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03/15/2006
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1) Photos of Demolished Armenian Cemetery in Nakhichevan Published
2) Andrew Goldberg to Discuss His Genocide Documentary on KFI Radio
3) Anniversary of Talaat Pasha’s Death Marked in Yerevan
4) State Dept. Again Refuses to Directly Comment on Reports of Amb. Evans’
Recall
5) Turks in France to Protest Genocide Monument in Lyon
1) Photos of Demolished Armenian Cemetery in Nakhichevan Published
(PanArmenian/A1Plus)–The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
circulated
photos of the former Armenian cemetery in Julfa, Nakhichevan, which shows that
it has been completely demolished by Azerbaijan.
According to a statement released by the MFA, “By 2005 only 3500 out of
10,000
Armenian khatchkars remained standing in Old Julfa. These 3500 monuments were
demolished by Azeri soldiers.”
After fully eliminating the remnants of the khatchkars (cross-stones) and
removing them from the cemetery, several eyewitnesses have reported that Azeri
soldiers began using the cemetery as a military shooting range.
2) Andrew Goldberg to Discuss His Genocide Documentary on KFI Radio
–ArmeniaTV announces it too will broadcast documentary
LOS ANGELES–KFI 640 AM, the largest talk radio station in the country, has
invited director/producer Andrew Goldberg to discuss issues surrounding his
upcoming PBS documentary [The Armenian Genocide] with John Ziegler. Goldberg
will appear for a 45 minute segment on the John Ziegler show, which airs every
weeknight from 7:00 PM-10:00 PM, on Thursday, March 16.
According to KFI, their decision to invite Andrew Goldberg on the air was due
to the many recent high-profile issues surrounding the film, and most recently
an article in the Los Angeles Times. According to the KFI producer “Free
speech
issues are the bread and butter of our show, so naturally this issue is
something we’re looking forward to exploring in depth.”
[The Armenian Genocide] is the story of the first Genocide of the 20th
century–when over a million Armenians died at the hands of the Ottoman Turks
during World War I. This unprecedented and powerful one-hour documentary,
airing April 17th on PBS was written, directed and produced by Emmy
Award-winning producer Andrew Goldberg of Two Cats Productions, in association
with Oregon Public Broadcasting.
In an “act of solidarity,” Armenia’s largest television broadcaster, Armenia
TV, announced that it will be airing Goldberg’s documentary in exactly the
same
time slot and date as the PBS broadcast in the US.
Two Cats Productions, which produced the film, has waived all costs and
donated all broadcast rights for the film to Armenia TV.
Canadian Broadcaster TV Ontario has also acquired the rights to the film and
stated they too will be showing the film in April.
“That so many millions of people across the world will be seeing the film in
April, and that so many will do so at the same time as the PBS Broadcast,
really affirms for us that we did the job we set out to do. Our goal was
clear,
we wanted to tell the story of the actual events of the Genocide and to make
clear on national, and now international television, that this event was
Genocide, and cannot be denied,” said Goldberg.
3) Anniversary of Talaat Pasha’s Death Marked in Yerevan
YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The anniversary of the assassination of Armenian
genocide perpetrator Talaat Pasha was marked by over 200 people Wednesday at
the unveiling of a Soghomon Tehlirian monument in Yerevan.
ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian was present at the
ceremony and said, “This event that happened 85 years ago had a great
impact on
the fate of the Armenian nation. Tehlirian’s example has been educating our
present and future generations.”
Rustamian went on to explain the importance of the day and underlined the
efficiency of the plan “Nemesis,” named after the Greek Goddess of vengeance,
meant to punish the main organizers of the Armenian genocide.
On March 15, 1921, one of the main perpetrators of the Armenian genocide,
Talaat Pasha, was gunned down in Berlin by then 24 year old student Soghomon
Tehlirian. A Berlin court later acquitted Tehlirian and posthumously convicted
Talaat.
“Punishing a genocide perpetrator is never a crime,” Rustamian said, adding
that Turkey should realize this.
Rustamian noted that “the demand of the Armenians was fair” and the trial
held
in Germany proved that.
Rustamian also noted that along with Talaat, other organizers of the
genocide,
Enver and Jemal, were also assassinated following the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s decision to carry out the “Nemesis” operation.
4) State Dept. Again Refuses to Directly Comment on Reports of Amb. Evans’
Recall
WASHINGTON, DC–For the fourth time in the last week, the State Department’s
official spokesperson has failed to directly respond to questions raised by
journalists during the Department’s daily press briefing about reports that
the
US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, has been recalled due to his
truthful statements about the Armenian genocide, reported the Armenian
National
Committee of America (ANCA).
“It’s certainly disappointing seeing State Department officials hiding behind
their spokesperson to avoid directly answering questions about whether
Ambassador Evans is being recalled because he had the courage to stand up
against what effectively amounts to a ‘gag-rule’ preventing our nation’s
diplomats from speaking truthfully about the Armenian genocide,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in a March 8 letter to Secretary Rice, wrote
that, “If, in fact, the State Department has taken punitive steps against
Ambassador Evans, you should fully and openly explain your policies and
actions
to the American people. If, on the other hand, the Department has not taken
any
such steps, you owe it to the American people to affirm that it is not the
policy of the United States of America to punish its diplomats for speaking
the
truth about the Armenian genocide.”
Questions concerning Ambassador Evans were raised on March 8 and 10 and again
on March 13 and 14. Each time journalists asked for official comments about
Ambassador Evans’ reported recall. Reflecting the growing frustration among
journalists over the lack of a clear response to their inquiries, a member of
the State Department press corps publicly described the answers provided by
the
official spokesperson as “a bit of a dodge.”
The growing controversy surrounding reports of Ambassador Evans’ recall has
resulted in separate letters being sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
from ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the
Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus, as well as formal Congressional
inquiries by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Grace Napolitano (D-CA).
Speaking last year to an Armenian American gathering at the University of
California at Berkeley, Ambassador Evans said, “I will today call it the
Armenian genocide. . . I informed myself in depth about it. I think we, the US
government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of
discussing this problem. Today, as someone who has studied it~E there’s no
doubt
in my mind [as to] what happened. I think it is unbecoming of us, as
Americans,
to play word games here. I believe in calling things by
their name.” Referring to the Armenian genocide as “the first genocide of the
20th century,” he said: “I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at
addressing this issue.” Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with a
legal
advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the events of 1915 were
“genocide by definition.”
Within days of his remarks, Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue a
statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian genocide were his
personal views and did not represent a change in US policy. He subsequently
issued a correction to this statement, replacing a reference to the Genocide
with the word “tragedy.”
Later last year, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), in
recognition of his honesty and commitment to principle, decided to honor
Ambassador Evans with the “Christian A. Herter Award,” recognizing creative
thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service. AFSA states,
“The
purpose of the [award] is to encourage Foreign Service career employees to
speak out frankly and honestly.” Sadly, as Washington Post staff writer Glenn
Kessler revealed on June 9, AFSA withdrew its award following pressure from
“very serious people from the State Department” just days before Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Washington, DC to meet with
President
George W. Bush.
The full text of the four exchanges are provided below:
1. MARCH 8, 2006 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) SEAN MCCORMACK,
SPOKESMAN
QUESTION: [. . .] Why did you recall your Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. John
Evans? Are you going to replace him?
MR. MCCORMACK: I’m not aware that we have recalled anybody — our Ambassador
to Armenia.
QUESTION: Not in Germany, in Armenia.
MR. MCCORMACK: What’s that? I’m not aware that – I believe that he’s still
serving as Ambassador in Armenia.
2. MARCH 10, 2006 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) TOM CASEY, ACTING
SPOKESMAN
QUESTION: Is the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia having his time there cut short,
maybe his career? A couple of Congressmen have asked Secretary Rice about it
and apparently have not gotten an answer.
He’s supposed to have suggested that Armenians were the victims of genocide,
which doesn’t happen to be Bush Administration policy.
MR. CASEY: I think Sean addressed this a couple of days ago.
QUESTION: I think it’s been brought up — further up to date. If you could
—
MR. CASEY: I don’t have anything beyond what he said on it. I’ll look into it
for you and see if there’s any changes in —
QUESTION: He said that ambassadors serve at the privilege of the President
MR. CASEY: Yeah. And as far as I know, he’s . . . still ambassador. I’m not
aware that anything’s changed that situation.
QUESTION: You can’t — well, all right, if you don’t have anything further.
(Inaudible.)
MR. CASEY: I think, Barry, I will — yeah, I’ll look into it for you. I
haven’t gotten an update on it, but I’ll try and see if there’s something and
we’ll post an answer for you.
QUESTION: And also if somebody ghosted an answer from the Secretary to Mr.
Schiff and the other Congressmen.
MR. CASEY: Okay. I’ll let you know. Let’s go back here. Oh, to you guys first
and then we’ll come over to this side.
3. MARCH 13, 2006 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) TOM CASEY, ACTING
SPOKESMAN
QUESTION: Is the Ambassador of Armenia being — having his career shortened
because he spoke out against genocide in Armenia?
MR. CASEY: Barry, I know we promised you an answer on that one on Friday.
Still don’t have it and I’ll get something for you this afternoon.
QUESTION: You mean his future hasn’t been decided yet?
MR. CASEY: Not that I’m aware of.
QUESTION: I think it has.
MR. CASEY: I believe you think it does.
QUESTION: No, I do believe it does and so do — and I have reason to believe
it does and I know there are at least two members of Congress who believe it
does. No, I just think the State Department is having difficulty finding words
to announce his premature retirement.
MR. CASEY: No. We owe you an answer on that.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. CASEY: I’ll get it for you. Yes, Saul.
[. . .]
QUESTION: And one on Armenia. Representative Frank Pallone in a strong
statement expressed his extreme disappointment with regards of the Department
of State decision to rid finally Ambassador John
Evans from Armenia as a retaliation for statements he made in recognition of
the Armenian genocide in Los Angeles by Ottoman Turks. And it was reported
that
already you have decided to replace him. Could you please clarify for us what
is going on exactly this particular moment of this issue?
MR. CASEY: That was the question Barry asked. We owe you an answer and we’ll
get you one.
QUESTION: Is the same answer.
MR. CASEY: Yeah. It’s the same issue; it will be the same answer.
QUESTION: Is there an ambassador on post in Armenia right now?
MR. CASEY: Yes, there is.
QUESTION: Is his name Evans?
MR. CASEY: Yes, it is.
QUESTION: Does he have suitcase packed?
MR. CASEY: Not that I’m aware of.
QUESTION: But when you do announce this, would you kindly tell us the
difference between what happened and genocide?
MR. CASEY: I think —
QUESTION: Because U.S. policy is there was no genocide.
MR. CASEY: Our policy on this issue is well known. It was reported in a
presidential statement and, yeah, I don’t have anything to add to it.
4. MARCH 14, 2006 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING (WASHINGTON, DC) ADAM ERELI,
SPOKESMAN
QUESTION: Mr. Ereli, on the DOS [Department of State] Web site, regarding
yesterday’s taken question about U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans’
status,
you have put quote, “genocide,” unquote, in quotes. I’m wondering why, if you
can say so.
MR. ERELI: I think because it was referring to remarks that somebody made.
QUESTION: Do you know whether John Evans was recalled or whether he’s been
recalled due to his speech on Armenian genocide?
MR. ERELI: I think the question was answered in the – that was answered in
the
question posted.
QUESTION: Should DOS [Department of State] employees have been advised not to
use the term, quote, “genocide,” unquote, when discussing the extermination of
the (inaudible)?
MR. ERELI: No, I think our guidance on that is the same. And we posted that
guidance last week.
QUESTION: Is it not true that Mr. Evans’ 35-year diplomatic career will be
shortened because of the remarks he made, saying that … genocide?
MR. ERELI: I think the question was answered in the – that was answered in
the
question posted.
QUESTION: Had DOS [Department of State] employees been advised not to use the
term, quote, “genocide,” unquote, when discussing the extermination of the 1
1/2 million . . .
MR. ERELI: No, I think our guidance on that is the same. And we posted that
guidance last week.
QUESTION: Is it not true that Mr. Evans’ 35-year diplomatic career will be
shortened because of the remarks he made, saying that Armenians were the
victims of genocide, since the U.S. government
or the State Department doesn’t believe what happened was genocide? It doesn’t
fit the definition of genocide?
MR. ERELI: I really don’t have anything more to add to what we posted.
QUESTION: Well, what you posted yesterday was a bit of a dodge.
MR. ERELI: No. I think it’s the situation as it is. (CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: There is very strong reason to believe, in Congress and elsewhere,
that this man is going to lose out; he’s going to be brought home early
because
of what he said.
MR. ERELI: Look, I’d like to be able to — Ambassador Evans is our ambassador
and he continues to exercise that honor and privilege. And he takes it
seriously; we take it seriously. And I really don’t have any more to add to
that.
5) Turks in France to Protest Genocide Monument in Lyon
(Zaman)–Several Turkish organizations in France have organized a protest on
March 18 against the construction of an Armenian genocide monument in Lyon,
France.
After two years of political debate, construction of the monument has begun
despite Turkish attempts to stop it. The Council of Turkish Culture
Associations in Rhone-Alpes resorted to the French courts to stop the
monument,
but did not succeed.
Turkish organizations are also angered that the French built a Komitas
genocide memorial in Paris in 2001, but have not found an appropriate place to
build a statue of Ataturk despite Turkey’s efforts for years.
The Armenian genocide monument in Lyon will be located in the heart of the
city’s historical center.
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