Times OnLine UK
September 16, 2005
Bet my genocide’s bigger than your genocide: the sad cult of suffering
Notebook by Mick Hume
HOW DID a discussion about combating Islamic extremism turn into
an infantile game of `my Holocaust is as big as your Holocaust’?
After July 7, the Government set up several committees to advise it on
tackling extremism in the Muslim community. Now these advisers
reportedly want Tony Blair to scrap the annual Holocaust Memorial Day
and replace it with a Genocide Day that would recognise the plight of
Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere. They say a special memorial to
Jewish victims `sounds too exclusive to many young Muslims’ who `feel
hurt’ that they are not included.
If anything in our hyperbolic culture still merits being seen as an
exclusive event, I would have thought it was the Nazi’s industrialised
campaign of genocide that killed six million Jews. Yet today it seems
that millions more – by no means all of them Muslims – want to be
recognised as having had a Holocaust of their own.
A quick internet search reveals an (almost) A to Z of groups whom it
is claimed have experienced genocide: Armenians, Bosnian Muslims,
Chechens/Cambodians, Darfur Christians, East Timorese, Falun Gong
followers, Gay men, HIV/Aids sufferers, Iraqis/Irish, Jews, Kosovans,
Laotians, Maoris, Native Americans, Palestinians, Roma, Slaves in
America, Tutsis/Tibetans, Unborn children, Victims of motor cars,
White South African farmers, Xhosa, Yugoslavs, Zulus.
(My apologies to any forgotten genocide victims with the initials O or
Q.)It might seem a wonder that there are any of us left behind to
commemorate the dead.
No doubt some have strong evidence of mass slaughter. But when almost
any experience of suffering, past or present, can be branded genocide,
so thata US news network carries the headline `New Orleans evacuee:
`It’s Genocide!’ ‘ , it inevitably demeans the word and belittles the
singular horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.
The UK Holocaust Memorial Day now threatens to blow up in the faces of
its well-meaning founders. Frankly, they were asking for it. New
Labour set itup in 2001 not only as a commemoration of the past but
also as an expressionof the modern cult of suffering, which puts
victims on a pedestal and invites us all to feel good about ourselves
by feeling their pain. That in turn acted as an invitation to some
Muslim worthies and other self-styled spokespersons for victims of
genocide to claim their piece of the grief pie.
Perhaps we would be better off scrapping these stage-managed,
victim-fests altogether. Far from `feeling hurt’ about being left out
of the experience, some of us are only too happy to have been
`excluded’ fromthe Holocaust – a terrible historical event that has
Never Happened Again.
I WAS INTERESTED to see `police sources’ reporting that all of two
fuel protesters approached the Shell refinery at Ellesmere Port this
week, but were ` frightened off by the size of the media pack’. We
often hear boasts about the media being `the new opposition’, but `the
newriot police’ is a new one on me. Still, perhaps it was fitting that
the media pack burst the protesters ‘ bubble. After all, it was the
media that so ludicrously inflatedtheir hopes of `causing chaos’ in
the first place.
ALTHOUGH cricket is not normally my game, I concede that beating the
great Shane Warne and his assistants was a significant sporting
achievement. Butthe cricketati couldn’t leave it at that. Even amid
the victory celebrations, the snobs had to find time to have a go at
football, boring on again abouthow cricket is altogether a more
skilful, sportsmanlike and civilised game than brutish
`soccer’. Apparently cricketers such as Andrew `Freddie’ Flintoff even
binge drink like gentlemen.
One could offer various impassioned replies to these petty-minded
allegations. But why bother? Let us just admit that football is simply
notcricket, old boy. Which is why the world (as opposed to the
Empire) loves it. With a bit of luck the Ashes hysteria will encourage
some of the sporting tarts (male and female) who have attached
themselves to football to dress up as Flintoff rather than Beckham,
and pretending that they understand the law of lbw rather than
offside. That would be something to celebrate. So come on, allyou
new-found Freddie fans. Can we have our ball back now, please?
[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. Congressional Panel Endorsed Two Armenian Genocide Resolutions

WASHINGTON (AP) – Over the strong objections of President George
W. Bush’s administration, a congressional panel Thursday endorsed two
resolutions denouncing the deaths of Armenians early last century as
genocide – a sensitive issue in relations with Turkey.
The House of Representatives’ International Relations Committee voted
35-11 to approve a resolution calling on Turkey to acknowledge the
culpability of its predecessor state, the Ottoman empire in the
1915-1923 killings.
A second resolution passed 40-7, calling for U.S. foreign policy
reflect an understanding of the Armenian genocide and for the
president to recognize the deaths as genocide. It is not clear if and
when the resolutions will be brought before the full House of
Representatives.
Armenians say that Ottoman Turks caused the deaths of 1.5 million in a
planned genocide. Turkey said the toll is wildly inflated and
Armenians were killed or displaced in civil unrest during the collapse
of the Ottoman Empire. The Turks also fear that Armenia will use the
genocide claims to make territorial demands against Turkey.
The State Department sent a letter to committee members saying the
debate “could damage U.S.-Turkish relations and could undermine
progress by Ankara and Yerevan as they begin quiet talks to address
the issue and look to the future.”
Turkey is an important strategic U.S. ally. It is a democratic,
secular Muslim state bordering on Iraq and a NATO member. The
relationships, though, has been strained since Ankara refused to allow
U.S. troops in the country for the Iraq war.
The State Department said the “resolutions could undermine efforts to
rebuild a partnership between the United States and Turkey in pursuit
of America’s broad national security interests in the eastern
Mediterranean, Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East.” The
sponsor of the first resolution, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, said he
was sensitive to Turkey’s importance and that he considers it an ally
of the United States.
But “that alliance cannot be used as a tool to escape from the past
no matter how uncomfortable that past is,” said Schiff, whose
California district includes tens of thousands of Armenians.
Rep. Tom Lantos, the panel’s top Democrat, said he was reversing his
own position in supporting the resolution He said though Turkey was a
good friend, it needed to show more solidarity with the United States
on important matters, noting the issue of U.S. troops, among others.
The committee’s Republican Chairman, Rep. Henry Hyde, said the doubted
the relationship with Turkey would be harmed and stressed the
resolutions do not hold Turkey or the Turkish people accountable for
the killings. He said the resolutions “merely recognize the fact that
the authorities of the Ottoman Empire deliberately slaughtered the
majority of the Armenian community in their empire.”
“Denial of that fact cannot be justified on the basis of expediency
or fear that speaking the truth will do us harm,” he said.
09/15/05 17:02 EDT
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Council of Europe can’t help Azerbaijan draw up list of voters in Karabakh
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
15 Sep 05
[Presenter] The Council of Europe will not be able to help Azerbaijan
draw up a list of voters [Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin] in
Xankandi constituency No 122. This is explained by the fact the
Council of Europe’s Baku office received the appeal regarding the
problem too late.
[Representative of the Council of Europe secretary-general, Mats
Lindberg, speaking to microphone in English with Azeri voice-over] The
Central Electoral Commission asked us very recently to help them from
a technical standpoint, that’s to say to draw up a list of voters. The
issue cannot be dealt with as we received the appeal too late. We will
try to give more detailed and precise information about this soon.

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 15 2005
Jewish lobby in US pledges support to Turkey on Armenian allegiations
14 September 2005-TURKEY /NEW YORK
Cihan News Agency-World
Representatives of the Jewish associations in the US have announced
that they would favor Turkey if a draft bill regarding the Armenian
allegations of genocide committed by the Ottoman authorities during
WW1 are presented in the US Congress.
PM Recep Tayyip Erdoðan today received representatives of US Jewish
associations in New York where he will attend the United Nations
Millennium Summit.
The Jewish representatives thanked Turkey for its help sent following
the Katrina hurricane disaster, and also expressed their appreciation
of Erdogan’s contribution to regional stability and democratic
efforts in the middle east.
In relation to attempts to have a bill passed in the US Congress
condemning as genocide the deaths of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
during World War 1, the Jewish delegation said that they would go on
backing Turkey. Erdoðan also denied the allegations of genocide and
stated that the archives relevant to the issue has been opened to
researchers.
The Jewish delegation also expressed their thanks to Erdoðan for
Turkey’s hosting of the recent Israeli-Pakistani top-level diplomatic
meeting held in Istanbul.

Iranian authorities close down Azeri magazine “for promoting separatism”
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
15 Sep 05
[Presenter] Pressure on our compatriots in Iran is continuing. The
registration of the Araz magazine, which belongs to ethnic Azeris, has
been cancelled.
[Passage omitted: Armenians’ rights are not violated in Iran]
[Correspondent over video of people in the streets of Tabriz] The Araz
magazine was closed down for publishing the map of Azerbaijan on its
cover. The magazine was designated for Azeri students of the new
Azerbaijani language faculty at Tabriz University.
The Azerbaijani ambassador to Iran, Abbasali Hasanov, has also
confirmed this fact. However, the ambassador said that Baku cannot
interfere in Iran’s internal affairs even though it is an unpleasant
incident.
Huseyn Turkelli, head of the Baku bureau of the National Liberation
Movement of Southern Azerbaijan [NRMSA], does not think so.
[Turkelli by phone] Human rights are not an internal affair of any
country. We are fighting for the rights of 30m Azeri Turks. The
registration of the Araz magazine was cancelled at Tabriz University
several days ago. The registration of the Elci magazine was cancelled
as well. The magazines are accused of promoting separatism.
[Correspondent] Armenian separatists feel comfortable in Iran. Our
compatriots from the south [meaning northern Iran] say that Armenians
will hold sporting events in Iran in two days’ time. Along with
numerous countries, teams from the Nagornyy Karabakh republic will
also take part in the contest.
[Turkelli] The Ararat sports club will hold an Olympic contest of
world Armenians in Tehran. Iran’s official state news agency has
reported that teams from Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Nagornyy Karabakh
will take part in the contest. Millions of dollars have been allocated
for the games.
[Passage omitted: The Iranian embassy says that it has no information
about this]
[The chairman of the World Azerbaijani Congress, Cavad Deraxti, told a
news conference in Baku on 14 September that 25 ethnic Azeris have
been arrested in Iran for staging a march to Fort Bazz and added that
members of the organization demand that Iran release the detainees as
soon as possible.]

US should be ready to fill the void on Turkey
By Marc Grossman
FT
September 15 2005 20:20
Most Americans believe that a strong Europe, politically united and
militarily capable of helping to meet the century’s new security
threats, is in America’s interest.

Americans are also convinced that one of the European Union’s most
remarkable accomplishments has been its long-term strategy to spread
democracy and prosperity to Europe’s east and south through
expansion. This is especially true of Turkey: its desire to join the
Union has been a profound incentive for positive change.
But how should we judge from across the Atlantic the signals that
French and Dutch voters, French and German politicians and some EU
leaders have recently sent to Turkey? From the US perspective, it
looks like Europe’s  – strategy to encourage Turkey to strengthen
its democracy by remaining committed to eventual Turkish membership
may be losing political support. If this is true ` and Americans
should hope that it is not and that Tony Blair, UK prime minister,
will keep the EU focused on Turkey in light of the deal negotiated
with France to start  – Turkey’s accession talks on October 3 `
the US should think now about what it might do if Europeans miss their
historic opportunity.
The last three US administrations have promoted the advantages of
Turkish EU membership and that should remain America’s goal. Why has
the US put such effort into this? There are several reasons.
First, because Turkey has already taken significant steps ` such as
 – loosening the government’s grip on the political system,
improving relations with Greece and freeing its economy ` in pursuit
of EU membership. Second, because Turkey in an EU embrace is a beacon
for others aspiring to democracy and economic success. And third,
because the EU’s own future success depends on shedding the image of a
`Christian club’.
Americans applauded the EU’s  – decision last year to open
membership negotiations with Turkey on October 3. But since then,
disappointments have dominated. Europeans should appreciate the
enormous changes they have sparked in Turkey by keeping alive not a
`privileged partnership’, but the prospect of EU membership. Turks, in
turn, should be confident of their successes in political and economic
transformation and not be grudging about further reforms.
Failure to keep Turkey moving west would discredit those Turkish
leaders who took risks for change; change that Europeans and Americans
supported. Implementing these reforms will get harder, and an
embittered and perhaps more radical Turkey would be a defeat for
Europe and America. In a world where there is debate about whether it
is possible to be democratic, secular and Muslim, we must pay
attention to a country that is trying to answer `Yes!’.
If the EU falters, what should a US administration do to recover the
strategic initiative? First, America should do the work necessary to
get the leaders and members of the anti-Turkish extremist group, the
PKK/Kadek, out of northern Iraq and on their way to face justice,
either in Iraq or in Turkey. The US should take this action now,
whatever happens between the EU and Turkey. Without some American or
Iraqi action soon, it will be hard to dissuade Turkey from unilateral
intervention in northern Iraq, especially after the July terror
attacks on Turkish cities.
Second, the US administration should be ready with a US-Turkey free
trade agreement. The US cannot  – substitute dollar-for-euro the
foreign capital that would flow to Turkey as a full EU member, but
such a trade agreement would encourage more US trade and investment
while promoting market freedom and economic success in Turkey.
Third, the US administration needs to develop a new agenda for the
US-Turkish military relationship to bury the argument about Iraq. Some
in the Pentagon cannot forgive Turkey for denying access to northern
Iraq before the war. But it is time to move the focus to protecting
America’s larger interests.
At the same time, Turkey needs the new Iraq to succeed and must do all
it can to help. And Turks need to recognise that their strategic
relationship with America, which includes supporting a strong Nato
alliance, must be a two-way street, including more flexibility for US
forces in Turkey.
Turks have other work to do, either to ensure that the EU negotiations
remain on track or, in the event that talks do not start or that they
fail, that America is a closer partner to Turkey. For example, Turkey
should meet its responsibilities to solve the Cyprus problem,
highlight religious freedom and tolerance by re-opening the Greek
Orthodox Halki Seminary in Istanbul, allow the free flow of people and
goods across the land border with Armenia, declare zero tolerance for
anti-Semitism and implement enacted reforms. And, as Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, Turkish prime minister, did in Washington in June, Turks
should speak out to support the US-Turkish relationship.
Both the former and current presidents Bush as well as Bill  –
Clinton have been right: the EU should continue to expand and Turkey
should some day be a member of that larger body. This remains by far
the best  – outcome for Turkey, for Europe and for the US.
Americans can hope that European leaders will make the public case
that a Turkey inside the EU is better for Europe than a Turkey
outside. It is surely too early to write the end of this story. But if
the EU misses this chance to change the balance of success in its own
neighbourhood, America should be ready to fill the void.
The writer, vice-chairman of the Cohen Group, retired in 2005 from the
US State department, where he served as under-secretary of state for
political affairs. He was US ambassador to Turkey 1994-97

Armenian president unhappy with customs committee’s work
Arminfo
14 Sep 05
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan criticized the work of the
Armenian Customs Committee during today’s working meeting with the
leadership of the committee.
The president noted that the primary task for the current year was to
improve customs and tax administration, the presidential press service
told Arminfo news agency.
At the same time, the president said that the presidential supervisory
service worked jointly with the Customs Committee and revealed a
number of negative phenomena. “Our research showed that a great amount
of smuggled goods is still on the market. You must explain me how do
these goods come to the country,” Kocharyan said.
He noted that a lack of organization, in particular, at the Megri
customs checkpoint created favourable conditions for bribery. The
president instructed to send a working group to the checkpoint for
bringing things back to normal.

Armenian premier, US reps discuss Millennium Challenge programme
Arminfo
14 Sep 05
YEREVAN
As part of his visit to the USA, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Markaryan has met the interim chief executive officer of the US
Millennium Challenge Corporation [MCC], Charles Setness, and the MMC
vice-president for country programmes, John Hewko.
Markaryan stressed the importance of Armenia’s cooperation with the
MMC and said that the Armenian delegation would visit Washington soon
to clarify mechanisms of cooperation. The participants in the meeting
voiced satisfaction with cooperation between working groups.
The MMC representatives said they pleased that Armenia had
substantiated economic indices in a draft programme it submitted
within the framework of Millennium Challenge programme.
For his part, Markaryan said that the programme paid special attention
to agriculture and particularly the development of farms.
The MMC representatives said that it was important that Armenia
ensured transparency during the elaboration and implementation of its
programme.
Markaryan said that the Armenian government was ready to involve
members of public organizations and public representatives in the
process to ensure transparency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Two Azeris hoist national flag in Armenian-controlled area
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
15 Sep 05
Two Azerbaijanis living in Siberia have managed to hoist the
Azerbaijani national flag in the village of Sahlar in
Armenian-occupied Kalbacar District, the Azerbaijani commercial TV
station ATV reported on 14 September.
“I spent 16 days without food and water crossing the area guarded by
Armenians and Azerbaijanis and visited my sacred land of Kalbacar. For
me, Kalbacar and Sahlar are a second Mecca and Madina,” one of the
Azerbaijanis captioned as Dilqam said in an interview on 18 July 2005.
In his remarks to ATV, former Kalbacar resident Mirsayyaf Zamanli said
that this was Dilqam’s third visit to Kalbacar.
Video showed destroyed houses and facilities in the village of Sahlar
in Kalbacar. The video was filmed by a friend of Dilqam identified as
Sahbaz.
Azerbaijan’s Kalbacar District was occupied by Armenian troops on 2
April 1993.

Matviekno calls for Armenian Genocide recognition
15.09.2005 12:31
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A St. Petersburg delegation headed by Leningrad
Goevernor Valentina Matvienko paid a visit to the Armenian Genocide
Memorial on Wednesday. As reported by the news agency REGNUM,
Matvienko laid a wreath at the Memorial.
“We are deeply shocked by this grave crime against the humanity, the
Armenian Genocide. There is no excuse for the perpetrators. The whole
world should condemn this horrible crime,” Mativenko wrote in the
visitor’s book at the Genocide Museum.