Author: Zaminian Bedik

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

ARAM I: "ONE CANNOT SILENCE THE VOICE OF JUSTICE AND FREEDOM"

The assassination of Hrant Dink, a prominent Armenian journalist, the
Editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish by-lingual weekly "Agos", and a
vehement critique of Turkish anti-human rights behavior, generated a strong
reaction in many parts of the world.

Commenting on this tragedy, the Armenian Pontiff His Holiness Aram I said:
"Hrant Dink was a man of faith and vision. He was a committed journalist who
had the courage to question all attempts depicting the Armenian Genocide,
the first Genocide of the 20th century as a "fiction" or "alleged". He had
the courage to challenge the present Turkey to reconcile with its past by
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, planned and executed by the
Turkish-Ottoman Empire. Accepting the truth and respecting the human rights
were prerequisite conditions for Hrant Dink, leading people and nations to
reconciliation.

In fact, one cannot kill the truth by physically killing the messenger of
it. One cannot silence the voice of justice by neutralizing its advocate.

The Armenian Cause is a cause of justice. The sons of the one and a half
million Armenian martyrs will continue their non-violent struggle for
justice", said His Holiness Aram I.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

TURKISH PREMIER CALLS MURDER OF HRANT DINK ATTACKS TURKEY’S STABILITY

Yerevan, January 19. ArmInfo-TURAN. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish
Premier, held a special briefing were he made an official statement
concerning the murder of Hrant Dink, Editor of "Agos" Armenian
newspaper in Turkey, committed in the center of Istanbul today, TURAN
reports.

R. T. Erdogan said that it was "not occasional" that the murder took
place especially now when acknowledgement of the "so-called" Armenian
Genocide is being discussed in different states of the world. He
evaluated the murder of the Editor as provocation aimed against Turkey
and its people including Armenian minority. Whatever the reasons of
the case, the government of Turkey condemns the murder and claims that
law enforcement bodies investigate the case and punish the criminal in
the shortest spell of time. The Premier condoles with relatives of
H. Dink. Members of the government will participate in the funeral
ceremony.

Note: Hrant Dink was shot by an unknown aged about 20 in the center of
Istanbul today. H. Dink called for acknowledgement of Armenian
Genocide of 1915 internationally. He was persecuted by Turkish
government, was arrested and released only under the order of the
Council of Europe.

Federation of Armenian Organizations in The Netherlands
April 24 Committee
For Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
Address: Weesperstraat 91 – 2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Website:
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: M. Hakhverdian

Press Release

The Hague 19 January 2007 – The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the
Netherlands (FAON) is shocked to hear of the assassination of Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink living in Turkey. Just last month Dink visited the
Netherlands to receive the Oxfam pen Award from Mayor Deetman of The Hague.
Dink was a brave man, who was future oriented.

The 53-year-old journalist Hrant Dink, editor of the Armenian-Turkish
language weekly Agos newspaper, was shot dead on Friday 19 January 2007i n
front of the Istanbul publication as he was leaving.

In many ways Turkey carries responsibility for the death of Dink. By
educating generations with the superiority of the Turks and with the denial
of the Armenian Genocide for decades the Turks in fact have been stirring up
Turks against Armenians. Also Turkey didn¹t give protection to Hrant Dink,
he was in fact outlawed.

THE GENOCIDE BILL WILL NOT PASS, US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY CONSIDERS

ArmRadio.am
17.01.2007 13:30

US authorities will do everything to prevent adoption of the bill
on recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Congress, declared US
Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson.

Turkish "Sabah" newspaper informs that the Ambassador noted that
Head of the White House will personally prevent the adoption of the
above-mentioned resolution. "I cannot say how the events will develop,
but Bush will certainly oppose the final adoption," said Head of the
UA diplomatic mission in Turkey.

GUL: WE HAVE YIELDED RESULTS OF OUR GOOD RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Jan 16 2007

ISTANBUL – "We have yielded results of our good relations with
the neighboring countries. We hope that it will be same with our
relations with Armenia," Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday.

Speaking at a meeting hosted by the Provincial Office of the ruling
Justice & Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul, Gul said, "since the
day we came to the political power, we have succeeded in increasing
exports from 30-35 billion USD up to 85 billion USD. Our new target
for exports is 100 billion USD. We have made a series of reforms in
order to further strengthen democracy in Turkey. Those reforms were
described as a `silent revolution` in the world. As a result, Turkey`s
esteem has further consolidated in the international platform."

"Rate of neighboring countries in foreign trade rose from 3 percent
to 33 percent. We have yielded results of our good relations with
the neighboring countries. We hope that it will be same with our
relations with Armenia," he said.

"We are determined to reach EU standards in all areas. Public opinion
in the EU-member countries will understand Turkey`s importance and
future contributions in the course of time," he said.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has gained both economic and political power
during the political power of the AKP. Leaders of several countries
held official talks with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat. A situation
like de facto recognition has emerged."

Touching on Turkey`s Iraq policy, Gul said, "we attach great importance
to our relations with Iraq. Turkey has fulfilled its responsibilities
to provide stability in Iraq. However, there are gaps and mistakes
in Iraqi constitution. It includes a number of uncertainties. We
also attach great importance to protection of Iraq`s territorial
integrity and political unity. We have never intervened in Iraq`s
domestic affairs."

Foreign policy a local affair in diverse Valley
By Michael Doyle
Bee Washington Bureau
01/15/07

WASHINGTON – Foreign relations can become acutely local, particularly in the
San Joaquin Valley.

Armenians in Fresno care about genocide resolutions. Sikhs in Stockton care
about Indian affairs. Assyrians in Ceres care about Iraq and Hmong
everywhere care about Laos.

All of which helps explain why Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, cared about joining
the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Despite its name, it’s a panel that can
become surprisingly parochial.

"It’s something I’ve been interested in for a long time," said Costa, who
has been appointed to the committee. "In part, it’s because of the
incredible diversity of the Valley, with my constituents coming from all
over the world."

Throughout California, 8.8million residents counted in the 2000 census were
born in foreign countries. Nearly half came from Mexico, and one-third from
Asia.

Wherever they come from, the foreign-born can have a direct stake in what
Congress does. Sometimes, their voices can drown out U.S. diplomats.

California, for instance, was home to 57,482 natives of Armenia as of the
2000 census. Tens of thousands of other Americans of Armenian descent live
in the Fresno and Southern California areas.

Consequently, California lawmakers invariably lead in pushing Armenian
genocide resolutions.

Introduced by Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, the latest resolution
urged the White House to "accurately characterize the systematic and
deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide." The events
occurred between 1915 and 1923.

"It is inexplicable to me how you do not denounce evil and the evil of
genocide on every occasion when it becomes known to you," Rep. Dennis
Cardoza, D-Merced, said during the last congressional debate on the subject
in September 2005.

Presidents of both parties, though, have steadfastly resisted the Armenian
genocide resolutions, and Turkish government representatives have denounced
them as pandering to Armenian-American interest groups.

"These resolutions could undermine efforts to rebuild a partnership between
the United States and Turkey in pursuit of our country’s broad national
security interests," Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Reynolds cautioned
the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Another committee member, Arizona Republican Jeff Flake, worried the panel
was bogged down passing so many symbolic resolutions of ethnic interest.

"That committee has a lot more potential than we as members utilize," Flake
said Friday.

With Democrats now in charge, the committee already is tangling with the
White House. The new chairman, Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, promised a
"top-down review of what our country is doing in Iraq" in a series of
hearings.

"Obviously, we’re in a very troubled world," Costa said, "and I hope to be a
very active participant in the deliberations of the committee."

Other Valley lawmakers have preceded Costa on the foreign affairs panel,
formerly called the House International Relations Committee.

Two years ago, Cardoza secured a spot on the panel even though he already
had a full plate of other assignments.

"The Valley is home to many ethnic groups that have a strong interest in key
areas throughout the world," Cardoza explained at the time.

Cardoza has since stepped off the Foreign Affairs Committee, with his
appointment to an exclusive leadership post. Likewise, for several years
starting in the 1990s, Radanovich did a tour on the Foreign Affairs
Committee.

Radanovich used the committee, for instance, to push legislation chastising
the socialist government of Laos over the fate of former Fresno resident
Michael Vang. Vang disappeared in 1999 while traveling along the border of
Laos and Thailand.

"This keeps much-needed pressure on the State Department and the Lao
government," Radanovich said at the time.

There were 68,306 natives of Laos living in California as of the 2000
census. Historically, the most politically vocal have harshly opposed the
existing Lao government.

State Department officials, though, cautioned that Vang’s unsolved
disappearance was far more complicated than the good-vs.-evil narrative
constructed by the Hmong activists. Congress eventually overcame resistance
and granted Laos normal trade relations.

The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or(202) 383-0006.

7.html

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkish Opposition Offers to Dismiss Abdullah Gul
13.01.2007 14:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Taking into account the unfavorable foreign policy
atmosphere for Turkey during the past years, opposition
parliamentarian Suleyman Saribashi has initiated an offer to dismiss
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. In Ankara as an argument for turning to
the parliament was used the statement of Emre Taner, the head of
National Intelligence Organization. In particular, he says, `our
national unity is under threat.’

The opposition deputy underscores, that in fact the establishment of a
Kurdish state in the North of Iraq, as well as problems on the way of
Turkey’s EU membership, are results of the fact that Ankara does not
work out its own foreign policy. In Saribashi’s opinion the last
events are results of the fact that Turkish Foreign Minister A. Gul
does not correspond to his post, Trend reports.

OSCE MG TO VISIT REGION AT THE END OF JANUARY AND BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.01.2007 17:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will visit the region at
the end of January or beginning of February, said American Co-Chair
Matthew Bryza. The mediator stated that the exact date of visit depends
on the work-schedule of presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia Ilham
Aliev and Robert Kocharian. "We would like to make one more step to
strengthen the reached positive developments before the electoral
campaign speeds up in Armenia," underlined Matthew Bryza.

Touching upon the OSCE report on the fires in the Nagorno Karabakh
and adjacent territories, the mediator said, "Though I have not seen
the final version of the document I can say that it supposes a plan
of actions to expand cooperation for preventing such fires in future
and elimination of their consequences."

"Cooperating to fulfill the above mentioned last two goals we can
create psychological new atmosphere, which will direct the process of
negotiations to positive channel," underscored the OSCE MG Co-Chair,
Bakililar.az reports.

CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL FUND OF SCIENCE AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES CONSIDERS THAT RA NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES CHAIRMANSHIP WANTS TO "PROVINCIALIZE" EDUCATION SPHERE

Noyan Tapan
Jan 10 2007

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. "The heavy artillery" of forces
failing adoption of draft Conceptional Provisions of Reforms in the
Sphere of Science elaborated by the interdepartmental commission
founded by RA President’s commission is in RA National Academy of
Sciences." Haroutiun Karapetian, Chairman of National Fund of Science
and Advanced Technologies, expressed such an opinion at the December
10 press conference.

In his words, adoption of the above mentioned document was planned
by RA government until late 2006, but this did not take place. In
the Fund Chairman’s words, the evidence that RA National Academy of
Sciences chairmanship wishes to "provincialize" the sphere of science
is also results of recent elections of directors of Academy system’s
institutes, policy of Higher Qualification Commission granting
scientific degrees, insignificant increase of funds envisaged for
financing of science in 2007 as compared with 2006. As H.Karapetian
reported, the evidence of this is also the circumstance that
representatives of Academy did not take part in the 2006 December
9-10 discussion of draft Conceptional Provisions of Reforms in the
Sphere of Science.

It was mentioned that U.S. Fund of Civil Researches and Development,
leading Diasporan scientists expressed their opinion about the draft
document.

H.Karapetian mainly positively estimates the draft considering as
important to withdraw from it provisions on giving "special status"
to the Academy and Higher Qualification Commission.

In his words, the Commission grants scientific degrees on the basis
of articles published not in international scientific magazines,
but articles published in non-scientific magazines in Armenia. The
Chairman of the Fund of Science and Advanced Technologies considered
inadmissible the circumstance that 10% of annual budget of "academic
science sphere" are expenditures of maintaining chairmanship of RA
National Academy of Sciences, which amount to 700-750 thousand USD
annually. He reminded that budget resources of 5.3 bln drams (nearly
14.7 mln USD) are envisaged for financing of Armenian science.

Nouvelles d’Arménie, France
Jan 1 2007

Tessa Hofmann/Sarkis Bezelgues ‘Recognition’ of genocide and
penalization of genocide denial

German Journal for Politics and Economics of the Middle East 2/2006

Table of Contents

Tessa Hofmann/Sarkis Bezelgues ‘Recognition’ of genocide and
penalization of genocide denial

Abstract : The political, legal and human rights background and the
impact of the motion of the German Bundestag of June 16, 2006,
"Remembering and commemorating the expulsions and massacres of the
Armenians in 1915 – Germany must make a contribution to
reconciliation between Turks and Armenians".

The ‘recognition’ of genocides committed in the first half of the
20th century and be-fore the UN Convention on the Punishment and
Prevention of Genocide (1948) causes particular legal, political and
moral problems. Communities of survivors and their descendents fight
for the public and official recognition of such crimes, and, be-ing
rejected by the States responsible for the crimes, they address to
the international community with the request to acknowledge formally,
by parliamentary resolutions and similar official statements, the
crime as a historic fact. The most prominent ex-ample of genocide
‘recognized’ by an increasing number of parliaments and yet ‘de-nied’
by the legislative and government of the Turkish Republic is the case
of the an-nihilation of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire
during 1915/16.

This article is a critical assessment of the motion, issued
unanimously by the German Bundestag on June 16, 2005 (Printed Paper
15/5689). The authors discuss the motifs and legal implication of
this implicit German version of genocide recognition, which avoids
the term genocide, but is explicit in admitting Germany’s
co-respon-sibility for the ‘annihilation’ of the Armenian citizens of
the Ottoman Empire. Beside genocide recognition, the penalization of
genocide denial is yet another main concern of communities of
genocide survivors and their descendants. Here, the authors explain
the meaning of genocide denial and explore the surprisingly poor
‘equipment’ of the German penal law situation, which has no other
tools to counter qualified genocide denial than §§ 130 (3) and 185
(German Penal Code), which prosecute denial of the NS genocide crimes
as insult, or protect the memory of de-ceased persons from insult (§
189). The authors also analyse whether the penalization of qualified
genocide denial under the German penal law infringes the basic and
human rights of free opinion, as stated in the German constitution
(Grundgesetz article 5 [1]).

In conclusion, the authors compare the German situation with the
legal state of af-fairs in other EU member states such as Spain and
France. Quoting the contradicting governmental opinion of Turkey and
of dissident Turkish human rights defenders, as articulated at the
occasion of a debate in the French National Assembly (May 18, 2006)
about a bill on the legal prosecution of genocide denial, the authors
predict in-tensified differences between the liberty of speech and
opinion and the protection against genocide denial as the ‘second
killing’ (Elie Wiesel).

GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies / Leibniz-Institut
für Globale und Regionale Studien Neuer Jungfernstieg 21 · 20354
Hamburg · Germany Tel. : +49 (0)40 – 428 25-593 · Fax : +49 (0)40 –
428 25-547 URL :

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