Agence France Presse
April 23 2005

European Churches call on Turkey to recognise Armenian Genocide

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) on Saturday called on
Turkey to recognise that it committed genocide against Armenians and
urged reconciliation between Ankara and Yerevan.
“The Presidium subscribes to the words which the Catholicos of All
Armenians, Karekin II, and Catholicos Aram I have repeatedly
expressed: the horrific crimes in connection with the Armenian
genocide should never be forgotten.
“Guilt must be admitted and the truth must be told,” the CEC said in
a statement.
Armenia marks on Sunday the 90th anniversary of mass killings in the
Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey, which Armenia and
many other countries qualify as genocide but which Turkey denies ever
took place.
“The Presidium urges the Turkish government to initiate a process of
reconciliation between the Turkish and the Armenian peoples in which
the recognition of guilt and the proclamation of the truth need to be
integral elements,” it said.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen perished in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was
falling apart.
Ankara counters that 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were
killed in “civil strife” during World War I when the Armenians rose
against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.
The Conference of European Churches, founded in 1959, is a fellowship
of 126 Orthodox, Protestant and Old Catholic Churches, along with 43
associated organisations from across Europe.
The European Union is to open accession negotiations with Turkey on
October

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 23 2005

Turkish Students in Azerbaijan Take to the Streets

Up to 2,500 Turkish students receiving education in Baku higher
schools marched downtown Baku on Friday protesting against the recent
burning of the Turkish flag by Armenians in Greece.

The protesters headed from the Fountain Square toward the Greek
embassy. However, 9 police officers tried to prevent the rally as it
was not sanctioned by the authorities. The police and the protesters
managed to come to terms and the march resumed.

The students chanted slogans condemning Armenians’ atrocities and
stating that those who burned the flag will be punished. They also
chanted support for Azerbaijan, indicating that the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is not a problem of this country alone, but of the entire
Turkic world.

The police did not allow the protesters to approach the embassy
building.

Zaman, Turkey
April 23 2005

Turkey Awaits Answer from Yerevan, not new Demands
By Zaman
Published: Saturday 23, 2005
zaman.com

Turkey is waiting for Armenia to answer the letter written by Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Having evaluated the request of Armenia “to resume diplomatic
relations”, which echoed in public, Ankara expects “an answer to the
letter, not a new request”.

Diplomatic sources revealed that the negotiations between Ankara and
Yerevan are conducted not secretly but openly in the frame of North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Turkey, who wishes to normalize
relations with Armenia, notes that Yerevan’s attitude is contrary to
international laws as well asUnited Nations (UN) Security Council
resolutions and that this Armenian stance blocks diplomatic
relations. Despite the handicaps in Ankara-Yerevan line, Turkey has
allowed charter flights between the two countries for some time. The
request of a special airline corporation to start flights between
Yerevan and Antalya has also reached Turkey.

The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 23 2005

Turkey’s main opposition party, CHP’s Oymen: We want diplomatic
relations with Armenia

Ayla Ganioglu
TNA Parliament Bureau /Ankara

Armenia keeping its borders closed has nothing to do with the
so-called genocide claims, says Oymen, adding that Armenia calls
itself ‘South Armenia.’ ‘Yerevan is openly demanding land from
Turkey,’ he said. ‘It should renounce this territorial dispute’
Armenia’s refusal to recognize Turkish borders and its territorial
disputes with Ankara have been considered the biggest obstacles to
establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. Retired
diplomats, some currently in Parliament, believe that Armenia should
first renounce its demand for land from Turkey, and that it should
also withdraw its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.

Onur Oymen, retired diplomat and Istanbul deputy of the Republican
People’s Party (CHP), said that the reason for Turkey’s refusal to
open its border with Armenia has nothing to do with the so-called
Armenian genocide claims. `Does Armenia accept its border with Turkey
as a decisive and legal border?’ asked Oymen. `Does Armenia accept
the borders it established in its own 1990 `Independence
Declaration’? Why does Armenia call itself `South Armenia’? It’s
making an open demand for land from Turkey. It has an open objection
to Turkey’s current borders. Armenia should renounce these.”

Oymen told TNA that Armenia should firstly accept the legitimacy of
its border with Turkey. He also stated that Armenia has invaded 20
percent of Azerbaijani national territory and that 1 million
Azerbaijanis have been forced to emigrate as a result. He added that
the Minsk group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), which is mediating a settlement, has yet to find a
solution to the problem.

Oymen pointed out that Armenia still uses Mt. Ararat in eastern
Turkey as their national emblem. He stated that Armenia had made
great efforts to develop bilateral relations after declaring its
independence from the Soviet Union under then President Ter
Petrosyan. However, he added, these efforts did not bear fruit.

Ex-diplomat Pulat Tacar gave an example concerning Armenia’s
territorial disputes with Turkey. “I went to Armenia,’ said Tacar.
`And during meetings with Armenian diplomats, they openly referred to
southern Turkey as `western Armenia.’ This instantly raises the
question of whether the Armenians are going to make a demand [for
land].’

Foreign Affairs Commission member Sukru Elekdag stated in Parliament
that it is in both Turkey and Armenia’s interests to create a
positive basis to establish peace between the two nations. `If the
diaspora and Armenian opportunists think that they can open Turkey’s
borders by defaming Turkey abroad, and by using the U.S. and the
European Union, they’re mistaken,’ said Elekdag. `They can’t do
this.’

Elekdag urged both sides to research the so-called genocide issue if
they really want to destroy the current taboos. He decried Armenia’s
negative response to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent
letter proposing the establishment of a joint commission to study the
so-called Armenian genocide claims.

He quoted Armenian Foreign Minister Robert Kocharian as saying,
`Before the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, Turkey is
launching a retaliation, in addition its insensitivity to the issue.
Turkey not only wants to rewrite its own version of history, but also
manipulate other countries.’

He stated that Yerevan is convinced that all goodwill gestures from
Turkey towards Armenia to date are the result of pressure from the
international community. He highlighted that in the last few years
Turkey has started to give visas to Armenians at its border with
Armenia. More than 30,000 Armenian citizens work illegally in Turkey,
he said, adding that Yerevan-Istanbul flights have started and that
the air corridor has been opened. Armenia implies that gestures of
friendship from Turkey are due solely to pressure from the U.S and
EU, he charged, and they expect Turkey to make new concessions as the
result of renewed pressure.

`So if Ankara makes the decision to open its borders with Armenia,
that would strengthen the belief that Yerevan’s policy of `I can
continue with both false accusations and a defamation campaign
against Turkey and make Turkey do what I want through pressure from
the international community,’ can last forever,’ he said. `This would
result in Yerevan rejecting all our proposals. Therefore, Turkey’s
Armenian policy should be based on the `Common History Evaluation
Proposal,’ and relations between the two countries should be linked
to Yerevan’s attitude to the issue.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIAN YOUTH RALLY NEXT TO TURKISH EMBASSY IN GEORGIA

23.04.2005 04:41

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 24 a mourning ceremony, commemorating the victims of
the Armenian Genocide in Turkey in 1915, will be held in Surb Echmiadzin
Armenian church in Tbilisi Havlabar district, Regnum news agency reported.
Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Georgi Khosroev and other representatives of
the Armenian diplomatic mission will take part in it. In the words of one of
the leaders of the Armenian community of Georgia, MP Van Bayburt, the event
will start at 11 a.m. in Surb Echmiadzin church territory, then the action
participants will move to the Tbilisi pantheon of Armenian writers and
cultural workers. Bayburt also reported that Nahapet (Commander-in-Chief)
feature film was screened today in Tbilisi Cinema House, at which
representatives of the Georgian public, the accredited diplomatic corps
representatives and others were present. Tomorrow a mourning concert will
take place in the Tbilisi Armenian Theater. According to the information of
the Deputy, April 24 the Armenian youth intend to gather in front of the
Turkish Embassy in Georgia and to submit a letter to the diplomatic mission.
As Van Bayburt accentuated, the rally next to the Embassy will be held `in a
civilized manner.’ `We understand that Turkey is a good partner of Georgia
today and we respect these relations. We condemn the Turkish regime at the
time,’ he stated.

Pan Armenian News

PROTEST ACTION IN FRONT OF TURKISH EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS

23.04.2005 03:44

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A protest action will be held in front of the Turkish
Embassy in Brussels April 24, reported the State Commission for Organizing
Events marking the 90-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Besides,
today the Armenian community of Belgium, the Armenian Ambassador in that
country Vigen Chitechian and the Head of Armenia’s Mission to the NATO S.
Mkrtchian will lay a wreath to the Memorial of the Unknown Warrior in
Belgium. This evening in the Monet Square candles will be lighted in the
memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Liturgies will be offered to
commemorate the Genocide victims in Brussels, Amsterdam and Almelo churches.
Besides, wreaths will be laid to Armenian Khachkars (cross-stones) in
Brussels, Antwerp and Assen (Netherlands).

Pan Armenian News

POLISH SPEAKER: TURKISH DOCUMENTS PROVE THERE WAS GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS

22.04.2005 08:47

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Polish Sejm acknowledging the Armenian Genocide does
not imply anything anti-Turkish, Polish Parliament Speaker Vladimir
Timoshevich stated. In his words, it becomes harder and harder for Turkey to
put off with the historical reality. When commenting on the fact of the
Turkish authorities having sent a letter to the Polish Parliament, censuring
the acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide, Timoshevich noted, «Turkish
authorities do not wish to account for their own discrimination against the
Armenians.» «As of the question whether there was a genocide or not and
whether Turkey is guilty – there is no doubt and Turkish documents confirm
it,» Timoshevich underscored. «I understand it is psychologically hard for
Turks, moreover that the events took place 90 years ago,» Timoshevich noted.
However, in his words, such a response by Turkey is «incorrect and I do not
accept such criticism.» Simultaneously he noted that it is not in interests
of both Turkey and Poland not to drive the matter to discord over the
historical issue. «There is no sense in it,» the Speaker noted. «The Turkish
Foreign Ministry has done what it considered necessary on its part, however
I hope that in a few days the problem will not be available any more,» he
accentuated.

PRESS RELEASE
The Aegis Trust
Lound Hall, Bothamsall
Retford, NOTTS, DN22 8DF UK
Contact: David Brown
Tell: +44 (0)1623 836627
Email: [email protected]

Call for UK Government to recognise Armenian Genocide – 90 years on

23 April 2005

The Aegis Trust today sent a letter to the Prime Minister Tony Blair
and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw calling on the Government to
recognise the Armenian Genocide and encourage Turkey to do likewise.

The letter has been sent to coincide with worldwide commemorations
this weekend marking the 90th anniversary of the start of the
genocide on 24 April 1915, in which Turkey wiped out its Armenian
population.

Turkey, a candidate country to the European Union, strongly
maintains a policy of denial regarding the Armenian Genocide, a
policy condemned by ten EU states.

Most recently, Germany went a step further on Thursday (21 April) by
stating “partly through approval and through failure to take
effective preventive measures there was a German co-responsibility
for this genocide” (Gernot Erler, the Social Democratic (SPD)
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister).

“We understand that Turkey is an important ally within NATO. However,
the time is long overdue for the British Government to encourage
Turkey to come to terms with its past, and to join other European
states in giving the Armenian Genocide the recognition it deserves,’
states James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust. `We should
do so both out of respect for the victims and survivors, and for the
sake of the future. We have to recognise the reality of history in
order to learn from it – and unless we learn from it, we are doomed
to repeat its mistakes.’

END
___________________________

Letter to Tony Blair and Jack Straw, 23rd April 2005

Re: 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

On Thursday this week, Gernot Erler, the Social Democratic (SPD)
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, with the support of opposition
parties, took the unprecedented and historic step of accepting that
“partly through approval and through failure to take effective
preventive measures there was a German co-responsibility for this
[the Armenian] genocide”.

On 19 April 2005, Poland became the 9th European Union State to
recognise the Armenian Genocide, following resolutions in Cyprus,
Greece, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, France, Slovakia and the Netherlands.
This is alongside numerous resolutions passed since 1987 by the
European Parliament. This recognition of history contrasts
unfortunately from the British Government’s policy on the events of
1915-18.

April 24th 2005 marks the 90th anniversary of this tragedy. It was
on that night in 1915 that the first wave of intellectuals, political
leaders, clergymen, teachers, poets and artists were rounded up by the
Ottoman Government of Turkey, to be dispatched to the Turkish interior
and ultimately to their deaths. This fate was shared during the rest
of 1915 and 1916 by over a million men women and children because of
their race.

Since 1965, no UK government has been willing to recognise the
genocidal intent of the Armenian massacres. It has been the policy to
place greater value upon a strategic relationship with one of our NATO
allies.

Instead of asking Turkey – as Germany has done with the Holocaust and
Armenian Genocide – to seek an honest retrospection, we have remained
silent regarding the suppression of free expression on this subject in
Turkey. We have remained silent over the arrest of teachers for
questioning policies that require all schoolchildren in Turkey to
prepare essays that deny the Armenian genocide. We have remained
silent on clauses within the new Turkish Penal Code that identify
affirmation of the Armenian genocide as a crime against the state.
We have remained silent over the Turkish Government’s indifference to
death threats against writers and historians that articulate an
opposing view within Turkey.

Rather, it has been this Government’s view that in the case of the
Armenians, “the past is best dealt with by ceasing to rake it up
incessantly” (Foreign Office Minister Dennis MacShane, 12 October
2004).

For the children of survivors, this is about truth and recognition
that should have happened decades ago, not about raking up history.
We should be mindful that the fate of the Armenians helped to shape
the UN Genocide Convention. The only way to protect people in the
future is to learn from the past.

The Turkish Government has been listening carefully to our official
indifference. So much so that it has this week sent a letter to all
members of the British Parliament, calling on you to debunk our own
historical and diplomatic record of the genocide which describes the
“race extermination” that was taking place.

It is disappointing, and increasingly troubling, that in spite of
many European and non-European countries heeding calls from genocide
and holocaust scholars that governments should recognise the Armenian
Genocide, the British Government is willing to adopt a policy that
actually emboldens Turkey’s policy of suppression and revision.

Your Government has done much to be proud of in the field of genocide
prevention and human rights, having been amongst the original
signatories to the Stockholm Declaration on the Holocaust in 2000,
initiating the UK’s national Holocaust Memorial Day in 2001, and
signing the Stockholm Declaration of 2004 on genocide prevention.
Your appeasement of Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide is a sad
blemish on this record.

Germany has the largest European Turkish population, and also has
strong ties with the Government of Turkey, including support for its
candidature to the European Union. Yet as a friend and ally it feels
that Turkey should end its state sponsored genocide denial and oppressive
policies in relation to free speech on the Armenian Genocide.

The German Government has also gone further and become the first
government to accept responsibility for the Genocide as a WWI ally to the
Ottoman Empire, apologising to the Armenian people – something that they
have waited two generations to see. How long will they have to wait for
a British Government to affirm its own historical record and recognise
the reality of the genocide they experienced?

Yours sincerely,

Dr James Smith, Chief Executive
Director, Aegis Trust

Zaman, Turkey
April 23 2005

Open Border Gates with Armenia

SAHIN ALPAY

We cannot expect the Armenian Diaspora to give up the claim that the
Ottoman Empire committed genocide against its Armenian citizens
during World War I and its efforts to put pressure in Western
parliaments that it is incumbent upon Turkey to recognize this.
Undoubtedly, the unforgettable disaster tens of thousands of Armenian
families experienced as a result of the Union and Progress Party’s
decision in 1915 to deport the Armenians in order to suppress
separatism partly explains for these efforts. The “genocide” claim
has, however, not only played a role in maintaining the Armenian
identity among the Diaspora, it has become a tool that is being used
by various countries against Turkey in the arena of international
politics and in domestic political struggles of certain countries.
What is worse is that the “genocide” label not only triggers ethnic
nationalisms, but also debars the Turkish society from facing the
events that took place between 1915 and 1916.

As it cannot be expected that the Armenian Diaspora will give up the
genocide claim, it can similarly not be expected that the Turkish
public opinion and thus Turkish governments will recognize it.
Because characterizing the tragic events that resulted from
deportation as “genocide committed by Muslims and barbaric Turks
against Christians and civilized Armenians,” and holding the Turkish
Republic and all Turks responsible for this, is unacceptable. All
these are true, but there are certain things the Ankara governments
can do to stop the “Armenian genocide” claim from being used as a
tool against Turkey. It must be evident by now that historians with
varying approaches can shed light on the various aspects of the
events of 1915 – 16, but they cannot solve the problem. The first
thing that Turkey can do is to continue with determination the
reforms towards consolidating a liberal, pluralist democracy at
European Union (EU) standards, without yielding to provocations to
stop them. And thus, to lift all legal and other obstacles to the
free investigation, discussion, and comprehension of the question as
to “What happened in 1915?” And thus, ensure the democratic rights of
all citizens regardless of ethnicity and religion. No kind of
blackmail can work against Turkey when citizens of Armenian origin
proudly embrace their state.

It is time to normalize relations with Armenia. Former Armenian
President Levon Ter-Petrosian, had removed “recognition of genocide”
as a conditions for the normalization of relations between the two
countries. But he could not stay in power when Ankara did not
respond. Nowadays, speakers for the Armenian government are against
stating time and again that the recognition of genocide is not a
condition for the normalization of relations, that the Turkish
Republic cannot be held responsible for crimes committed by the
Ottoman Empire, that the Kars Treaty signed between Turkey and the
Soviet Union in 1921 draws the border line between Turkey and
Armenia, and that Armenia has no territorial claims on Turkey. The UN
Genocide Convention does not in any way cover events that took place
prior to its adoption in 1948. Azerbaijan is currently negotiating
with Armenia to find a solution to problems between the two
countries. Under these conditions, Ankara can take steps to improve
relations with Armenia. The survey conducted for the Turkish Economic
and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) explicitly indicated that the
people of both Turkey and Armenia support the opening of borders and
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This
will be beneficial to Turkey’s economy at least as much as that of
Armenia. If these steps are taken, Turkey will find important friends
among the Armenian Diaspora and will be able to play a much more
influential in helping Azerbaijan and Armenia to overcome the
problems between them. These steps are also a requirement of the
“zero problem with neighbors” policy that the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) government has pledged to pursue.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to have sent a letter to
the Armenian President Robert Kocharian, calling for the
establishment of a joint commission to investigate the events between
1915 and 1916. This is most welcome. But can anyone tell me how can
two countries who do not have diplomatic relations with each other
set up a joint commission?

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIAN FM MET WITH ARMENIA-EU PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION
CO-CHAIR

23.04.2005 04:33

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with
Co-Chair of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Commission Marie-Anne
Isler Beguin, the Press Service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.
In the course of the meeting V. Oskanian thanked Ms. Isler Beguin for
participation in Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Human Rights and
Genocide international conference, held in Yerevan a few days ago. The
parties noted the important role of such forums within the context of
solution of complicated tasks and the prospects of regional development.
Then the interlocutors discussed questions referring to the coming actions
within Wider Europe: New Neighbors EU Program. V. Oskanian briefed the guest
with the current stage of the talks over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.