Author: Toneyan Mark

KAREKIN II INVITED ALLAHSHUKUR PASHAZADEH TO VISIT ARMENIA

news.am
April 26 2010
Armenia

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Patriarch of Moscow and all
Rus Kirill I and Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh stand for
peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict.

"As religious leaders we are called to sow the peace and breed the
good. From the very first day of the conflict we offered our help
to establish peace in Nagorno-Karabakh," Azerbaijani media quotes
Karekin II.

According to Patriarch Kiril I, despite the difficulties there
are prospects for the conflict resolution. "We are not political
leaders, but we are called to assist the process and support political
leaders through our joint efforts in their positive intentions and
aspirations," Patriarch said.

Allahshukur Pashazadeh thanked Russian religious leader for mediating
efforts and expressed hope that all issues in the Caucasus, including
Karabakh conflict will be settled peacefully and fairly.

In his turn, Karekin II expressed gratitude to the head of Caucasian
Muslims for the meeting and possibility to continue the dialogue.

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II who is currently on a visit to
Baku invited Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh to visit Armenia.

According to Interfax, addressing the participants of Religious
Leaders World Summit, Karekin II offered to hold the next summit in
Etchmiadzin – spiritual center of Armenia.

Trilateral meeting of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani religious
leaders was held on the sidelines of Religious Leaders World Summit
in Baku.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN STRASBOURG

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 26, 2010
STRASBOURG

STRASBOURG, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Events dedicated to the 95th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide were held in Strasbourg on
April 24. A commemoration of the innocent victims of the Genocide
took place at Monument aux Morts (Monument of Victims) in Republic
Square of the city. Among those present were Armenian Ambassador
Zohrab Mnatsakanian, Head of the Armenian delegation in the PACE David
Harutyunian, Armenian Judge at the European Court of Human Rights Ms.

Alvina Gyulumian, a representative of the Strasbourg Mayor, leaders
of Strasbourg-based Catholic, Protestant and other churches, heads
of the Jewish and Kurdish communities, and numerous representatives
of the Armenian community.

Speeches were made by Z. Mnatsakanian, representatives of the Armenian,
Kurdish and Jewish communities and the city authorities.

The RA MFA Press and Information Department reports that the
commemoration ceremony was followed by an ecumenical liturgy in
Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Church.

ANKARA RESPONDS TO OBAMA’S MESSAGE

news.az
APril 26 2010
Azerbaijan

Barack Obama Barack Obama has declined to use the word ‘genocide’
to describe the atrocities experienced by Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire a century ago.

In Ankara, reactions were mixed. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
appeared to welcome the statement, saying on Saturday that ‘Turkey’s
sensitivities have been observed’ and that Obama’s refusal to call
the 1915 events ‘genocide’ was due to the diplomatic efforts of Turkey.

But the Foreign Ministry, in a written statement, called Obama’s
statement an ‘incorrect and one-sided political perception’.

‘We deeply regret this statement which reflects an incorrect and
one-sided political perception. The toughest enemy of the historical
facts is subjective memory records. No nation has the right to impose
its memory records on another nation,’ the Foreign Ministry statement
indicated.

The statement further added that ‘third counties have neither the
right nor the authority to judge the history of Turkish-Armenian
relations with political motives’.

The opposition parties, which object to the government’s efforts to
restore relations with Armenia, were also unhappy with the statement.

Onur Oymen, the deputy chairman of the main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP), said the use of the term ‘Mets Yeghern’ was no
different from using the word ‘genocide’, while Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli called Obama’s terminology a ‘play of
words’ that meant his accusations against the Turkish nation remained
in place. Bahceli also accused Erdogan of sharing the same position as
the Armenian diaspora by welcoming Obama’s statement and reiterated
his call for the withdrawal of two protocols signed by Turkey and
Armenia on normalizing bilateral relations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu criticized Obama’s statement
and said that it was ‘unacceptable’.

‘If we are going to share grief for humanitarian reasons, then we
would expect respect for our own grief as well,’ Davutoglu said.

The Turkish Coalition of America also said Obama’s statement did not
address ‘the equally tragic loss of Muslim lives in this turbulent
period of Ottoman history’.

‘Where does the ethnic cleansing of Ottoman Turks from the Balkans,
Eastern Turkey and the Caucasus – with 5 million lost and 5.5 million
refugees – come on the president’s list of ‘worst atrocities of the
20th century’?’ Turkish Coalition of America President G. Lincoln
McCurdy said.

Armenians in the US, on the other hand, were disappointed that the
statement did not include the word genocide. ‘Today we join with
Armenians in the United States and around the world in voicing our
sharp disappointment at the president’s failure to properly condemn
and commemorate the Armenian Genocide,’ Armenian National Committee
of America Chairman Ken Hachikian said.

Obama is closely watching rapprochement efforts between Turkey and
Armenia, which are full of difficulties.

Ankara and Yerevan signed protocols for reconciliation in October
envisaging the reopening of the borders and the establishment of
diplomatic relations. But the protocols need to be approved by the
parliaments of both countries.

Just a few days before 24 April, Armenia’s ruling coalition on 22
April said it had decided to freeze the ratification of the protocols.

The Armenian government claimed that the Turkish side had refused to
fulfill the requirement of ratifying the accords without preconditions
in a reasonable time.

The Turkish parliament has held up ratification of the deal as Turkey
presses for a settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a region
in Azerbaijan that has been under Armenian control since a war in the
1990s. But Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Davutoglu and
President Abdullah Gul, have voiced their expectations that the freeze
in the normalization process between Ankara and Yerevan will serve as
an opportunity for both sides to thoroughly consider the rest of the
process with a mutual understanding of the difficulties on each side.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVED NAS ACADEMICIANS

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 26, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received today members of
the board of Armenian National Academy of Sciences and heads of
scientific-research institutes of the Academy.

Presidential press office told Armenpress that Serzh Sargsyan noted
that he considers it necessary to discuss with them issues impeding
the development of the sphere of science and possible ways of their
solution. "The discussion over it point the right way, I think our
prior issue is to link science with education and economy," the head
of the country pointed out.

Serzh Sargsyan spoke about three prior directions of developing science
and education sphere in Armenia. "The first way we must follow is
the re-equipment of scientific and educational establishments and
more effective usage, that is to say – the continuation of reforms.

The second way is creation of new kind of educational and scientific
establishment like it was established in Tavush – contemporary boarding
school where the classes will be held in foreign language and the
newest achievements of the educational sphere will be applied,"
the leader of the country said.

Armenian President said that the means of the "Louys" Foundation will
be doubled to increase the number of Armenian students who want to
study in foreign leading universities. Serzh Sargsyan pointed out the
necessity of creating an opportunity for young scientists to train
abroad. The president of the country spoke about readiness of the
state to solve certain social issues saying that certain steps must
be undertaken in that direction.

The academicians spoke with the leader of the country about the issues
impeding the development of the science. They pointed out that because
of the absence of experience-structural infrastructures the academy
cannot fully invest its scientific results in the economy. They said
that the absence of such structure makes the flow of private capital to
the science impossible which has an essential importance in making new
researches and forming a scientific result. The participants of the
meeting also spoke about ways of creating mechanisms for establishing
cooperation between the branch institutes of NAS and relevant branches
of economy.

Besides the issues impeding the development of science the academicians
referred also to the issue on normalization of the Armenia-Turkey
relations. They said they back the steps undertaken by the president
and consider them effective.

In pictures: Armenia killings anniversary

s/8641787.stm

Le président arménien s’est recueilli au Mémorial du génocide d’Erévan
en une file ininterrompue, des centaines de milliers de personnes ont
déjà défilé devant le Mémorial
ARMENIE

samedi24 avril 2010, par Krikor Amirzayan/armenews

Malgré une pluie persistante depuis la veille, ce 24 Avril, des
centaines de milliers d’Arméniens ont déjà défilé en une file
ininterrompue au Mémorial du génocide de Dzidzernagapert à Erévan.
Transmis en direct par les télévisions arméniennes ces recueillements
marquant le 95e anniversaire du génocide arménien continueront jusque
tard dans la nuit.

Ce matin, le président arménien Serge Sarkissian et son épouse
accompagné des membres du gouvernement au complet et le catholicos
Karékine II se sont recueillis au Mémorial du génocide. Dans la foule,
de nombreux Arméniens de la diaspora avaient également fait le
déplacement pour honorer le souvenir des 1,5 millions d’Arméniens
victimes de la barbarie du gouvernement Jeune-Turc entre 1915 et 1923.
Après la prière de Karékine II la délégation officielle s’est retirée
laissant la place à une foule très dense. Les Arméniens de la diaspora
pourront suivre ce recueillement à Dzidzenagapert tout au long de la
journée à travers la Chaîne publique d’Arménie, Armenia TV ou Shant.

Worcester Telegram, MA
April 25 2010

Faithful mourn victims: Armenians mark start of massacre

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]

WORCESTER ‘ For years, the Worcester-area Armenian community has
gathered on April 24 to solemnly mark the beginning of the purge
nearly a century ago that led to the eventual slaughter of 1.5 million
Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks.

A number of Armenians who had escaped the brutality and who had later
settled in Central Massachusetts would attend the services.

Yesterday, local Armenian faithful met again at the Armenian Church of
Our Saviour on Salisbury Street to mourn the dead and to pray such
massacres never occur again.

This year, however, none of the aging survivors attended, though three
of them ‘ Asdghig Alemian, Almas Boghosian, and Heghine Minassian ‘
are still living.

Instead, Chantal Kayitesi and Franco Majok, survivors of genocides in
Rwanda and Darfur, stood in their places reminding service
participants atrocities continue around the world, 95 years after the
Armenian killings in Turkey.

`All survivors of genocide must band together,’ said Ms. Kayitesi, who
lost her husband, parents, sister and brother in the ethnic cleansing
that occurred in Rwanda. `There will always be one of us to fight, to
succeed, and to remember.’

Armenians worldwide mark April 24, 1915, as the start of the massacre
of their people in Turkey during World I. At the time, the country was
part of the Ottoman Empire.

On that day, Armenian leaders, intellectuals, writers, and
professionals were rounded up.

The government effort was stepped up and thousands of Armenians were
abducted, tortured, deported and killed.

Armenians, along with many others in the international community, have
labeled the massacre `a genocide’ and have charged Turkey refuses to
take responsibility for what happened.

Over the years, the U.S. government, concerned about alienating
Turkey, has also declined to term the slaughter a genocide.

Yesterday, the White House released a presidential statement calling
the massacre `one of the worst atrocities’ of the 20th century and `a
devastating chapter’ in history.

President Obama, however, stopped short of calling it a genocide,
something he had promised as a candidate to do.

Armenian groups and their allies yesterday, including those in
Worcester, called on the president to follow up on his promise.

`It’s time to break the Turkish gag rule on the Armenian genocide,’
said U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, who attended the
service in Worcester.

Mr. McGovern said he remains `frustrated and angry’ with the U.S.
government’s refusal to call the massacre a genocide. He said the
American position has nothing to do with the historical facts or a
lack of sympathy for the victims but because of `modern-day hard
politics.’

Mr. McGovern urged the president to be `on the right side of the issue.’

Mr. McGovern was joined at the service by local and state officials,
including Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, Mayor Joseph C. O’Brien, City
Councilor Joseph M. Petty, and state Rep. John P. Fresolo,
D-Worcester.

Mr. O’Brien, who noted the massacre was `the first holocaust of the
20th century,’ and Mr. Fresolo presented proclamations to the Armenian
community on behalf of the city and the state House of Representatives
while Mr. Murray applauded the Armenians for their courage and
resilience.

A number of area clergymen also attended the ecumenical service,
including retired Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly.

Dr. Richard Bedrosian, who served as master of ceremonies and whose
family was affected by the genocide, said services such as yesterday’s
raise consciousness about the event.

He said the Armenian killings served as `a template’ for the Jewish
Holocaust and noted Adolf Hitler said that no one spoke of the
Armenians after their purge.

Dr. Bedrosian said the Armenian love of family has helped the
community triumph over evil.

The Rev. Aved Terzian, pastor of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour,
said Armenians are saddened not only by the horrific events
surrounding the genocide, but by the refusal of so many to recognize
it.

`The event has marked our people for 95 years,’ he said.

Mr. Majok, who came to this country in 1995 from Darfur and who became
an American citizen in 2005, said nations must intervene to prevent
genocides.

`I have a lot of sympathy for you,’ he said.

The purge of Armenians initially occurred between 1915 to 1918, with
another wave of atrocities taking place between 1920 and 1923.

WS/4250459/1116

ARMENIA SUSPENDS RATIFICATION OF PEACE DEAL WITH TURKEY

Global Times
25243.html
April 23 2010
China

Source: Xinhua [08:47 April 23 2010] Comments Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan said Thursday his country has suspended ratification
of landmark accords on normalizing relations with Turkey, according
to local media reports.

During a televised address, Sargsyan said the parliamentary suspension
was because of Turkey’s refusal to "ratify the protocols without
preconditions," chiefly over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The two countries signed a historic deal in 2009 to re-establish
diplomatic ties and reopen their land border despite differences over
the World War I massive deaths of Armenians.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 to protest Armenia’s
war with neighboring Azerbaijan over the enclave, which is within
Azerbaijan but under the control of ethnic Armenian forces.

The protocols Turkey and Armenia signed to normalize relations need
to be approved by both countries’ parliaments before taking effect,
but progress on ratification has been slow.

Apart from the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Turkey and Armenia have also
been bogged down in a row over the World War I-era massive deaths of
Armenians. Armenia says the deaths were genocide while Turkey denies
that charge and insists the Armenians were victims of widespread
chaos and governmental breakdown as the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire
collapsed before modern Turkey was born in 1923.

CONFERENCE ON THE KARABAKH CONFLICT ISSUE TAKEN PLACE IN FRANCE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
2010-04-23 17:36

A conference – "The Karabakh Conflict and Programs on Karabakh
Restoration" – took place on April 22 in the French city of Sen-Shamon.

According to the information of the NKR Permanent Mission to France,
the city’s Mayor Philip Kiziryan, Chairman of the French-Armenian
Friendship Group, Deputy Francis Roshbluan, representatives of the
local self-government bodies and local Armenian community attended
the conference.

In his speech, NKR Permanent Representative to France Hovhannes
Gevorgian introduced the pre-history of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh
conflict and the current stage of its settlement. He touched upon the
forthcoming, May 23, elections to the NKR 5th convocation National
Assembly, noting: "Electing representatives of the legislative power,
the Karabakh people once again reminds the world that it is the
determiner of its own fate and is firm to create it in a peaceful
way and in accordance with the democratic principles".

Hovhannes Gevorgian also met with representatives of Club GIER
Enterprises entrepreneurs’ association of the Luar region, introducing
the current economic situation in Artsakh and the possibilities of
investment. The NKR Permanent Representative to France invited the
entrepreneurs to Artsakh for establishing cooperation with the local
entrepreneurs.

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN: GENOCIDE RECOGNITION WOULD COME SOONER BUT FOR OUR SIGNATURE ON PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 24, 2010 – 12:12 AMT 07:12 GMT

Head of ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group Vahan Hovhannisyan
said that Armenia should withdraw its signature from the Protocols
on normalization of relations with Turkey.

"If Turkey agrees to moderate its preconditions, Armenia will again be
under pressure. The foremost task for Yerevan is to resist ratification
of the current text of the Protocols. Furthermore, to avoid pressure
in Karabakh issue, Armenia had better withdraw its signature," he said.

According to Mr. Hovhannisyan, Armenian Genocide recognition "would
come sooner but for our signature on Protocols."