Author: Varosian Antranik

IRAN STARTED NEGOTIATIONS ON MEDIATION IN NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT?

Arminfo
2008-09-22 11:49:00

ArmInfo. ‘Official Tehran started negotiations with Baku and Yerevan on
mediation in settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict’, Day.az reports
with reference to the interview of Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Nasir Hamidi Zade with ANS TV. ‘Tehran negotiates with Armenia and
Azerbaijan offering its mediation to both countries in settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict…’, the diplomat said. He emphasized
that Tehran strives for settlement of the Karabakh conflict within
the frames of the international legal rules. N. Zade also said that
the conflict should be settled in peaceful way.

To note, no confirmation or denial of this statement has been received
as yet. The telephone answering machine in the Iranian Embassy in
Yerevan says the Embassy does not work today.

Irish Independent, Ireland

Moral compass lost in quest for truth about Cromwell

An attempt to ameliorate judgement of Cromwell runs the risk of
sparking genuine outrage, writes Marc Coleman

By Marc Coleman
Sunday September 21 2008

Cromwell – An Honourable Enemy

Tom Reilly

Phoenix Press, ??¬13.99

Cromwell’s campaigns in Ireland annihilated one fifth of Ireland’s
population, by both direct killing and by the famine and disease that
accompanied the mass evictions of Catholics from their lands. Although
the moral gravity is less than the Holocaust — the most premeditated
genocide in history — the calculated prejudice and lasting human
trauma of Cromwell’s campaign mean writing about it ought to be done
by only the most serious, well-trained and morally guided of
historians.

Tom Reilly is no David Irving. He doesn’t deny the facts of Cromwell’s
campaign. But neither is he — judging by the biography on his book’s
cover — a trained historian. Good historians are story-tellers, not
Devil’s advocates and had Reilly stuck to his story, he might have
written something worth reading. Like a someone telling a victim of
child abuse that they should try to understand the motives of their
abuser, there is something deeply disturbing about Reilly’s book. Its
very title Cromwell, An Honourable Enemy is a sweeping statement that
the incomplete facts gathered in the remainder of the book fail to
validate.

The key phrase in Reilly’s argument is "the context of his
times". It’s an approach to history that has been used before, often
by tyrants seeking to justify their actions: Stalin’s purges together
with mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were used by
Hitler to convince himself and his acolytes into the most vicious
campaign of genocide in human history. In this country, the IRA
justified its bombing of civilians and campaigns against Protestants
living in border areas by pointing to British atrocities past and
present, including those of Cromwell. The UDA justified its actions by
pointing to the IRA. Reilly doesn’t justify Cromwell’s actions. But,
although he intends to do the very opposite, his attempts to qualify
and ameliorate judgement on Cromwell run the risk of inciting genuine
outrage.

They are also out of date. Since the Nuremberg Trials, we have
accepted the idea of an absolute moral imperative on government, that
genocide is wrong and that tyrants cannot excuse their actions by
pointing to relative circumstance or the "context of the times", as
Reilly puts it: Radovan Karadzic’s trial in the Hague is the principle
being put into action in our time.

Reilly refers to massacres of Protestants by Catholic generals in the
German town of Magdeburg in 1631 and the massacre of Protestants in
Ulster 10 years later as reasons why — although they had nothing to
do with either event — the massacre of the citizens of Drogheda
should be seen "in context’. Doubtless, Karadzic may have traced a
line from his ghoulish actions in Srebrenica back to Turkish
atrocities against Serbs half a millennium ago.

Reilly is on just as dubious ground in assessing Cromwell the man. The
image of Cromwell as a champion of democracy does not survive any
analysis of how Cromwell suppressed the Leveller and Digger movements
— a group of his own supporters who were hanged for believing in one
man one vote and in genuine religious toleration. This receives no
significant attention in Reilly’s book.

It also fails to grasp the extent to which Cromwell’s actions in
Ireland were driven by economic motives. In circumstances that in some
ways parallel those prevailing when Hitler came to power, Cromwell
inherited a country financially exhausted by war and the economic
profligacy of his predecessor and a population demoralised by
defeat. The Irish were a weak minority that Cromwell could exploit to
the full.

As scapegoats, his campaigns satiated frustration at England’s failure
to engage against continental Catholic powers in the Thirty Years
War. By portraying the Irish — who were merely fighting for their own
land and freedom of religion — as "traitors", Cromwell was then able
to harness political support for a campaign of conquest that would pay
in land what Cromwell could not pay his generals and investors back in
coin. The destruction of Irish culture and the death of at least
200,000 people were the result. Pathetically, Reilly’s book makes no
effort to measure the enormous cost to the future of Ireland arising
from Cromwell’s actions. So far as he is concerned, Ireland is a
stepping stone for Cromwell to ascend to glory.

He is also blind to Cromwell’s duplicity. As it pumped out pamphlets
depicting the Irish rebels as wicked barbarians for English
consumption, Cromwell’s propaganda machine was issuing proclamations
of a very different nature in Ireland, telling the Irish that he would
protect them against any "wrong or violence toward country people or
persons unless they be actually in arms or office with the
enemy". Like Elizabeth, Cromwell denied knowledge of the worst
atrocities committed by his generals in Ireland. But the atrocities
committed under his nose in Drogheda, together with his inaction
against generals guilty of mass killings and evictions, testify to the
ultimate truth of Cromwell’s intentions and actions. Reilly’s
interpretation of Cromwell’s motives here is gullible beyond belief.

As an exercise in devil’s advocacy, the book might yet be worthwhile
if it were not so hard to read. Bizarre sentences like this one —
where he interrupts a narrative on Cromwell’s advance on Drogheda to
tell us that the town "houses a modern commercial establishment that
is representative of international twentieth century cuisine: a
McDonald’s fast food outlet" — are a case in point. The book is
devoid of maps or pictures to bring the campaigns and characters to
life. The chapters are badly structured and mainly focused on a
discussion of Cromwell’s actions in Drogheda, Wexford and, finally,
Clonmel where — with no proper concluding chapter — the book
abruptly ends. And while a historian is entitled to opinions,
Reilly’s views on Catholicism are, for those of us who subscribe to
that faith, somewhat patronising. "Imaginative superstition and
na?Ã?¯ve wholesale gullibility, concerning both supernatural and divine
matters have been replaced by scientific solutions." From one so
easily taken in by Cromwellian hagiography, the charge of gullibility
is almost laughable.

In one respect, he has a point, but it’s not the point he thinks:
Cromwell was not "honourable" as he claims (massacring tens of
thousands of innocent people never is). But neither was he the only
perpetrator of these deeds. What Reilly might have done — and some
historian should — is to extend backwards an analysis of genocide in
Ireland to include the actions of Elizabethan campaigners, such as
Blount, Mountjoy and Drake (who slaughtered the inhabitants of Rathlin
Island regardless of age and gender). In doing what he did, Cromwell
was going down a well-trodden path.

Those who fail to learn the lessons of history will repeat it. As the
Iraq war shows, political leaders with economic agendas can misinform
public opinion to pursue wars that cause large-scale civilian
death. In doing so, they create the "context" for their enemies use to
justify future atrocities. And so the bloody cycle of world history
goes on. In an age of rising global tension, we need pseudo-history
and moral relativism of this nature like a hole in the head.

Perhaps Reilly is worried that telling the truth — the moral as well
as the factual truth — about Cromwell will fan flames of
Anglophobia. The opposite is true: Attempts to suppress the truth are
far more likely to do that. Truth and unrequited recognition of wrongs
done are the only firm bases for peace and reconciliation. The idea
that hating Cromwell amounts to hatred of the English is equally
untrue. So much did the English hate Cromwell that after his death
they threw his corpse on a dump. Once the chore of reading it was
over, that’s what I did with this book.

– Marc Coleman

FAVORABLE CONDITIONS PROVIDED TO RESOLVE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency
19.09.08 12:47
Azerbaijan

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan believes there are
favorable conditions to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"I think, today there are favorable conditions to solve the conflict
which can create new opportunities for regional cooperation," Novosti
Armenia reported quoting press service of Armenian Foreign Ministry
as saying.

Format of OSCE Minsk Group proved its vitality and it enjoys support
of world community, Armenian Foreign Minister said.

"Talks on the resolution of the problem are going on the base of
proposals of OSCE Minsk Group in the current format," he said.

NEW SCHOOL OPENED IN HADRUT REGION’S VILLAGE OF DRAKHTIK

DeFacto Agency
2008-09-19 14:42:00
Armenia

STEPANAKERT, 19.09.08. DE FACTO. Pupils of secondary school of
Nagorno-Karabakh Hadrut region’s village of Drakhtik started a new
school-year at the school’s new building.

According to DE FACTO own correspondent in Nagorno-Karabakh, in
2006, according to NKR government’s decision 200 million drams
were allocated from the state budget for the construction of a
standard school in Hadrut region’s village of Drakhtik. The school’s
construction was planned to be completed by the beginning of 2007-2008
school-year. However, due to a number of reasons the construction
was completed only by the beginning of a current year.

A solemn ceremony of opening a school bearing the name of Vazgen
Baghdasarian, a warrior and liberator killed in Artsakh war, former
teacher, was held in the village of Drakhtik on September 16. NKR MPs,
head of regional administration Valery Gevorkian, directors f schools
from neighboring villages and the village’s inhabitants participated
in the ceremony.

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY ENJOYS RESPECT IN IRAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.09.2008 14:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of Iran is one of the oldest
in the world, counting over 500 years.

"Although the number of Armenians decreased in Iran during the past
20-30 years while the Muslim population redoubled, the government’s
attitude remained unchanged. We are respected," Derenik Melikyan,
editor of Aliq Tehran-based Armenian-language newspaper, told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"According to the Constitution, we are a national and religious
minority and have certain rights. the government finances
reconstruction of Armenian historical monuments, schools. It assigns
funds for development of culture and education. The Armenian community
is represented by two deputies in the Majlis," he said, adding that
thanks to the Iranian government St. Tadevos was included in the list
of UNESCO’s cultural heritage.

"Presently, 40 Armenian churches function in Iran. Armenians like
other national minorities practise religion freely. I would like to
emphasize that taking care of the minorities, the government works to
represent Iran as a democratic and civilized country," Melikyan said.

PRESIDENT OF THE NKR HELD A WORKING CONSULTATION…

Azat Artsakh Daily
17 Sep 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On 16 September President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic
Bako Sahakyan held a working consultation with heads of regional
administrations and mayor of capital Stepanakert. Issues related to
agriculture, construction, return of loans as well as implementation
of state programs to increase living standards of socially vulnerable
groups of population were discussed at the consultation. The Head of
the State gave instructions to carry out all the necessary activities
on an appropriate level, drawing attention of the importance of further
deepening tight cooperation between the regions of the Republic.

ARMY OFFICERS DETAINED IN NEW WAVE OF ERGENEKON RAIDS

Today’s Zaman
Sept 19 2008
Turkey

Nineteen people, including six active army lieutenants and a military
academy student, were detained yesterday in police operations in
five cities, including Ä°stanbul, Ankara and Ä°zmir, as part of the
investigation into Ergenekon, a neo-nationalist gang believed to be
the extension of a clandestine network of groups with members in the
armed forces that planned to overthrow the government.

Nearly 50 suspected members, including retired army generals, are
currently in jail pending trial, scheduled for October.

During raids in Ä°stanbul, Land Forces Lt. Mehmet Ali C.; Levent Temiz,
a former chairman of the ultra-nationalist youth clubs affiliated with
the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) known as Ulku Ocakları; actress
Nurseli Ä°diz and Seyhan Soylu (known as Sisi), a transsexual believed
to have organized a scheme that led up to a political scandal ahead
of a non-armed military intervention in 1997, were taken into police
custody. Following the raids in Ä°stanbul, eight other individuals,
whose identities were not disclosed by the police, were taken into
custody in raids by the Ankara Police Anti-Terror teams in the capital,
officials said. The police said three of the eight in Ankara were
held only for interrogation purposes and would be released after
testifying to prosecutors.

Temiz, one of the suspects held by the police yesterday, frequently
participated in demonstrations and protests of the ultranationalist
association the Grand Jurists’ Union, an organization led by Ergenekon
suspect Kemal Kerincsiz.

In an interview published on Sept. 15 in the weekly Aktuel, Temiz
said: "The country’s unity is being attacked by Kurdists. Under
the circumstances, we’ll do whatever we can to revive the Turkist
youth. We will put up an armed fight for this if necessary."

Temiz also participated in provocative events in protest to
Armenian-Journalist Hrant Dink, writer Elif Å~^afak, who was brought
to court under Article 301 of the penal code on charges of having
"insulted Turkishness," and Nobel Prize-winning writer Orhan Pamuk,
who once told a foreign newspaper that "1 million Armenians were
killed in Turkey."

The judge presiding over the trial of the murder suspects of three
Christians killed brutally in Malatya in 2007 had also suspected
Temiz’s involvement in the case, as key Malatya murder suspect Emre
Gunaydın was asked in court whether he personally knew Temiz.

In 2003 Temiz made the Ulku Ocakları a member organization of the Red
Apple Coalition without seeking approval from the MHP. It was later
revealed during the course of the Ergenekon investigation that this
"merger" was requested by retired Gen. Veli Kucuk, currently in jail on
charges of being a leader of Ergenekon. Kucuk is also believed to be
the founder of JÄ°TEM, a clandestine and illegal intelligence group
inside the gendarmerie force believed to have carried out hundreds
of unofficial and also widely illegal operations against targets
that were deemed by JÄ°TEM leaders as a threat to Turkey’s national
interests for one reason or another.

In an interview with the AkÅ~_am daily on Sept. 8, 2003, Temiz and his
friend Mehmet Perincek — the son of Ergenekon suspect and Workers’
Party (Ä°P) leader Dogu Perincek — said they openly favored a coup
against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.

Temiz was also detained once in the past on accusations of having
raped 24-year-old journalist Hatice AlkıÅ~_, but was released shortly
after his interrogation.

Witness details Ergenekon’s ‘job’ assignment

Osman Yıldırım, a convict in connection with a shooting at the
Council of State building in Ankara in 2006, has given details about
how Ergenekon assigned various attacks and assassinations to different
gangs and hit men.

Yıldırım admitted that he was assigned the task of tossing hand
grenades at the Cumhuriyet daily’s office in Ä°stanbul by Ergenekon. He
also testified that Ergenekon chose Alparslan Arslan, the hit man
in the Council of State attack, for the shooting that left a senior
judge dead and that it assigned the "job" of assassinating the prime
minister to a gang known as Atabeyler. The plot was foiled by the
police in 2006.

What is Ergenekon?

The existence of Ergenekon, a behind-the-scenes network attempting
to use social and psychological engineering to shape the country
in accordance with its own ultranationalist ideology, has long been
suspected, but the current investigation into the group began only
in 2007, when a house in Ä°stanbul’s Umraniye district that was being
used as an arms depot was discovered by police.

The investigation was expanded to reveal elements of what in Turkey is
called the deep state, finally proving the existence of the network,
which is currently being accused of trying to incite chaos and disorder
in order to trigger a coup against the Justice and Development Party
(AK Party) government.

The indictment, which was made public in July, claims that the
Ergenekon network is behind a series of political assassinations
carried out over the past two decades. The victims include a secularist
journalist, Ugur Mumcu, long believed to have been assassinated
by Muslim extremists in 1993; the head of a business conglomerate,
Ozdemir Sabancı, who was shot dead by militants of the extreme-left
Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) in his
high-security office in 1996; secularist academic Necip Hablemitoglu,
who was also believed to have been killed by Muslim extremists, in
2002; and a 2006 attack on the Council of State that left a senior
judge dead. Arslan, found guilty of the Council of State killing,
said he attacked the court in protest of an anti-headscarf ruling it
had made. But the indictment contains evidence that he was connected
with Ergenekon and that his family received large sums of money from
unidentified sources after the shooting.

Nearly 90 suspects, more than half of whom are currently under arrest,
are accused of having suspicious links to the gang. Suspects will
start appearing before the court on Oct. 20 and will face accusations
that include "membership in an armed terrorist group," "attempting
to bring down the government," "inciting people to rebel against the
Republic of Turkey" and other similar crimes.

–Boundary_(ID_/+O78jR2cOBDmwjIXpIwiQ)–

IRAN OFFICIAL SAYS CAUCASUS CRISIS HAS "SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES"

Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 2
Sept 18 2008

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hasan Qashqavi, was the studio
guest during Iranian state television (IRTV2) evening discussion
programme on 18 September. In the 50-minute interview, which began at
1817 gmt, Qashqavi commented on issues of national interest including
the nuclear case and Iran’s policy on the Caucusus.

Caucusus

Qashqavi commented on Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki’s recent
visits to Russia, Azerbaijan, Germany and Georgia; as well as the
visit of the Armenian foreign minister to Iran. He said that the
trips were attempts at "a search for common ground". He added that
Iran would continue discussions through diplomatic channels hoping
to contribute to stability and security in the region.

The spokesman said Iran could not remain indifferent to upheavals
in the region adding, "We view the crisis in the Caucasus as having
serious consequences".

Qashaqavi highlighted the global importance of the Caucasus to global
energy supplies "particularly to global energy transport links in
that the north-south corridor passes through the region." He added,
"In this regard the importance of European decision-makers should not
be discounted". This, he said, was the reason for Mottaki’s visit
to Germany. He added that it was "an opportunity to hold dialogue
with Germany which is the EU focal point on the CIS and Caucasus,
and has special interests there."

He attributed the crisis to "miscalculations and interference by powers
from outside the region." He added, "Sadly, these miscalculations and
interferences led to bloodshed and the destruction and devastation
infrastructure". Qashqavi dismissed speculation about a "new cold war",
but cautioned that it was not reasonable to think that quick resolution
was at hand. He said, "I think the West and Russia are drawing red
lines. As a neighbour, we are trying hard to be constructive. However,
I don’t think political tensions will decrease soon".

United Nations

Qashqavi confirmed that the Iranian president would address the 63rd
session of the United Nations General Assembly on 23 September. He
added that Ahmadinezhad would "grant interviews to journalists and
hold press conferences in order to promote the policies of the Islamic
Republic of Iran." He was optimistic that the visit would be fruitful
"in spite of ill-wishers."

Concerning Iran’s bid for a seat on the UN Security-Council, he said,
"The rules of fairness dictate that every UN member state should be
allowed a chance to serve" in the Security Council. He however said,
"It is a difficult process. We should not have high expectations. We
should not see it as a defeat if it does not happen. It is our duty
to try our best diplomatically."

IAEA report

Qashqavi said the latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
report was similar to earlier ones and said that it "contained a list
of 14 points that were testaments to Iran’s transparency, earnestness
and honesty".

He accused the US of continuing to put pressure on the IAEA and
dismissed what he said were "alleged studies" concerning possible
attempts by Iran to develop a nuclear warhead. He said that they were
"far-fetched allegations" and "politically motivated fabrications"
which were intended to "derail the process" of negotiations with the
IAEA. Qashqavi added that the IAEA failed to forward documentation
of these "allegations" to Iran. He added that Iran had "nevertheless
provided a 200-page response". He stressed that nuclear dialogue must
proceed within a legal framework adding that it was not to Iran’s
interest to do so otherwise.

United States

Qashqavi accused the US of "trying to discredit Iranian diplomacy." He
said, "They have approved in their Congress 450m dollars to discredit
Iran." He commented on the upcoming US presidential elections saying,
"Iran is not focusing on individuals." He added, "We are reserving
judgment" because "it is policies and actions that count most."

"AH! PETIT FRERE!" PAR AHMET ALTAN

icle=44756
16 septembre 2008

Article de Ahmet Altan dans TARAF traduit en arménien et présenté
par NOR MARMARA

Note de la rédaction de Nor Marmara : Le remarquable écrivain Ahmed
Altan, dans le journal turc "Taraf" du jeudi 11 septembre, a l’occasion
de la première visite du Président Gul avait écrit un texte touchant
et très émouvant qui a laissé sur les lecteurs l’impression d’une
magnifique lecon spirituelle. Nous apprécions hautement Ahmet Altan
pour ce texte émouvant et nous le traduisons, avec la certitude que
nos lecteurs vont avoir les larmes aux yeux en le lisant.

Traduction francaise Louise Kiffer.

"Lorsque j’écris au sujet des Arméniens, mon bras s’allonge d’une
facon étrange vers une mélodie brisant le cÅ"ur des hommes.

J’ai envie d’écouter un son spécial de violon ou une musique triste
de doudouk.

Bien que dans ce pays on n’aime pas en parler, néanmoins, sur le
globe terrestre, c’est l’une des plus grandes souffrances que ce
peuple ait endurée.

Ne dites pas soudain " Eux aussi nous ont tués"

C’est vraiment honteux de dire une chose pareille.

Les groupes arméni ens sur la frontière russe, et l’Arménienne
de Boursa, le vieillard d’Adana, l’enfant de Sivas, quels liens
avaient-ils entre eux ?

Sinon le fait d’être arméniens.

Les Ittihadistes ont organisé un génocide impitoyable Très
impitoyablement Attendez une minute Attendez, je vous prie… !

Et réfléchissez.

Un soir, vous êtes assis chez vous, on frappe a la porte, on vous
attrape de force et on vous emmène.

La porte de votre maison reste ainsi ouverte Vous êtes sommé de
vous mettre en route

A minuit, sens dessus dessous, tous en foule, on vous fait passer
par des chemins de montagne.

Juste a côté de vous, une vieille femme, épuisée, s’étale
par terre.

Ils la fouettent.

Elle meurt en gémissant.

Son petit-fils qui pleure, on le fracasse contre les rochers

Vous croyez que tout cela c’est des contes ?

Savez-vous ce que signifie "Teskilat-i-Mehsusa" ?

Cela veut dire : Organisation Spéciale Cette organisation effroyable
des Ittihadistes.

Est-ce déja arrivé qu’on viole votre femme devant vos yeux ?

Est-ce déja arrivé qu’on frappe votre mari a la poitrine et qu’on
le tue devant vos yeux ?

Vous est-il déja arrivé, alors que vous étiez assis chez vous a
l’heure du dîner, qu’on20vous jette a terre et vous traîne dehors
et vous emmène, simplement pour le fait d’être né turc ?

C’est seulement et seulement pour être né arménien, pour cette
seule raison, qu’on s’est conduit ainsi envers des milliers de gens.

A part le fait d’être arménien, il n’y avait aucune autre raison
pour qu’on les tue.

Nous avons une conscience

Simplement pour le fait que nous avons le même sang devons-nous
prendre parti pour les Ittihadistes, le Teskilat-i-Mehsusa ; et ne
devons-nous pas pleurer pour la mort d’un enfant d’un autre peuple ?

Savez-vous seulement combien de milliers d’Arméniens les Ittihadistes
ont tués en les jetant sur les rochers ?

Ils les ont tués uniquement parce qu’ils étaient arméniens.

Ils les ont noyés dans des fleuves.

Ils les ont passés au fil de l’épée alors qu’ils étaient étendus
par terre, fatigués, épuisés.

Ils ont pillé les biens des Arméniens assassinés.

Pensez un peu a une jeune Arménienne a la voix douce, a une
grand’mère arménienne rieuse, aux yeux noirs, a un maître sculpteur
aux larges mains donnant une âme aux pierres…

A un jeune Arménien amoureux A une adolescente arménienne…

Pensez a tout ce la Et pensez a tout cela a minuit, sur un chemin
de montagne.

Affamés, fatigués, épuisés et seuls Pouilleux Malades Sachant bien
qu’on les conduit vers la mort Sachant bien qu’ils marchent vers la
mort Et qu’ils vont être tués.

Des centaines de milliers d’êtres Des centaines de milliers
d’êtres…

Leur race a-t-elle vraiment de l’importance ?

Imaginez un peu qu’on tire votre mari par la gorge, et qu’on l’emmène,
Et le lance sur un roc.

Franchement, n’allez-vous pas vous émouvoir du fait que c’est
seulement a cause d’être nés arméniens qu’ils ont dÃ" subir ces
souffrances ?

Une minute, une seule minute, mettez-vous a la place de ces êtres.

Une seconde seulement, ressentez leur impuissance.

Pour comprendre ce qu’est l’assassinat de l’homme que vous aimez,
fouillez une fois votre monde intérieur.

Et puisque nous sommes turcs, devons-nous être aveugles aux
souffrances vécues par les autres ?

Les Ittihadistes ont commis de très grands péchés.

Ils ont assassiné beaucoup de monde.

Ils ont supprimé une race et sont passés.

Et nous, pendant de longues années, nous avons empêché ces hommes
d’évoquer leurs bien-aimés par des chants venant du cÅ"ur ?

Même ces=2 0chants émouvants nous paraissaient de trop.

On nous a toujours menti.

On nous a dit qu’eux aussi nous ont tués.

Sur la frontière russe, il y avait des Turcs Mahométans, et ce sont
eux qui ont été tués par des groupes rebelles arméniens.

Eux aussi étaient des sauvages.

Mais les femmes de Malatia, Boursa, Sivas, Marache, Adana, les
enfants, les hommes, les vieillards, quel rapport avaient-ils avec
ces rebelles ?

Les Ittihadistes ont tué tout simplement parce qu’ils étaient
Arméniens.

Et a la fin nous avons été irrités par les petits-enfants des
êtres que nous avons tués, parce qu’ils voulaient qu’on leur parle de
"ces jours-la".

Si on avait tué votre grand’mère, votre grand-père, votre père,
votre mère, n’auriez-vous pas protesté a voix haute a ce sujet ?

N’auriez-vous pas voulu vous sentir redevables envers eux ?

Ne vous occupez pas des Ittihadistes, des criminels, des porteurs
d’armes assoiffés de sang.

Vous êtes plus près, non pas de ceux-la, mais de ceux qui sont morts.

Vous êtes des humains.

Et aujourd’hui, nous allons dans "leur" pays.

Je ne sais pas si nous allons réussir, mais…

Si seulement au souvenir de ces jours-la, nos yeux aussi s’empliss
aient de larmes et que nous puissions murmurer : "pardonnez-nous"

Peut-être que de notre dos un grand poids s’allégerait, et peut-être
qu’un Arménien avec une grosse moustache, nous aurait souri sur ce
chemin, où une frontière avait été tracée pour nous.

–Boundary_(ID_NuI5jdeGKPYtJPt60AM2DQ)–

TURKEY IS NOT INDIFFERENT TO ARMENIAN PAIN, VURAL SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.09.2008 17:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey must immediately apologize to Armenians for
the "tragic events of the past," said Volkan Vural, Turkey’s former
ambassador to Armenia in 1991-1993, Taraf Turkish newspaper reported.

"Although it is difficult to imagine that Turkey would recognize
the Genocide, nevertheless, it must apologize to Armenians and other
ethnic minorities – Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds – for displacing them and
massacres, and allow them to return to the land of their ancestors
and become Turkish citizens," said Vural. "It’s important to show
that Turkey is not indifferent to the Armenian pain."

"The return of assets and financial restitution are difficult issues
to tackle. However, it would be possible to make a symbolic offer
of financial restitution," explained Vural, saying that making an
apology is an "imperative for a country like Turkey."

"The Armenian question cannot be resolved by a commission of
historians. Such a commission can only help in the resolution process
by analyzing some of the issues," said Vural, adding that the Armenian
question can be resolved only by political leaders.

"Although the establishment of Armenia-Turkey relations will not
entirely vanquish Armenians’ genocide claims, it will provide
psychological reprieve. It is imperative to differentiate rhetoric
with the realities of life," added Vural.

"Turkey must have more faith in itself and not become hostage to the
genocide issue," said Vural, adding that Turkey must have strength to
acknowledge what has happened in the past and work toward establishing
neighborly and friendly relations.

"Armenians in the Diaspora will always force the genocide recognition
issue," he said. "But if Turkey-Armenia relations are normalized,
borders are opened, trade increases and people get wealthy, their
pressures would lose effectiveness" said Vural.

Volkan Vural was the only Turkey’s ambassador to Armenia with
residence in Moscow while Yerevan wasn’t represented in Ankara
even at the level of Charge d’Affaires. Presently, Karen Mirzoyan,
Armenia’s representative to the BSEC (residence in Istanbul), is the
only Armenian diplomat in Turkey.