ARKA News Agency
April 20 2005

Israeli Parliamentarian visits Memorial to Genocide victims

Admission of Armenian Genocide possible in case of change of ruling
elite in Turkey

New people’s tribunal should be organized to condemn Armenian
Genocide: Alfred De Zayas

Robert Kocharyan: Armenia keeps nursing great expectations from the
international community considering just estimation of the fact of
the Genocide

Israeli parliamentarian to visit Memorial to victims of Armenian
Genocide

Armenian President congratulates new Pope

Armenian President appoints Arman Kirakosyan RA Deputy Foreign
Minister

Israel to set up monument to victims of Armenian Genocide in Tel Aviv

Opening Armenian Genocide archives Turkey’s policy to divert
attention from fact of genocide: Amatuny Virabyan

All Armenian’s Catholocos: Armenian Genocide is the most tragic page
in the history of Armenian nation

RA Prime -Minister: readiness of Armenia to resume relations with
Turkey without preconditions doesn’t mean renunciation of Genocide

RA Prime -Minister: Armenia recognition of genocide is important from
all-human standpoint

Armenian question ceases to be the hostage of geopolitical interests
– RA President

RA President: international recognition of Genocide of Armenians is
necessary for the prevention of such crimes in the future

RA President: the international community should multiply its efforts
for efficient resistance genocide

*********************************************************************

ISRAELI PARLIAMENTARIAN VISITS MEMORIAL TO GENOCIDE VICTIMS

YEREVAN, April 20./ ARKA/. The member of the Israeli Parliament,
former Government member Yossi Sarid has visited the Memorial to the
victims of the Armenian Genocide “Tsitsernakaberd” in Yerevan. The
Israeli delegation laid a wreath to the Eternal Fire, keeping a
minute’s silence in memory of the Genocide victims. On behalf of the
Jewish people the head of the Israeli delegation expressed a hope for
reconciliation between the Armenian and Turkish people. “The Israeli
people experienced the pain of Genocide, and I think that Israel may
act as third part is establishing Armenian-Turkish relations,” Sarid
said. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

ADMISSION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE POSSIBLE IN CASE OF CHANGE OF RULING
ELITE IN TURKEY

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. Turkey can admit the Armenian Genocide
provided the country’s ruling regime is changed, Taner Akcam,
Professor of the University of Minnesota, USA, told Armenian
reporters. According to him, democratization in Turkey and changes in
its ruling circles are an important condition for the country’s
admission of the Armenian Genocide. On the other hand, the scholar
said that turkey’s admission of the crimes committed 90 years ago
will not result in Armenia’s territorial claims, as the problem of
territories is not a subject of discussions now. According to Akcam,
compensation is a moral problem, and the issue of its form needs
specifying.
According to Akcam, Turkey’s most serious problem is its being unable
to listen. He pointed out the need for the Armenian and Turkish
people to be ready for a dialogue. However, it requires two
conditions: “I am ready to listen to you history” and “a state’s
actions resulting in mass victims cannot be justified.” This means
that the moral context, within which we discuss past mistakes, should
be a condition for mutual understanding, Akcam said. P.T. -0–
*********************************************************************

NEW PEOPLE’S TRIBUNAL SHOULD BE ORGANIZED TO CONDEMN ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE: ALFRED DE ZAYAS

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. A New People’s Tribunal can and should be
organized for condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, Alfred de Zayas
JD, PhD, former secretary of the UN Human Rights Committee, stated at
the conference “Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Human Rights and
Genocide”. He pointed out that all the Turkish officials concerned
with the Armenian Genocide died and, therefore, cannot be punished.
“What is possible and necessary today is to settle the historical
record, to seek the judgement of the Curt of the world public
opinion. In the name of Human Rights, civil society, should propose
the convening of a Russel-type tribunal [formed to investigate into
war crimes – ARKA] in order to put the Armenian Genocide on trial
before the eyes of the world,” said Alfred de Zayas.
According to him, the 1984 People’s Tribunal in Paris, which devoted
its session to the Armenian Genocide was a good start. According to
him, a New People’s Tribunal with international participation can and
should be organized. “It is never too late,” he said. He reminded the
attendees that such tribunals were organized in Honduras in Bolivia,
Guatemala and even in Texas. “The results of such people’s tribunals
must be given greater visibility. I am persuaded that it is possible
to take the Armenians out of the category and `unsung victims’ and to
ensure that the Armenian Genocide is taught in every school and in
every university, at least in the United State and in Europe,” Alfred
de Zayas said.–0–

*********************************************************************

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: ARMENIA KEEPS NURSING GREAT EXPECTATIONS FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONSIDERING JUST ESTIMATION OF THE FACT OF
THE GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
received Juan. E. Mendez, the Special Advisor to the Secretary
General on Prevention of Genocide, on Wednesday.
According to Armenian Presidential Press Service, Mendez said his
participation in Genocide and Human Rights international forum
started in Yerevan Wednesday shows that there is a great will to
understand and estimate what happened at the beginning of the
previous century with Armenian people.
In his words, historic memory of Armenian people is a good assistant
in that and will make it possible to estimate and explain what
happened to the international community.
Kocharyan, in turn, noted that not a single Armenian who witnessed
the Genocide or lived then has doubt about its genuine essence, and
Armenian people today just refresh the international community’s
memory.
The President expressed gratitude to Mendez for his participation in
the forum and said Armenia keeps nursing great expectations from the
international community considering just estimation of the fact of
the Genocide. M.V. -0–

*********************************************************************

ISRAELI PARLIAMENTARIAN TO VISIT MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. The member of the Israeli Parliament,
former member of the Israeli Government Yossi Saris is to visit the
Memorial to victims of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan today. The RA
State Commission for organization of arrangements in commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide reports that Yossi Sarid came to Yerevan to
take part in the conference “Gravest crime, gravest challenges:
genocide and human right”, which has been opened in Yerevan today.
“Mr. Sarid is the first high-ranking Israeli statesman who publicly
recognized the Armenian Genocide and demanded that it be mentioned in
syllabi in Israel,” the Commission’s report says.P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES NEW POPE

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan addressed a
congratulatory message to the newly elected Roman Pope Benedict XVI.
The RA presidential press service reports that inhis message the RA
President expressed hope that under the leadership of Benedict XVI
the Roman Catholic Church will play the leading role in strengthening
peace and religious tolerance. President Kocharyan expressed the
confidence that the newly elected Pope will contribute to the
strengthening of ties between Vatican and Armenia, the Roman Catholic
Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT APPOINTS ARMAN KIRAKOSYAN RA DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has
appointed Arman Kirakosyan RA Deputy Foreign Minister. The press and
information department, RA Foreign Office, reports that Arman
Kirakosyan was formerly Ra Ambassador to the USA.
Since early 2005, personnel changes have been made at the RA Foreign
Office – Armen Baiburtyan and Gegham Gharibjanyan have been appointed
RA Deputy Foreign Ministers. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

ISRAEL TO SET UP MONUMENT TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN TEL AVIV

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. Israel has launched a project of setting
up a monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the center
of Tel Aviv, Chairman of the Jewish community in Armenia, Rabbi Hersh
Meyr Brunshtein told ARKA. Without anticipating the events, he
expressed the confidence that “constructive news on this issue” will
soon be made public in Israel. According to him, in the course of
time Israel is shifting its stand on many issues, including ones
“related to acute problems that existed early in the 20th century.”
“Numerous Jews residing in Armenia really believe the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide extremely topical and important,” Brunshtein
said. He also stressed the importance of direct contracts between the
countries, “which allows sides to get to know each other better and
feel their neighbors’ history.” P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

OPENING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARCHIVES TURKEY’S POLICY TO DIVERT
ATTENTION FROM FACT OF GENOCIDE: AMATUNY VIRABYAN

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. The opening of the Turkish archives on the
Armenian Genocide is Turkey’s policy aimed to divert attention from
the fact of Genocide itself, Director of the RA National Archives
Amatuny Virabyan told reporters. According to him it is a regular,
well-thought-out diplomatic step by means of which Turkey is trying
to gain time simultaneously with its admission to the EU. He pointed
out that the Turkish authorities are making a step back – instead of
admitting the facts, they are claiming the destruction of 500,000
Muslims by Armenians. “It is absurd as it is Armenians that are
victims in this situation. We do not rule out the possibility that
Armenians offered resistance, but talks about mass destruction of
Turks are absurd, as no Armenians had remained in Western Armenia by
that time,” Virabyan said.
He also pointed out that the opening of archives is relative, as any
archive data are easy to conceal, especially considering the fact
that Turkey states that many documents on World War I are kept in its
closed archives. Virabyan also stressed that the documents opened by
Turkey are mostly translated into modern Turkish from the Ottoman
language that was widely spread at that time, and Armenia is facing a
great task of comparing the translations with the originals. “To find
the truth we intend to meet with Turkish archivists and discuss these
issues at a round-table, as well as exchange documents at the two
sides’ disposal,” Virabyan said. P.T. -0–

*********************************************************************

ALL ARMENIAN’S CATHOLOCOS: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS THE MOST TRAGIC PAGE
IN THE HISTORY OF ARMENIAN NATION

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. Armenian Genocide is the most tragic page
in the history of Armenian nation, who has gone through many trials,
Armenian Apostolic Church leader Catholicos Garegin II said Wednesday
in Yerevan speaking at Major Crimes, Major Challenges: Genocide and
Human Rights two-day international conference dedicated 90th
anniversary of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. In his words, a
great consolation for Armenian people is that the genocide committed
in the beginning of XX century in Ottoman Empire remains in
international community’s focus decades later.
“In the century of progress and civilization, our nation hoped for
person guarantee, human rights protection and favorable environment
for creative activity, however, was annihilated on the greater part
of its historic motherland that was under Turkey control” Garegin II
said.
In his words, there is no lack of evidence to scrutinize the then
events, and today the Genocide recognition by a number of states
inspires confidence that the issue will get recognition and just
estimation everywhere. The Armenian Apostolic Church leader stressed
that XX century that began with a tragedy for Armenian people,
remained in the human record as a century of two world wars. In his
opinion, concentration camps and gas cameras appeared according the
same logic as atrocity against Armenians was committed. In his words,
a new century begins with new mentality denying crimes and confirming
humanitarian values. “The victory of mercy, right and justice in the
struggle against hatred, hostility, terrorism, war and other evil
existing today should become the main goal of all times”, Garegin ii
said. M.V. -0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRIME -MINISTER: READINESS OF ARMENIA TO RESUME RELATIONS WITH
TURKEY WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS DOESN’T MEAN RENUNCIATION OF GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. Armenia stated at various levels that it
was ready to resume relations with Turkey without preconditions, as
stated RA Prime-Minister Andranik Margaryan. However, as he said,
this doesn’t mean that “we renounce the genocide or are ready to make
concessions to Azerbaijan in Karabakh conflict settlement”. He also
emphasized that Europe discusses not only genocide but also the whole
history of Turkey with view of its membership in EU. “This may
contribute to more definite formulation of the positions of European
countries in respect of Genocide and the possibility to recognize and
condemn it”, he said. A.H. –0-

*********************************************************************

RA PRIME -MINISTER: ARMENIA RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE IS IMPORTANT FROM
ALL-HUMAN STANDPOINT

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. For Armenia recognition of Genocide is
important from all-human standpoint, as stated RA Prime Minister
Andanik Margaryan. According to, it’s important to combine efforts of
Armenia and organizations al over the world not to allow repetition
of genocide of other nations. “We do not want to separate the issue
of Armenian genocide from other ones, and for us recognition of
Genocide is important from the standpoint common to all humanity, and
not from the standpoint of establishing bilateral relations”, he
said. Margaryan emphasized that genocides in the end of the 20th
century could be prevented if the genocide of Armenians committed at
the beginning of it was condemned. A.H. –0–

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN QUESTION CEASES TO BE THE HOSTAGE OF GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS
– RA PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. It is apparent today, that the Armenian
question is stepwise ceasing to be the hostage of geopolitical
interests, stated RA President Robert Kocharian today, speaking at
the opening ceremony of “Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Genocide
and Human Rights” international two-day conference dedicated to 90th
anniversary of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. According to him,
the existence of the independent Armenian republic is the best
guarantee of the fact that “Armenian people will succeed in
protection of their true rights”.
“Marking the tragic events traced back 90 years, we pay tribute to
the memory of the victims and we do it with doubled bitterness, as we
still struggle for the international recognition of the crime
committed”, said the Armenian President. According to him, WWI, with
its global interest of redivision of the world, followed by the great
ideological confrontation of XX century became the basic obstacles on
the way to recognition of lawful rights of the Armenian people. We
became the victims of WWI, although not provoked by us”, noted
Kocharian.
The Armenian President also stated that the term “genocide” did not
exist at the time the policy of annihilation of Armenians was carried
out and there were no international organizations, which could have
become the arena for discussions of united counterblow to the crime.
Kocharian also noted that it took time for the mankind to reckon
genocide among crimes against humanity with all the ensuing
consequences.
It took time for the human values not to be sacrificed to the
geopolitical interests of great powers and for the morality to become
a component of the civilized world’s foreign policy. “The way to
truth lay through tragedies for many peoples. Armenian nation paid 1,
5 million lives for that truth”, said Kocharian. L.V.-0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT: INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS IS
NECESSARY FOR THE PREVENTION OF SUCH CRIMES IN THE FUTURE

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. International recognition of genocide of
Armenians is necessary for the prevention of such crimes in the
future, as stated RA President Robert Kocharyan at the ceremony of
launching a two-day international conference “Ultimate Crime,
Ultimate Challenge: Genocide and Human Rights”, devoted to the 90th
anniversary of the Genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915.
According to him, this is the definite position of independent
Armenia. Besides, according to Kocharyan, recognition of the genocide
is important for Armenian-Turkish relations, since “it will answer
many questions that exist between the nations, and will give the
chance to look into the future”. “We recollect the past with anguish,
but without hatred, and it’s difficult for us to understand the
reaction of the Turkish side, which not only denies the past, but
also blockades Armenia nowadays”, he emphasized. According to him,
“we clash with the paradoxes that require comprehension”. “Not the
victim is embittered but the side, responsible for the tragic past
events”, he said. He expressed his firm belief that the international
recognition of the genocide will help Turkey submit the past and
overcome the complex, which passing from one generation to another,
creates rough edges in the relations between the neighbors.
RA President expressed his gratitude to countries that recognized the
genocide of Armenians, as well as to organizations and individuals
who had their input in it. According to him, the role of Armenian
Diaspora is inestimable. A.H.-0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD MULTIPLY ITS EFFORTS
FOR EFFICIENT RESISTANCE GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. The international community should
multiply its efforts to prevent genocide, as stated RA President
Robert Kocharyan at the ceremony of launching a two-day international
conference “Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Genocide and Human
Rights”, devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Genocide of Armenians
in Ottoman Turkey. According to him, though genocide has a specific
definition today and, notwithstanding the presence of numerous
regional and international organizations, humanity still comes across
with its disposition. In particular, according to Kocharyan, blood of
innocent people shed in Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Cambodia, East Timor,
Sumgait. In this context, according to him, the most important task
is recognition and condemnation of genocide, implying huge potential
for prevention and resistance of such crimes. Kocharyan emphasized
that the crime has no time limitation, and the culprits must be
punished. Besides, it would be an important deterrent for the people
planning genocide. “By recognizing and condemning genocide, states
teach their citizens that a state machine cannot be an instrument for
committing such crimes”, he said.
According to Kocharyan, as a result of the genocide of Armenians the
nation turned into refugees and spread all over the world, and the
necessity of condemning the genocide and restoring historical justice
became the victim of big politics. At that, Kocharyan emphasized that
the criminals, who planned and committed the genocide, mainly
remained unpunished. Moreover, the ashes of Talaata-pasha killed in
Germany was taken back to Turkey and buried with honors in Istanbul.
“This is a bitter proof of passing on the baton of impunity”, he
noted. A.H.-0–

*********************************************************************

Prevention of genocide discussed at Yerevan intl forum
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 20, 2005 Wednesday

YEREVAN, April 20 — The problems of preventing genocide are discussed
at a two-day international forum that opened here on Wednesday. The
conference is devoted to the 90th anniversary of the 1915 genocide
of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Over 1.5 million Armenians
fell victims of the genocide.

Speaking at the opening of forum that is entitled “Heinous crime,
prime challenge: genocide and human rights” Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan noted that “the world community should intensify efforts
for the effective counteraction to manifestations of genocide.”

Turkish army urges Armenia to drop genocide claims, work for good ties

Agence France Presse — English
April 20, 2005 Wednesday 11:41 AM GMT

ISTANBUL April 20 — The head of the powerful Turkish army on
Wednesday called on neighbouring Armenia to drop allegations that
Turks committed genocide against Armenians during World War I and
work towards improving bilateral ties.

“Turkey wants to normalise its ties with Armenia,” General Hilmi
Ozkok said in a yearly evaluation speech at the military academy
here. “But for this to happen, Armenia must abide by international
law and fulfill the obligations of good neighbourly relations.”

His call came just days before Armenians prepared to commemorate the
90th anniversary of the massacres.

Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia
since the former Soviet republic gained independence in 1991 because of
Armenian efforts to secure international condemnation of the 1915-1917
massacres as genocide.

In 1993, Turkey shut its border with Armenia in a show of solidarity
with its close ally Azerbaijan, which was at war with Armenia over
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, dealing a heavy economic blow on the
impoverished country.

Ozkok argued that there was no basis for the genocide allegations
and that Turkey could not be held responsible for the killings during
the dissolution of its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire.

The 1923 Lausanne Treaty, which established modern-day Turkey, “put
an end to the baseless genocide claims politically and legally,”
Ozkok said.

“No responsibility was passed on to the Turkish Republic with the
treaty,” he added.

The Armenian massacres of World War I are one of the most controversial
episodes in Turkish history.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in orchestrated
killings during the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks were
killed in what was civil strife during World War I when the Armenians,
backed by Russia, rose against their Ottoman rulers.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week proposed to Armenian
President Robert Kocharian the creation of a joint commission to
study the genocide allegations as a first step towards normalizing
ties between the two estranged neighbors.

Yerevan has not yet responded to the offer, Turkish foreign ministry
spokesman Namik Tan said Wednesday.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenians condemn genocide

Northern District Times (Australia)
April 20, 2005 Wednesday

RYDE’S 10,000-strong Armenian community will commemorate, on Sunday,
the 90th anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in their history.

The first genocide of the 20th century claimed 1.5 million lives
when the Turkish Ottoman Empire exterminated the Christian Armenian
population living in Eastern Anatolia (Republic of Turkey) between
1915 and 1922.

Ryde Council unanimously backed Councillor Sarkis Yedelian’s motion
last Tuesday night to condemn the genocide.

Taline Soghomonian, 20, a youth member of the Armenian National
Committee of Australia, said she was pleased the motion was passed.
“I was very happy with it but there’s still a long way to go,” the
North Ryde resident said.

“Not a lot of people know about it because of the fact the Turkish
Government denies it.”

A plaque commemorating the anniversary will be unveiled at Memorial
Park, Meadowbank on Sunday at 12.30pm.

Turkey protests Sejm’s resolution on Armenian genocide

Polish Press Agency
April 20, 2005 Wednesday

Ankara, April 20 – Turkey on Wednesday criticised Tuesday’s resolution
by the Polish Sejm condemning and recognising as genocide the mass
killing of Armenians during World War I.

The Turkish side accused Polish politicians of being “irresponsible.”

In a written statement the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Turkey
strongly condemned the Polish Parliament’s decision and warned deputies
to avoid “initiatives thatcould provoke vengeance and hatred between
people.”

Historians say some 1.5 million of Armenians were killed as the Ottoman
Empire forced them from Turkey between 1915 and 1917. Turkey denies
a genocide was committed.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 20, 2005, Wednesday

THE CHIEF OF THE BORDER GUARD SERVICEMEN OF THE RUSSIAN FSB HAS
ARRIVED IN YEREVAN

Colonel-General Vladimir Pronichev, chief of the border guard service
of the Russian FSB, arrived in Yerevan on Monday. The Armenian
border guard service states that the main objective of the visit
is to inspect Russian border guard units stationed in the republic.
Pronichev will also discuss the prospects of cooperation between the
Russian and Armenian border guard services. He also plans to sign
a range of documents, including on the financing of Russian border
guard units stationed in Armenia.

Russian and Armenian border guards defend Armenia’s border with Turkey
and Iran.

Armenia’s foreign trade growing

RosBusinessConsulting Database
April 20, 2005 Wednesday 10:04 am, EST

Armenia’s foreign trade surged 28.1 percent in January to March
compared to a year earlier. It has hit USD566.4m, the National
Statistics Service has reported. Exports advanced 28.4 percent to
USD194.9m. Imports stood at USD371.5m, up 27.9 percent from a year
earlier. Trade deficit was USD176.6m.

Russia welcomes UN resolution on hostage taking
By Tamara Frolkina

ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 20, 2005 Wednesday 1:59 PM Eastern Time

MOSCOW, April 20 — The Russian Foreign Ministry said the resolution
on hostage taking approved by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights will
“facilitate international efforts for the eradication of terrorism”.

“The adoption of this resolution sends a clear signal to terrorists
and condemns hostage taking” because “this type of terrorist acts
targets innocent people,” the ministry said on Wednesday.

The resolution “condemns hostage taking in the strongest possible terms
and points to the inadmissibility of using human rights rhetoric in
order to justify this phenomenon”.

“The memory of last year’s events in Beslan is still fresh. Those
tragic events clearly showed that terrorists recognise no moral or
ethical principles,” the ministry said.

Initiated by Russia, the resolution has 14 co-authors, including
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Ukraine.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian genocide to be recognized to prevent genocide in future
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 20, 2005 Wednesday

YEREVAN, April 20 — The problems of preventing genocide are discussed
at a two-day international forum that opened here on Wednesday. The
conference is devoted to the 90th anniversary of the 1915 genocide
against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Scientists from more
than 20 countries and well-known human right activists are taking
part in the meeting that is entitled “Heinous crime, prime challenge:
genocide and human rights.”

“It took some time so that humankind took genocide as a crime against
humankind with all its consequences. The way to this truth has been
tragic for many peoples. This way claimed 1.5 million people in
Armenia,” Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said at the opening of
the forum.

“The recognition of genocide against the Armenians is needed to
prevent genocide crimes in future,” the president emphasized.
According to him, the Armenians “recall the past with grief, but
without hatred.” “It is difficult for us to understand the aggressive
reaction of the Turkish side that not only denies genocide, but also
blockades Armenia now,” he indicated.

“Countries come out more and more resolutely against genocide attempts
in what place soever in the world, but all this did not save humankind
from new genocides – Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Cambodia and Sumgait. The
blood of innocent people has been shed in all these places,” Kocharyan
pointed out.

It is a shame that the repeated genocide could not be prevented in
the nineties despite of the lessons of the beginning of the twentieth
century, the Holocaust and World War Two, UN Special Adviser on the
Prevention of Genocide Juan Mendez told a news conference. According
to him, the prevention of genocide is a very difficult challenge for
humankind. The Armenian history is playing a very important role for
preventive measures against genocide. We are ready to do our best
to prevent the events that took place 90 years ago so that they will
never repeat in future, he pointed out.

The Armenian people and the foreign Armenian diaspora commemorate
victims of the 1915 genocide against the Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire on April 24.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
April 20, 2005, Wednesday
14:37:08 Central European Time

“Genocide” avoided by Germany to describe Armenian killings

Berlin

Germany’s parliament will Thursday debate a resolution on the
“expulsion and massacres” of Armenians under the Ottoman Turks in 1915
as part of ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of the killings.

The declaration says between 1.2 and 1.5 million Christian Armenians
died or were killed by the Moslem Turks during “planned” deportations
during the First World War.

Turkey’s government rejects this version of events and says far fewer
Armenians died during Ottoman deportations which it argues took place
under war conditions and due to an Armenian rebellion.

But this official Turkish view is rejected by the German Bundestag
resolution, proposed by Germany’s opposition Christian Democratic
alliance (CDU/CSU) which mainly opposes Turkish European Union (E.U.)
membership.

“Turkey denies up to this day that these events were planned and that
the deaths during expulsion treks and massacres by the Ottoman Empire
were desired,” says the text.

Nevertheless, the three-page resolution is careful not to use the
word “genocide” to describe these events.

A parliamentary official, speaking on the condition of anonymity,
said this was because the document was aimed at reconciliation
between Armenians and Turks.

“We want to build bridges – not slam the door shut,” said the
official.

Friedbert Pflueger, the CDU/CSU parliament foreign policy spokesman
sponsoring the resolution, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that the
intention was to “open hearts and minds” in Turkey.

“It’s not about which terms we use … we are not playing down
anything – we’re telling it as it is,” said Pflueger, adding: “We
want to make it easier for those in Turkey who think as we do.”

This approach contrasts with resolutions passed by at least 16
national parliaments, including France and the Netherlands, which
explicitly define the killings as genocide.

The more cautious German approach was criticized by the Society for
Threatened Peoples, a Goettingen-based NGO which serves as a
consultant to the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

“Those who deny the Holocaust was genocide are threatened with prison
terms in Germany,” said the Society in a statement, adding: “The
German parliament loses all credibility if it does not have the
public courage to label the destruction of the Armenians genocide…”

Under German law it is a crime to deny the Holocaust in which 6
million Jews were murdered.

There are a number of reasons for caution in Berlin over the
Armenians.

Germany has about 2.5 million resident Turks, compared to an Armenian
minority of 40,000. Many Turks in Germany are poorly integrated and
officials are nervous about divisive issues such as the Armenian
past.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is a staunch backer of Turkish European
Union (E.U.) membership and the Society for Threatened Peoples
cynically noted his planned visit next month to Turkey “could not
have played any role in the decision” not to recognise the genocide.

Schroeder will visit Ankara and Istanbul for talks with Turkish
political and business leaders on May 3 and 4.

Turkey’s ambassador to Germany, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, denounced the
Bundestag resolution and insisted there had never been an Armenian
genocide.

The resolution contains “countless factual errors” and has been
written “in agreement with propaganda efforts of fanatic
Armenians…,” said Irtemcelik in an interview with Hurriyet
newspaper provided by the Turkish embassy in Berlin.

“Its goal is to defame Turkish history… and poison ties between
Turkey and the European Union,” said the ambassador.

Turkey is due to start membership negotiations with the E.U. in
October but E.U. leaders say accession talks – if successful – will
take up to 15 years.

Pflueger said there would be no vote on the Armenian resolution in
parliament Thursday. The text will be sent to committees and a
redrafted version is expected to win wide government and opposition
approval in May or June, he said.

Armenians all over the world will on April 24 mark the 90th
anniversary of the start of what most international historians
describe as a genocide lasting from 1915 to 1923 which left up to 1.5
million people dead. dpa lm sc