Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Long Beach Press-Telegram, CA
April 24 2005
2,000 Armenians march for genocide recognition
By Press-Telegram wire reports
LOS ANGELES – About 2,000 Armenians marched to the Turkish Consulate
in Los Angeles Saturday to demand that Turkey recognize the killing
of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks as a genocide,
police said.
The march, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, began in
Hollywood at 3 p.m. and arrived at the Turkish Consulate at 4801
Wilshire Blvd. about an hour later, said Sgt. David Brown of the Los
Angeles Police Department.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

London Free Press, Ontario, Canada
April 23, 2005 Saturday
FINAL EDITION
ARMENIANS REMEMBER GENOCIDE’S LOSSES
BY CHRISTINE KHACHERIAN, LONDON FREELANCE WRITER
This month marks the 90th anniversary of the first genocide of the
20th century — the Armenian genocide of 1915. Launched by the words
of Ottoman Turkish leader Mehmed Talaat Pasha (1874-1921) to “kill
every Armenian woman, child and man without concern for anything,”
the annihilation of the Armenians by the Turkish government during
the First World War represents a major tragedy of the modern age.
Nearly an entire nation was destroyed. The Armenian people were
effectively eliminated from the homeland they had occupied for nearly
3,000 years. This annihilation was premeditated and planned to be
carried out under the cover of war.
On the night of April 24, 1915, the Turkish government placed under
arrest more than 200 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople.
Hundreds more were apprehended soon after. They were all sent to
prison in Anatolia, where most were summarily executed. In a single
year, 1915, the Armenians were robbed of their millennia-old
heritage. The desecration of churches, the burning of libraries, the
ruination of towns and villages — all erased an ancient
civilization.
With the disappearance of the Armenians from their homeland, most of
the symbols of their culture — schools, monasteries, artistic
monuments, and historical sites — were destroyed by the Ottoman
government. The Armenians saved only that which formed part of their
collective memory. Their language, their songs, their poetry, and now
their tragic destiny remained as part of their culture.
Beyond the terrible loss of life 1.5 million and the severing of the
connection between the Armenian people and their historic homeland,
the Armenian genocide also resulted in the dispersion of the
survivors. Disallowed from resettling in their former homes, as well
as stateless and penniless, Armenians moved to any country that
afforded refuge. Within a matter of a few decades Armenians were
dispersed to every continent on the globe.
Slightly more than a thousand Armenians were allowed to enter Canada
during the 1920s. The majority were young women who were brought in
often as brides for those earlier sojourners who were widowed by the
genocide. They formed new families and together bought houses and
began businesses. The Armenians showed their loyalty to their new
land by being hardworking and law-abiding Canadian citizens. While
acculturating to Canadian society, they were also determined to
preserve their heritage, which had almost been destroyed.
The after-four Armenian-language schools became a vital feature of
each community. One of the most important institutions that the
Armenians transplanted to the New World was their church. Currently,
about 60,000 Canadians of Armenian origin reside in Montreal and
Toronto. There are also about 3,000 Armenians in Southwestern
Ontario. A number of Armenian schools and churches operate to help
preserve unique culture and tradition, as well as to contribute to
the cultural diversity and richness of Canadian society.
There are about 30 families of Armenian origin in the London and St.
Thomas area. In the 1970s, there were about 10 times more Armenians
in London, but most of them left London to join larger Armenian
communities in Cambridge, Toronto or Montreal.
Let today be dedicated to the remembrance of victims of all
genocides. The Armenian community in the diaspora and homeland
commemorates the victims of April 24 and reminds the international
community of 90 years of denial. If you would like to be involved in
the Fight for Recognition, you can visit to
locate events that take place in your area.
LOCALLY . . .
What: A screening of the documentary film, My Son Shall Be Armenian,
which follows filmmaker Hagop Goudsouzian and five Montrealers of
Armenian descent as they return to the land of their ancestors in
search of survivors of the genocide. The film will be followed by a
discussion with the filmmaker. A reception featuring traditional
Armenian foods will conclude the evening.
When: Tuesday, April 26, 7 p.m.
Where: Wolf Performance Hall, London Public Library, central branch.

Cardinal Ratzinger: No place for Turkey in EU
Aljazeera.net
11 August 2004
The Catholic Church’s most senior theologian says Turkey should not
attempt to join the European Union because it is a majority Muslim
country with Muslim roots.
Turkey should seek its future in an association of Muslim nations
rather than try to join a European community with Christian roots, the
Vatican’s Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said in an interview distributed
on Wednesday.
The doctrinal head of the Roman Catholic Church said Turkey had always
been “in permanent contrast to Europe” and linking it to Europe would
be a mistake.
He also told a French magazine that the European Union should continue
to debate the issue of its Christian heritage, a discussion that
appeared to be closed in June when the EU adopted a constitution that
avoided any mention of Christianity.
Islamic heritage
A secular state with a majority Muslim population, Turkey has been
introducing political reforms to bolster its bid to open entry
negotiations with the EU, which is due to decide in December whether
to launch accession talks.
“In the course of history, Turkey has always represented a different
continent, in permanent contrast to Europe,” Ratzinger said, noting
that the Ottoman Empire once threatened Vienna and fought wars in
the Balkans.
“Making the two continents identical would be a mistake,” he said. “It
would mean a loss of richness, the disappearance of the cultural to
the benefit of economics.”
The German-born cardinal said Turkey “could try to set up a cultural
continent with neighbouring Arab countries and become the leading
figure of a culture with its own identity”.
Ratzinger, who heads the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith, said this would not exclude cooperation between such a
Muslim community and the European Union.
Both could work together to fight “fundamentalism”, he added.
Europe mistaken
The cardinal said the Vatican supported the separation of church and
state but thought the EU was wrong to ignore what he said was the
historical fact that its heritage was Christian.
“We should continue the debate on this question because I fear that
behind this opposition hides a hatred Europe has against itself and
its great history,” he said.
Asked about the force of secularism in France, which has recently
banned Muslim headscarves in state schools, Ratzinger said “aggressive
secularism” would provoke Muslims to become more religious, rather
than counter it.
“There is a rejection of a world that refuses to recognise God or
respect the sacred,” he said.
“This loss of the sense of the sacred and respect for others provokes
a reaction of self-defence in the Arab and Islamic world.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Marchers Seek Recognition of Armenian Genocide
KXTV, CA
April 22 2005
Walkers concluded a 215-mile march from Fresno to the State Capitol
Thursday to bring attention to the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians,
a event that went mostly unrecognized when it occurred 90 years ago.
>>From 1915 to 1923, the Turkish Ottoman Empire was responsible for
the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Armenians. In a fervor of
nationalism, first the Young Turks political party and then the Turkish
Nationalists systematically exterminated or deported Armenians. When
the genocide began, 2.5 million Armenians were living within the
borders of the Ottoman Empire.
The “March for Humanity” began April 2 in Fresno, home to one of
the largest populations of Armenian-Americans in the United States.
Participants in the march and State Capitol rally said they wanted
to thank the California state legislature and 36 other states for
recognizing the atrocities that occurred. Thursday afternoon Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a proclamation designating April 24 as a
“Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.” On April 24, 1915 some
200 Armenian community leaders were rounded up by Turkish forces and
sent to prison to be executed.
Descendants recounted the years of abduction, torture, and slaughter
of men, women and children. Many Armenians were sent to the desert
of Syria to starve to death. One of them was the relative of Father
Yeghia Hairabedian. “My Great Aunt was one of them,” he said. “When
she was two years old she died on the death march, starving and
begging for food.”
The genocide escaped world-wide attention and action in part because
most of the killing occurred during World War I. Turkey was allied with
Germany at the time. Some have accused the United States government
of ignoring the genocide because of close ties forged with Turkey
after World War I.
Armenian-Americans want the U.S. to formally recognize the genocide
of Armenians. Turkey has consistently refused to acknowledge its
responsibility for the mass killings.
An estimated one million plus Armenians live in the United States.
California is home to about half of them, with large populations
in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Glendale and Fresno. Many of them
arrived in California in the late 1800s and later to escape Turkish
domination and atrocities. The area around Fresno provided a climate
and landscape similar to that of their native land in Western Asia.

Daily Trojan Online, Univ. of Southern California
April 22 2005
Students remember genocide
Armenian Student Association holds event to remember tragedy, but
also urges students to be politically aware.
By Christina Huh
The Armenian Student Association gathered at Tommy Trojan Thursday
to mark the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide and to spread
awareness of other genocides.
“The purpose is to educate people about (the genocide) and to spread
awareness about genocide in general,” said Nerses Ohanyan, a junior
majoring in mathematics and aerospace engineering.
The theme of the event was “raising awareness of genocide through
recognition,” said Barouir Yeretzian, a freshman majoring in business
administration and a member of ASA who helped organize the event.
Among those who spoke at the event was Father Vasken, a priest involved
with ASA, who emphasized the need to recognize the Armenian genocide
to prevent future genocides.
“Basically the first step in stopping genocide is recognizing the
first genocide of the 21st century,” Yeretzian said.
Armenian folk dancers and musical performances of Armenian folk songs
and featured compositions by Armenian composer Komitsa.
Bracelets with “Justice 1915” printed on them were passed out to
students, and T-shirts that said, “1.5 million killed, zero held
accountable” were sold.
“I remember one student was appalled with what I was telling her,”
Yeretzian said. “As I was putting the bracelet on her, she was like
‘how can I not know about this?'”
The student response to the event was positive, Yeretzian said.
“It was good to see people know what’s going on and care about it,”
he said.
ASA president Ani Avetisyan read a letter from Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger affirming California’s recognition of the genocide.
Last year, in an executive proclamation, Schwarzenegger declared
April 24 as a “Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide.”
Although the U.S. government has not recognized the genocide, former
California Gov. Pete Wilson officially recognized the genocide in a
1994 executive proclamation, making California the only state to do so.
The House of Representatives passed legislation establishing trade
relations with Armenia, which was seen as a move toward recognition.
But in order for the U.S. government to officially recognize the
genocide, the Senate also has to recognize it.
Ohanyan hopes students from different states who attended the event
“pressure their senators into recognizing the genocide.”
The Armenian genocide, which began in 1915, was the systematic
elimination of Armenians through starvation and death marches by the
Turkish government. It began April 24 with the killing of Armenian
leaders.
The Turkish government has not recognized the genocide.
“By ignoring past genocides, we’re allowing other genocides to occur,”
Ohanyan said, referencing a quote by Adolf Hitler before Germany
invaded Poland: “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of
the Armenians?”
Members of ASA will join other members of the Armenian community at
an annual protest at the Turkish Embassy.

Armenia not yet sending resolution to UN to condemn 1915 genocide
By Tigran Liloyan
-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 21, 2005 Thursday 11:57 AM Eastern Time
YEREVAN, April 21 — Armenia does not yet intend to submit to the
United Nations a draft resolution condemning the 1915 genocide of
Armenians in the Ottoman empire, Vartan Oskanyan, the Armenian foreign
minister, said on Thursday upon the conclusion of the international
conference “Ultimate Crime. Ultimate Challenge. Human Rights and
Genocide”. “The time is not yet ripe for this,” the minister said. The
forum was devoted to the 90th anniversary of the events that took
the toll of 1.5 million.
The minister spoke highly of the participation in the Yerevan
forum of Juan Mendez, the special adviser to the United Nations
secretary-general on the prevention of genocide, as well as of
historians, jurists and public figures from twenty countries. The
United Nations has not yet adopted the resolution on the genocide
of Armenians, but the tragic events at the beginning of last century
were mentioned in the report presented in the 80s, the minister said.
“Armenia is ready for normal relations with Turkey without any
preliminary conditions, and all the outstanding questions can be
discussed in this framework,” the minister said. He believes, “The
time has come to normalize relations” between the two neighbour
countries. The territorial issue, the problem of the return to
Armenia of its historic territories seized by Turkey in the early
20th century, “is not on the agenda of the republic’s foreign policy,”
the minister said.
The Armenian foreign minister has no doubt that the conference in
Yerevan will be of importance for the international recognition of
the genocide of Armenians. “There is a need for consistent work,
bit-by-bit,” Oskanyan said.

Independent, democratic and strong Armenian and NKR guarantors of Armenian nation security
Pan Armenian News
21.04.2005 04:02
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The brutal murder by an Azeri serviceman of his
Armenian colleague in Budapest that shook the whole of the civilized
world, was just the result of the Baku criminal policy,” Nagorno
Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghukasian stated when addressing
Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Human Rights and Genocide
international conference. The statement of the NKR President notes,
“The response to this outrageous crime of the Azeri society, which
took the murderer as a national hero, demonstrated the grievous fruits
of the Armenian-hatred policy of the Baku authorities. That is why
until people directly responsible for organizing mass slaughter of
ethnic Armenians in their republic as well as in Nagorno Karabakh
hold power in Azerbaijan, it will be difficult to believe that a
mutually acceptable and civilized settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, subsequent peaceful coexistence and mutually favorable
cooperation of our peoples and states are possible. Where is the
way out? Which lesson we have learned from the tragic events taken
place 90 years ago and the relatively near past? How can we resist to
criminal intentions of our neighbors in the future and not admit the
repetition of the past? Unfortunately the contemporary practice of
international relations has not worked out efficient mechanisms for
preventing or at least operative suppression of mass annihilation
of people based on the national, racial or religious criteria. The
national liberation movement of the people of Artsakh has illustrated
that the most efficient way to counteract genocide threats is not
endlessly appealing to international institutions and expecting
their intervention, but the self-organization of the society, ready
to armed resistance to defend the right to live on the earth granted
to him by God. The highest form of self-organization of the Artsakh
people was the Karabakh statehood, which succeeded in fulfilling
the vital task of neutralization of external military threats to the
security of the Nagorno Karabakh people with the assistance of the
Armenians of the world. Independent, democratic and strong Armenia,
the independent, democratic and strong Nagorno Karabakh Republic –
these are the guarantors of the security of our nation.”

TRIAL OF RAMIL SAFAROV TO CONTINUE MAY 10
Pan Armenian News
19.04.2005 05:47
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 10 the recurrent third court hearing over the
case of Azeri serviceman Ramil Safarov, accused of murder of Armenian
officer Gurgen Margarian, committed on 19 February, 2004, will be held
in Budapest. It was reported by Safarov’s lawyer Adil Ismailov. In his
words, the at the results of the forensic psychiatric expertise will be
presented and discussed at the coming hearing. Safarov underwent the
procedure at the Expertise Institute in Budapest. The same Hungarian
lawyers – Peter Zalai and Georg Madiar will represent his interests at
the trial. In Ismailov’s words, he is the only person from Azerbaijan,
participating in the trial. The trial of Safarov had started last
November. The latest hearing was held February 8, 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Armenian National Committee of Toronto
45 Hallcrown Place,
Willowdale, Ont.
Tel: (416) 491-2900 Fax: (416) 491-2211
[email protected]
Contact: Vahan Ajamian
The Armenian National Committee of Toronto considers the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide a very important milestone. It’s also a rare
opportunity we must seize to educate society about the need for recognition
of the first genocide of the 20th century and for justice still due the
Armenian nation.
The ANCT is hosting / supporting the events listed below, which we urge you
to attend and publicize enthusiastically within your circle of non-Armenian
friends and colleagues, in order for the Armenian Cause to extend beyond
the inadequate confines of the Armenian community.
Please make a concerted effort to be present with your entire family.
Date: Wednesday, April 20th,2005
Time: 8:00 pm.
Location: North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street, Toronto.
Event: Cultural Genocide: the Destruction of Armenian Monuments in Turkey
Exhibition of Photographs, by Samuel Garabedian. An exhibit and reception
depicting the tragic and continuous state sponsored destruction of Armenian
architectural treasures in Eastern Anatolia (Turkey of today). The
exhibition will be open to public till Sunday April 24, 2005. The event is
organized with collaboration of Hamazkayin Toronto chapter.
Date: Thursday, April 21st, 2005
Time: 6:30 pm.
Location: Queens Park, Front Garden.
Event: Candlelight Vigil,
Organized by Armenian Youth of Toronto. Reception to follow at Hart House,
U of T.
Date: Saturday April 23rd, 2005
Time: 6 pm ? 12:00
Location: Human Rights Monument Ottawa
Event: Vigil
In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and all
other crimes against humanity and genocides of this century and past –
organized by ARF YOC
Date: Sunday, April 24th, 2005.
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: Turkish Embassy
Event: Ottawa Rally – This year the rally will take place at the Turkish
Embassy, 197 Wurtemburg Street, Ottawa. Departure at 6:30am from the
Armenian Community Centre. 45 Hallcrown Place, Willowdale, Ont.
Date: Friday, April 29, 2005
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: Hamazkyin Theatre(50 Hallcrown Place),
Event: Film screening of Hagop Goudsouzians My Son Shall Be Armenian, a
National Film Board of Canada production.
For further details please contact:
Armenian National Committee of Toronto
45 Hallcrown Place,
Willowdale, Ont.
Tel: (416) 491-2900 Fax: (416) 491-2211
[email protected]

Pan Armenian News
MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS CALLED ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO REFRAIN FROM ANY
PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT COULD LEAD TO COMPLICATION OF CONFLICT
15.04.2005 06:25
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today in London OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Yuri
Merzlyakov, Steven Mann and Bernard Fassier adopted a statement. The full
text of statement was gently provided to PanARMENIAN.Net by the French
Embassy in Armenia. The statement says: The Minsk Group Co-Chairs, concerned
by the growing tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan as result of the
significant increase, during the recent weeks, of cease-fire violations,
resulting in higher numbers of causalities, as well as by public statements
about the possibility of war, deem it appropriate to recall that -these
violations are causing needless loss of life and jeopardizing the
cease-fire; -references to war are complicating current efforts to elaborate
a peaceful settlement of the conflict, re fueling feelings of hate in the
populations of both countries, and are not preparing the people to live as
neighbors rather than enemies. As this sensitive juncture, where a first
step towards an agreement mediated by the Co-Chairs could be at hand in the
framework of the discussion between the parties, the Co-Chairs strongly urge
them: -according to the obligations undertaken by the sides in February
1995, to reinforce the cease-fire on the contact line and refrain from any
public statements that could lead to the complication of the conflict; -to
recognize that a renewal of hostilities cannot provide a lasting solution to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict but would be disastrous for the population of
both countries, resulting in loss of life, more destruction, additional
refugees and displaced persons, and enormous financial costs that would
undermine the economic development of both countries; -to prepare their
populations for a balanced negotiated agreement that will require compromise
on both sides. The Co-Chairs encourage the sides to focus their efforts on
the ongoing discussions of the Foreign Ministers with the Co-Chairs during
today’s meetings in London and forthcoming meeting in Frankfurt at the end
of April, in preparation for the next meeting between the two Presidents
envisaged in mid-May.