sur la piste 06. Les pilotes auraient
envisagé un temps de retourner à Erevan compte tenu de la mauvaise
visibilité, puis auraient finalement tenté une approche en piste 02,
informés par la tour de contrôle d’une éclaircie. L’avion avait-il
embarqué assez de carburant compte tenu du déroutement dû à la météo
? L’accident concernant un appareil certifié en France, le Bureau
d’enquêtes et d’analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (BEA)
du Bourget est associé à l’enquête menée par les autorités russes.
Armavia vient, par ailleurs, de perdre un autre Airbus A 320,
stationné dans un hangar de maintenance à Bruxelles, où le feu a pris
dans la nuit de jeudi pour une raison encore inconnue.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 8 2006
Aliyev expects no new ideas from Garabagh mediators
Baku, May 5, AssA-Irada
The OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict are reviewing various options and
there could be new ideas in the proposals regarding the conflict
resolution to be further made to the sides, President Ilham Aliyev
has said. He said, however, that he does not believe the novelties
will be of fundamental nature.
`I don’t think the co-chairs will come up with brand new proposals,’
he told a news conference after the ninth summit of the Economic
Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Baku on Friday.
Aliyev said the mediators are likely to make some additions to the
proposals already discussed on various levels. In this case, it will
be possible to achieve progress in peace talks, he said.
As for Azerbaijan’s position, the president said it hasn’t and will
not change. `We do not want any emergencies. Azerbaijan is seeking a
conflict resolution based on the principles of international law.’
Aliyev said Baku supports applying the existing international
practice on ethnic minorities to the Garabagh conflict. `We will not
support the use of new methods that run counter to international
legal norms.’
The Azeri leader reiterated that to achieve a peace accord, first of
all, Armenia has to withdraw from the occupied Azeri territories and
refugees must return home. `Our position remains unchanged,’ he said.
Aliyev expressed hope that the intermediaries, and, more importantly,
the Armenian leadership, will realize this. `Only in this case can
any results be achieved in the negotiating process,’ he added.*

PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA CONDOLES WITH RELATIVES OF KILLED IN AIR CRASH
Tbilisi, May 6. ArmInfo. President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili
visited Armenian Embassy in Georgia Friday to put notes in the Mourning
Book for the victims of Armenian aircraft. Airbus A320 crashed in
the Black Sea on May 3 night killing all on board.
Talking to Armenian Ambassador Hrach Silvanyan, Mikhail Saakashvili
expressed his condolence to the leadership of Armenia and the Armenian
people for the victims of the air crash. President Saakashvili informed
the Ambassador of his telephone conversation with Armenian President
in which he had expressed readiness to assist in the investigation
of the incident and in transportation of the relatives who could not
arrive in Sochi by air via the territory of Georgia.