Author: Tumanian Talar

Facing History
Los Angeles Region
1276 East Colorado Blvd., Suite 207
Pasadena, CA 91106-1940
Office Phone: 626-744-1177

Taner Akçam: Confronting Genocide Denial

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Event Date: 06/30/2007
7:00 PM Event Fee: No Fee
Location: Pacific Park Branch Library, 501 S. Pacific Avenue,
Glendale, CA 91204
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What are the personal, moral and political consequences of genocide
denial? Join us for a discussion with Dr. Taner Akçam, a Turkish
historian and author of A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the
Question of Turkish Responsibility.

Using Turkish military and court records, parliamentary minutes,
letters, and eyewitness accounts – Akçam’s research followed the
chain of events leading up to the Armenian Genocide. He also probes
how the perpetrators succeeded in evading responsibility, and Turkey’s
ongoing efforts to do so. The conversation will raise questions about
justice after genocide and what responsibilities individuals, groups
and nations have to confront genocide denial.

Admission is free and open to the public. We expect this event to fill
quickly. Please RSVP today.

About Taner Akçam
Taner Akçam teaches at the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies at the University of Minnesota. Akçam grew up in Turkey,
where he was imprisoned for editing a political publication and
adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International in
1976. He later received political asylum in Germany, where he earned a
PhD from the University of Hannover and worked with the Hamburg
Institute for Social Research on issues concerning the history of
violence and torture in Turkey. Akçam is widely recognized as one
of the first Turkish scholars to write extensively and authoritatively
on the Turkish genocide of the Armenians in the early 20th century. He
is the author of ten scholarly works of history and sociology, as well
as numerous articles in Turkish, German, and English. His most recent
book, A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of
Turkish Responsibility was published in 2006.

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40 ARMENIAN REPORTERS TO LEAVE FOR TURKEY

Panorama.am
16:25 11/06/2007

Forty Armenian reporters will take part in Sports and Media festival
in Istanbul. Alexander Boyko, editor-in-chief of Sports World magazine
and an organizer of the festival said many applied but the places were
limited. The festival will host 30 from Russian, 10 from Ukraine, 2
from Greece and another 120 from Turkey. Reporters are also expected
from Iran, Syria and Bulgaria. "State and commercial structures
are interested in top level festival," Boyko said. The reporters
will compete in different sports. The winners will be awarded with
a cup and award certificates. Turk reporters may also host Armenian
reporters in their editorial offices.

NEW ‘MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE’ OFFICE OPENS IN ARMENIA
By Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 11 2007

The Millennium Challenge Account – Armenia (MCA-Armenia), a state
non-commercial organization established by the Armenian government
to oversee the implementation of a multimillion U.S. aid package,
opened its new office in Yerevan on Monday.

Ambassador John Danilovich, the Chief Executive Officer of the
U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) with which the
Government of Armenia signed a $236 million Compact in March 2006, and
Armenia’s Minister of Finance and Economy Vartan Khachatrian performed
a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was also attended by MCA-Armenia CEO Ara
Hovsepian and Resident Country Director for MCC Armenia Alex Rassin.

Danilovich said $6 million out of the funds earmarked for Armenia
as part of the five-year economic assistance package have already
been disbursed.

"The Compact is progressing. We have begun training farmers to
improve their profitability with the Water to Market Activity and
design of the first phase of the Rural Roads Rehabilitation Project
is nearing completion," Danilovich said at the event. "Additionally,
the early design phase of the Irrigated Agriculture Project is out
for competitive bids, with first construction expected to begin
this autumn."

The Compact, which was signed on March 27, 2006 and entered into
force later in September, aims at reducing rural poverty through a
sustainable increase in the economic performance of the agricultural
sector. Armenia plans to achieve this goal through a five-year program
of strategic investments in rural roads, irrigation infrastructure
and technical and financial assistance to improve the supply of water
and to support farmers and agribusinesses.

The provision of the multimillion funding had been largely linked
with a proper conduct of parliamentary elections in Armenia.

Danilovich said in this regard: "We welcomed the Armenian parliamentary
elections and congratulate the Armenian people on a more successful
poll than previous elections. It appears that this election was an
improvement toward international standards, but we continue to closely
watch the process of investigating allegations of irregularities."

He also said that as with all MCA countries, the MCC Board will make
a decision on Armenia’s continued eligibility at its annual selection
meeting in December.

Answering RFE/RL’s question, Minister Khachatrian clarified that
the sum Armenia has actually received so far is $5.5 million. "But
programs are in progress," he added.

He called it possible that some of the projects will remain unrealized
because of the fluctuations in the dram exchange rate to the dollar.

"The Corporation will not be adding anything," Khachatrian said,
but added that the government will take over and carry on where the
Corporation projects stop, including with "assistance from foreign
partners."

"Our ‘Lifeline Road Network’ is some 2,500 kilometers, of which only
some 900 are due to be rehabilitated under the Compact. It is clear
that we will do the rest," he emphasized.

According to the minister, the conditions for Armenia’s continued
eligibility for the assistance program remain the same.

"We have four categories, 16 indices, which are under constant
monitoring," Khachatrian said. "We’ve always had "green" evaluations
of three of the four categories, which deal with economy and social
issues. The only ‘red’ was with one index of the first category, called
"Fair Governance", where at least three out of six must be evaluated
‘red’ for the program to be put at risk."

In November 2006, the New York-based Freedom House urged the George
Bush administration to withhold promised economic assistance to
Armenia which it believed had failed to meet "reasonable standards"
for democracy and civil liberties. It charged the Armenian government
had been "backsliding on promised reforms" since signing the MCA
compact and accused it of ignoring U.S. calls to investigate serious
fraud reported during the nationwide referendum on constitutional
amendments held the previous year.

However, the Armenian minister believes that the latest legislative
elections in Armenia leave no room for "problems with the country’s
democracy and electoral processes".

"Our elections have been evaluated as good, free and fair from all
aspects," Khachatrian concluded.

NUMBER OF TOURISTS FROM ARMENIA INCREASES BY 50.5% IN FIRST QUARTER OF
2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, JUNE 11, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2007, 64,242 people
left Armenia in order to travel abroad agaisnt 42,675 people in the
same period of 2006: the growth made 50.5%.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, in the indicated
period 1,732 people left the country via tour agencies (1,079 people –
in the first quarter of 2006), including 276 tourists traveling on
business (112 tourists in the same period of last year), 654 (124) –
for pleasure, and 802 (843) – for other purposes.

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 9 2007

Bilateral and Multilateral Meetings Will Take Place between CIS State
Heads: Consul

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / The Consul General of
Azerbaijan to Saint-Petersburg, Gudsi Osmanov, said on 9 June that an
informal meeting of the CIS State Heads will take place at 18:00 in
Saint-Petersburg on 9 June.

Before the beginning of the 11th Economic Forum, the Presidents of
the CIS countries will come together in Constantinople Palace. From
the Azerbaijani side, the meeting will be participated by the
President, Ilham Aliyev, First Vice Prime Minister, Yagub Eyyubov,
Minister of Economic Development, Heydar Babayev, Minister of Energy
and Industry, Natig Aliyev.

The 11th Economic Forum will commence on 8 June, after which
bilateral meetings will take place between the President of
Azerbaijan and members of the delegations of other countries.

The Consul General of Azerbaijan stated that the Economic Forum is
attended by business people from many countries.

`Within the Forum, the members of the Azerbaijani delegation
participate in the work of separate commissions, make their proposals
regarding Azerbaijan and get familiarized with the economic
exhibition,’ Osmanov said.

In the evening of 9 June, a one-to-one meeting will take place
between the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia,
Robert Kocharyan, to hold talks on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement.

OSCE MINSK GROUP: THE INVOLVEMENT OF NKR REPRESENTATIVES IS UNAVOIDABLE: THE SOONER THE BETTER
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2007

The Co-Chairs also has not great expectations of the meeting in
St Peterburg

"We held very open, honest and constructive talks with President
Kocharian and Minister Oskanian", the US Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group
Metthew Bryza announced to a press conference on June 8, in Yerevan. He
qualified his words of optimism as personal and mentioned that they
don’t expect a "breakthrough" of Kocharian-Aliyev meeting on Saturday
evening in St Petersburg. "It’s evident that the discussions are
serious, respectful and the circle of disagreements becomes narrower,
but they exist."

Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov didn’t give any mark to the meeting
of St Petersburg, but he mentioned, " there are objective conditions
for the progress in the main principles.

The French Co-Chair emphasized that the proposals lain on the table
of talk are balanced; the Presidents must evaluate the proposals
and decide what points they agree and what points they do not agree
on. We will say the word "breakthrough", when the Presidents trust
each other and make a balanced decision. And then the Ministers will
carry out the agreement with the experts and specialists".

According to "Associated press" agency Bryza had announced that it
was already agreed to return the 7 regions around Karabakh. The US
Co-Chair presented the original of the interview and mentioned that he
hadn’t mentioned any figure and hadn’t told anything of returning the
regions. "I refused to comment on any agreement related the refugees
and evacuated. I didn’t comment on disagreed issues, I spoke about
the main principles", he said.

Merzlyalov clarified the information given by the Azerbaijani media
about his announcements of Nagorno Karabakh as "an inseparable part
of Azerbaijan" and about his adoption of "territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan", "there was a time when Nagorno Karabakh was de jure
part of Azerbaijan, then the conflict started and it changed into an
international issue instead of inner issue of USSR. Karabakh changed
from the subject of conflict into an object of conflict.

NKR is not recognized by any country. We were asked if NKR was
recognized by our states and we answered that our states recognized
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. It doesn’t mean that Nagorno
Karabakh is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan".

Metthew Bryza didn’t want to betray the secrecy related to possible
discussions of the regions (Artsvashen, part of Martuni, Martakert,
etc.) occupied by Azerbaijan.

According to Bernard Fassier it’s not their fault that NKR isn’t
involved in the negotiation process.

"Anyhow, the involvement of NKR representatives is unavoidable,
the sooner the better", he said. What about the attitude of the
Armenian side, which represents the status and security of NKR as
the most important task, Metthew Bryza announced that each side has
its own primary tasks. "I am not surprised that Arkadi Khukasian
and Vardan Oskanian think the issue of the status of NKR is the most
important. NKR status and security are primary issues not only for
them, but also for OSCE Minsk Group".

TOROS SEFILIAN "WE SHOULDN’T CONTINUE OUR ACTIVITIES"
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2007

Act of Protest Supporting Zhirayr Sefilian and Liberated Territories

"Mitq" Analytical Center, "Alliance" public-political initiative,
members of Internet sites and forums, "Liberated Territories’
Protection" public initiative and some other organizations carried
held an action of protest from Teryan Street to the buildings of RA
Foreign Ministry and RA Government. The members of intelligentsia,
freedom fighters, participants of the organizations were protesting
against the recent statements made by the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs,
according to whom the seven liberated regions should be returned
to Azerbaijan. The participants of the rally were greatly irritated
by the fact that our authorities do not respond the abovementioned
statements. They believe that this factor may cause a decision that
the people will not accept.

The rally members marched to the OSCE Office in Yerevan and handed
a memorandum for the OSCE Minsk Group. "The document in the agenda
of the negotiations, as far as we can judge from the statements of
the co-chairs, isn’t in the interests and the rights of the Armenian
people, the actual reality. In fact the negotiations are being held
in quite a wrong path. And the results of such negotiations can never
become a reality and can never be approved by the Armenian people. The
liberated territories are a part of our motherland," Armen Aghayan,
political secretary of "Liberated Territories’ Protection" initiative,
said.

"The society is unaware of what’s happening, everyone knows that
something is going to happen, but they know not what is to come. The
strangers tell us what is going to happen, while our own authorities
do not respond their statements. If they are not going to respond,
we are already concerned," Aghavni Sahakian, freedom fighter, member
of ""Liberated Territories’ Protection" initiative, said. She added
that if they try to return the liberated territories, everybody
will be ready to fight. Mrs. Sahakian said that "Dashnaktsutiun"
party should have been among the leaders of this rally, as a party
that constantly dwells on the protection of the liberated territories.

She pointed out with regret that the party remains indifferent even
after the arrest of Sefilian.

"If the hero of the Artsakh liberation war, the knight of battle cross
is arrested, it means that something is wrong in our country, at least
from my viewpoint. I joined this rally to express this position. We
have overcome all these 14-15 hard years, all these injustices, all
this robbery, as the society was hoping that in this very issue the
interests of the state and the people would match. Though we have a
society of zombies, but the healthy seed remains and we can’t miss
this opportunity. If the power belongs to the people, we should
take advantage of our constitutional right," film director Tigran
Khzmalian said.

Writer Hrachia Matevosian added that the fact that hero Zhirayr
Sefilian, commander of the Shoushi battalion, is arrested is a big
crime. He said that the future in Armenia belongs to those who are
like Zhirayr.

Toros Sefilian, brother of Zhirayr Sefilian, who is on visit in Armenia
for a fortnight, said in the interview that Zhirayr Sefilian is feeling
good, while his case is sent to RA Prosecutor’s Office. Toros Sefilian
stated that they will continue their deed notwithstanding the fact
whether their brother is arrested or not.

The rally members also handed memorandum to RA Foreign Ministry and to
RA Government. They demand that Zhirayr Sefilain and Vardan Malkhasian
are released and the criminal suit instituted against them isn’t sent
to the court in the memorandum addressed to RA Prime Minister Serge
Sargsian. They also demand that Sefilian isn’t deported from Armenia
and is granted Armenian citizenship.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ACCEPTS GOVERNMENT RESIGNATION

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 7 2007

YEREVAN, June 7 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on
Thursday accepted the resignation of the government, the president’s
press service reported.

This was done in line with the Constitution, which envisages the
resignation of the Cabinet on the day of the first session of the
newly elected parliament.

The president instructed the Cabinet members to continue performing
their duties until the new Cabinet is formed. The resigning government
was formed on April 24 and was the shortest-lived in the 15-year
history of the independent Armenia.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: "I DON’T THINK WE MUST JOIN NATO"

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.06.2007 14:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I don’t think we must join NATO," Armenian Prime
Minister Serzh Sargsyan stated.

"Currently we are within such a security system, which fully satisfies
us. And we are not going to change anything," he underlined. As to
the NATO Information Center, "the opening of which is being ascribe to
him", Serzh Sargsyan stated, "It looks like that my local ill-wishers
have thought out those rumors about the NATO center and then it
reached to you in Russia.

The matter is that the NATO office works in Moscow long ago and on the
same conditions, which we have here. Or may be you think that Russia
must cooperate with NATO and Armenia must butt with the alliance? To
tell the truth, I am glad that some people in Russia consider me as
a pro-western politician, because a lot of people in West consider
me as a pro-Russian leader.

And this is the very conformation of the fact that actually I am a
pro-Armenian politician".

Answering the question if the foreign agenda of Armenia will be
changed after the parliamentarian elections, the RA Prime Minister
underlined, first, according to the law foreign policy is in the
sphere of president’s activities. "But our party (Republican Party
of Armenia) has always been involved in that sphere, the president
has always consulted with us.

So, it is our common policy. That’s why I do not think that something
may be changed fundamentally. I think the policy that we carry out
today, is of benefit to the Armenian nation," Serzh Sargsyan stated,
"Moskovski Komsomolets" reports.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS STUDIES
(A Division of the Zoryan Institute)
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail:
[email protected]
www.genocidestud ies.org

PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Torrey Swan

DATE: June 8, 2007 Tel:
416-250-9807

Genocide, Memory, Understanding and Prevention: An Interview with the
Zoryan Institute on the Genocide and Human Rights University Program

Toronto, Canada– As the subject of genocide continues to grip young
Armenians, Nor Hai Horizon’s Armenian Youth Television recently
interviewed two staff from the International Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) about their
renowned Genocide and Human Rights University (GHRUP) Program. The following is
a transcript of the interview, which aired on Saturday June 3, 2007.

Armenian Youth Television (AYTV): We have with us today Torrey Swan and
Aren Sarikyan from the International Institute for Genocide and Human
Rights Studies which is a Division of the Zoryan Institute, an Institute
engaged in running a university program that deals with the gross
violation of human rights and genocide.

Welcome gentlemen, now first off, what is the idea behind the Genocide
and Human Rights University Program?

Torrey: Well, the program confronts the reality of genocide, so
important today, as it is still with us, in Darfur, as we speak.

Surprisingly, there was no program addressing the gross violation of
human rights and genocide from an interdisciplinary perspective and
comparative approach, so the Institute sought to fill this gap.

Basically, the idea is that we can learn many lessons from the past and
put them towards preventing genocide.

Aren: For me, as an Armenian, the Genocide is a living, burning issue.
It has shaped our current reality, become an integral part of our
identity and still impacts current events.

Consider, for example, Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, or
countries like Germany and France passing laws recognizing the Armenian
Genocide and drafting laws that punish its denial. The Genocide is still
dividing Turkish society, as the assassination of Hrant Dink has shown,
and the border between Turkey and Armenia is closed. These events show
us that the Genocide is not just part of our memory, but that of our
present, and so we developed a program to study it.

AYTV: Very Interesting. Torrey, what is this program and what are its
main features?

Torrey: Well it’s a two-week graduate-level course, directed by Prof.
Emeritus Roger W. Smith and accredited through a partnership with the
University of Minnesota. It provides a comparative analysis of several
genocides with the Armenian case, as the point of reference. The
professors not only teach the how, what, where and why of genocide, but
also the impact it has on women, children, and victim groups.

Aren: Furthermore, it addresses gripping issues in international law,
about third parties, bystanders, denial, as well as the possibilities of
reconciliation and prevention.

AYTV: I see. So why would students be willing to give up two weeks of
their summer to study this gruesome subject?

Torrey: Where else in one class could students find Rwandan Hutus and
Tutsis, Germans and Jews, Armenians and Turks, amongst others, sitting
side by side? Imagine the dynamics that take place as these students
learn and debate with a dozen of the world’s foremost experts in the
field: such as Taner Akçam, Vahakn Dadrian, and Yair Auron, to name a
few. In two weeks, they cover 65 hours of instruction, which cannot be
taught during a whole semester.

Aren: This program appeals to a wide variety of students from the
humanities, social sciences, law, etc. Most graduates have continued on
in the field as scholars, educators, and activists. Over the past five
years 150 students of 19 nationalities have attended the program from
five continents.

AYTV: What was involved in creating the program?

Torrey: Initially, it took a Development Committee of scholars from many
disciplines to conceive of the syllabus. Annually, it takes tremendous
planning and organization at great cost, about $4,000-5,000 per student.
However, in order to make such a program affordable to students, the
Institute subsidizes tuition by eighty percent and provides scholarships
to deserving students in need.

AYTV: I didn’t realize it could be so expensive. How do you find
financing for all this?

Torrey: We rely on the public, including a small grant from the Canadian
Government and through various groups and individuals, but all this
covers only a quarter of the expense. Moral and financial support from
the community is fundamental to the life of this program.

Aren: Yes, indeed, we do need the community’s help, both from
individuals and organizations, in order to help students with tuition
and travel costs, especially students from countries like Rwanda,
Armenia, Turkey, or the Balkans.

Fifty percent of the students are Armenian, and the government of
Armenia annually sponsors two of its citizens, either young scholars of
members the foreign ministry, to be trained at the program. This support
is crucial and we think of it as an investment in our youth – as an
investment in our future.

AYTV: That is a very nice sentiment. What do the students take away from
this course?

Torrey: Well, I actually took the course last year and it was amazing
how much I learned. I still feel empowered with the knowledge I gained.
I now understand how genocide works, why it happens, that it is
happening today, and what can be done to fight against it.

There is also a special bond that forms between the students, from all
over the world, who go through the challenge of the course together. The
energy and interests have been so great that we often continued the
discussions outside the classroom, throughout dinner, and far into the
night!

Aren: See, as Armenians, we all think we are well informed about the
Genocide, but we operate on a popular mythology of what we are told
happened, rather than reading seriously about what really happened, how
and why.

Furthermore, by looking at genocide as a universal, social phenomenon,
tracking its history and causes around the world, the students come to
see this ultimate crime as a crime against humanity, as a crime against
each of us.

It is through sharing and understanding experiences and traumas of
groups affected by genocide, that we are able to convert our powerful
emotional energy into creative intellectual energy: energy that can be
directed towards the prevention of suffering in this world and to our
own future as a people.

AYTV: Very positive. I understand we have a quote of what one program
graduate thought about the course?

I had expected another monument to the dead. They proved me completely
and utterly wrong. The seminar was a forum for the living, a place for
discussion and debate. In the midst of this forward-looking spirit of
exchange between Armenians and non-Armenians, there is no way for anyone
not to fit in.

AYTV: That does sound inviting. You can see now at the bottom of the
screen how to contact the institute and more information is available in
this brochure and on their website.

The Genocide and Human Rights University Program

admin@genocidest udies.org

416-250-9807

Learning about the Institute’s fantastic work and seeing your enthusiasm
and commitment, I am sure that our youth will take full advantage of the
program and that the community at large will give support by providing
scholarships.

Remember, students, that the application deadline is June 22, 2007.

Thank you Mr. Swan and Mr. Sarikyan.

Aren: Thank you.

Torrey: Thank you