Author: Antonian Lara

Interfax, Russia
April 24 2009

Genocide recognition not a pre-condition for stabilization – Sargsian

YEREVAN April 24

The process of international recognition of the Armenian genocide is
not aimed at the Turkish people, Armenian President Serzh Sargsian
said in his message on the occasion of the day of commemorating the
victims of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

"We have repeatedly stated that the process of international
recognition of the Armenian genocide is not aimed against the Turkish
people. The recognition by Turkey of the Armenian genocide is not a
pre- condition for restoring our bilateral relations," the president
said.

On April 24 Armenian is mourning the victims of the 1915 genocide of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. According to some estimates, over 1.5
million Armenians were killed in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. The
genocide was recognized by a number of countries but is denied by
Turkey.

Last Thursday the Armenian and Turkish ministers held a meeting
mediated by Switzerland, following which they made a joint statement
on stabilizing the relations between Yerevan and Ankara and on the
approval of a "road map." kk

Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
April 25, 2009 Saturday

Armenians march for recognition of genocide

Wendy Leonard Deseret News

Nearly every one of the estimated 5,000 Armenians living in Utah has
some link to what they believe was the first genocidal incident of the
20th century. Dozens marched at Utah’s federal building Friday, urging
awareness of their ancestral deaths and seeking some form of official
recognition from governments locally and around the world. "It’s
insulting to hear that my ancestors were rebels and terrorists," said
Zaven A. Sargsian, president of the Armenian Hyrenik Youth
Organization in Utah.

The University of Utah student said he’s long fought the push by
Turkish nationals to reframe the killing and deportation of more than
1.5 million Armenian people by the Turkish government. A current
resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives would recognize the
incident as genocide, instead of the civil casualty case that many are
calling it. "It’s inappropriate," Sargsian said. "You have to call it
what it is." As the record stands, during the night of April 23-24,
1915, Armenian political, religious, educational and intellectual
leaders in Istanbul ? the "cream of the crop," as Salt Lake City
resident Raffi Shahinian calls them ? were arrested, deported to the
interior and put to death. Soon after, Armenians remaining in Turkey
were deported and for years since then, the land-locked country has
been blockaded by Turkish officials. "As American-Armenians, this is a
moral issue, not a political one," Shahinian said.

"Our ancestors, grandparents and future generations will not forget
about how we suffered and it is time for the Turkish government to
confront its own historical responsibility." The Salt Lake
commemoration is held every year at this time and is dedicated to the
remembrance of those who lost their lives, as well as a demonstration
against the ongoing denial by the Turkish government and an appeal to
the U.S. federal government to recognize the events rightfully as
genocide. "It’s a part of history that is just not represented," said
Agnesa Bakhshyan, who is often mistaken for being Hispanic. She says
many of her peers and acquaintances aren’t aware of where Armenia is
located. Some of her family members were killed for keeping a record
of the 1915 incidents, long after the initial nation was
destroyed. "It’s still happening, yet there are states and nations
that don’t accept it even took place," Bakhshyan said. Red, blue and
orange Armenian flags, along with the Stars and Stripes, were carried
by those at the gathering, representing the citizenship they
claim. Others displayed posters demanding recognition for the
killings, claiming that genocide denial is an "official Turkish
government policy." Throughout the weekend, AHYO is sponsoring the
first Armenian film festival in Utah, with films produced in the U.S.,
France, Italy, Russia and Armenia that promote the awareness of
contemporary Armenian issues. Films are being shown from 3 to 10
p.m. Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the University of
Utah Olpin Union Building theater. ?E-mail: [email protected]

AZERBAIJAN TO RAISE SOME ISSUES ON ARMENIA AT PACE SPRING SESSION

Trend
April 24 2009
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) will raise some issues on the latest developments
of the region and Armenia’s continuing aggressive policy in the
spring session.

"We do not want to divulge the issues to be discussed at the session at
the moment. Usually, when we inform about it, Armenia takes adequate
steps," Member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the PACE Gultakin
Hajibayli told Trend News on April 24.

The PACE spring session will take place in Strasbourg on April
27-30. The session’s agenda does not include any issues about
Azerbaijan.

Hajibayli said only a review report on the Azerbaijan referendum held
on March 18 will be made at the session.

"Under organization’s tradition, important reviews are developed on
the latest developments in the member countries after a previous
session. Azerbaijan held a referendum to amend and change the
Constitution after a winter session. A short report has been
made about the referendum and it will be distributed amongst the
PACE parliamentarians at the spring session," the Azerbaijani
parliamentarian said.

She said the report will not be largely discussed.

COMMEMORATIVE EVENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO TAKE PLACE IN MONTEBELLO

Noyan Tapan
Apr 24, 2009

MONTEBELLO, APRIL 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The principal
event in observance of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
will take place on Friday, April 24, 2009 at the Armenian Martyrs
Memorial Monument in Montebello, California.

According to the Armenian Genocide United Commemorative Committee,
a solemn Divine Liturgy service will take place before the monument,
immediately followed by a political rally and commemorative observance,
during which a number of public officials representing local, county,
state and federal governments will address the audience. After the
political rally, a requiem service will take place at the monument
under the direction of the clerical leaders of the three Armenian
Christian denominations. During both the Divine Liturgy as well
as the political rally, those in attendance will be able to place
flowers at the monument and pay their respects in memory of our 1.5
million martyrs.

THERE IS A TURKISH REMEDY FOR ANTI-AMERICANISM IN TURKEY
Soner Cagaptay

Daily Star
April 24 2009
Lebanon

President Barack Obama’s visit to Turkey could not have gone better
in terms of winning Turkish hearts and minds. Obama did all the right
things, visiting Ataturk’s mausoleum, the Blue Mosque and the Turkish
Parliament, capturing the complexity of a country that is Turkish by
birth, Muslim in culture and Western in its political identity.

Yet Washington still faces a challenge among the Turks: after a
debilitating downturn in recent years, America’s favorability rating
is at rock bottom. Obama should be concerned about this phenomenon
that, if it continues to be ignored, will eat into the foundations of
the new United States-Turkish relationship that he wants to promote
on key issues, including Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. As serious as the
problem is, though, Turkish anti-Americanism can be fixed.

Obama cannot and should not ignore anti-Americanism in Turkey, because
as a democracy, Turkish politics and politicians are ultimately
accountable to public opinion. Washington can sustain cooperation
with all sorts of authoritarian Muslim states, such as Egypt,
despite pervasive anti-Americanism in those countries, because
these authoritarian regimes do not care for public opinion. In
Turkey, however, these sentiments will sooner or later erode,
reshape and then cripple governmental cooperation with the United
States. Anti-Americanism in Turkey presents a larger, more immediate
challenge to the Obama administration than it does in other Muslim
majority societies.

Obamamania will help face this challenge. According to a recent poll
by Infacto, whereas only 9 percent of Turks thought favorably of the
US president four years ago, at the time George W. Bush, today 39
percent have a positive view of Barack Obama. However, this jolt has
not lifted America’s standing in Turkey to match political ambitions
for long-term and grand cooperation with Ankara as laid out by Obama’s
speech to the Turkish Parliament on April 6. The Infacto poll also
shows that 44 percent of Turks view the United States as the biggest
threat to Turkey.

Lately, the United States has done the right things to win Turkish
hearts and minds. First, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during her
March visit to Turkey, and then Obama gave the Turks a needed bear hug,
emphasizing that the United States likes the Turks, respects their
faith and supports their Western vocation. Washington is assisting
Turkey in its struggle against the terror attacks of the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK), a key security concern for many Turks. Obama has
even shied away from his campaign promise to support the "Armenian
Genocide" bill in the US Congress, which many Turks find extremely
offensive.

At this stage, there is little more that Washington can do to charm
the Turks. As I learned during a recent sabbatical in Turkey, the
Turks form their views of the world based upon what they hear from
their leadership. Turkey is a rare fence-sitting country between East
and West, in which pro-American and Western statements have the same
weight in shaping public views as do views that oppose the United
States and the West.

Since the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) assumed power
in 2002, the Turks have not heard anything positive about the West
from their leadership. In fact, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan has often lambasted the West, suggesting, for instance, that
"the West uses terrorism to sell Turkey weapons" or that "Turkey
has borrowed only immoral stuff from the West." Anti-Americanism has
become pervasive in Turkey as not just the AKP, but also even secular
and nationalist leaders now vehemently voice such views.

The United States cannot stop entrenched anti-Americanism altogether;
only the Turkish leadership can do that. Hence, the first step toward
combating anti-Americanism would be zero anti-American and anti-Western
rhetoric from opinion makers in Turkey, whether they are on the
side of the government or on the side of the opposition. By avoiding
anti-American rhetoric, the Turkish leadership could demonstrate that
it is ready to receive Obama’s extended olive branch.

The next step is targeting existing anti-Americanism, which can be
alleviated precisely because the Turks are a fence-sitting people. What
the Turks hear about the United States and the West shapes their
views. In battling anti-Americanism, the Turkish leadership needs to
highlight for the Turks the common interests of Turkey and the US,
such as a stable Iraq; shared institutions, such as NATO; and shared
values, such as democracy. Ankara should also give Washington major
credit for intelligence assistance to Turkey in its attempt to stop
the terror attacks launched by the PKK. Many Turks are not only unaware
of this fact, but also think that the United States supports the PKK,
as many news reports and government allegations have insinuated. The
situation on the PKK shows best how Turkish views of the United States
can be distorted.

Barack Obama should not despair when faced with evidence of
anti-Americanism in Turkey. This is indeed an immediate and big
problem, but it can be fixed. There is a Turkish solution to
anti-Americanism in Turkey.

Soner Cagaptay is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for
Near East Policy and the author of "Islam, Secularism and Nationalism
in Modern Turkey: Who Is a Turk?" This commentary first appeared at
bitterlemons-international.org, an online newsletter that publishes
articles on Middle Eastern and Islamic issues.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATED AT ROME’S HOUSE OF MEMORY AND HISTORY

ArmInfo
2009-04-23 20:07:00

An event entitled "Stories Without History: Armenians" took place at
the Casa della Memoria e della Storia (House of the Memory and the
History, Rome) Apr 22 2009 on the occasion of the 94th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia reports
that the event was organized with the support of the Armenian community
of Rome.

Well-known Italian writer, correspondent of La Stampa Marco Tosatti
took part in the event.

Charge d’Affaires of Armenia to Italy Tigran Samvelyan thanked the
organizers for their initiative.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

PRESIDENT OBAMA RETREATS FROM ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PLEDGE

— April 24th statement avoids "genocide" characterization

WASHINGTON, DC — Despite repeated statements properly
characterizing the Armenian Genocide during his Senate career and a
clear pledge stating that "As President, I will recognize the
Armenian Genocide," President Barack Obama today issued an April
24th statement evading the proper characterization of the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian issued the following statement
regarding President Obama’s April 24th statement:

"I join with all Armenian Americans in voicing our sharp
disappointment with President Obama’s failure to honor his solemn
pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide."

"In falling short of his repeated and crystal clear promises, which
reflected a thorough knowledge of the facts, the practical
implications, and the profound moral dimension of Armenian Genocide
recognition, the President chose, as a matter of policy, to allow
our nation’s stand against genocide to remain a hostage to Turkey’s
threats."

"The President’s statement today represents a retreat from his
pledge and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about
in how America confronts the crime of genocide."

"Genocide must be confronted unconditionally at the level of
American values and our common humanity. As Americans, we should
never allow the prevention or recognition of this crime to be
reduced to a political issue that can be traded away, retreated
from under pressure, or used to advance a political agenda, of any
kind."

"We urge the President to act quickly to correct his
Administration’s stand on the Armenian Genocide by properly
condemning and commemorating this crime, removing Turkey’s gag-rule
on its recognition by the United States, and working publicly
toward the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution before
Congress," concluded Hachikian

As a Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama pledged
repeatedly to recognize the Armenian Genocide and promised
"unstinting resolve" to end the Darfur Genocide, stating, "America
deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide
and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that
President." View his record on the issue at:
_Genocide.pdf

President Obama’s complete statement is provided below.

#####

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________
For Immediate Release
April 24, 2009

Statement of President Barack Obama on Armenian Remembrance Day

Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th
century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million
Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death
in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live
on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the
Armenian people.

History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible
events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man’s inhumanity
to man, reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of
reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what
occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My
interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just
acknowledgment of the facts.

The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and
Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their
efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish
and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way
that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been
courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and
within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey
and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss
auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and
roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them
to fulfill its promise.

Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is
peaceful, productive and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and
Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common
history and recognize their common humanity.

Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But
the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-
four years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism and
resilience of the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to
those who tried to destroy them. The United States of America is a
far richer country because of the many Americans of Armenian
descent who have contributed to our society, many of whom
immigrated to this country in the aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand
with them and with Armenians everywhere with a sense of friendship,
solidarity, and deep respect.

"HOT LINE": SAYING NO TO ANTI ARMENIAN

Panorama.am
11:22 23/04/2009

In these days Panorama.am receives various telephone calls from people
concerned with the increasing anti-Armenian campaign in the internet,
which has been even strengthened on the eve of the day to commemorate
the memory of thousands of victims of Armenian Genocide. Panorama.am
requested the "Public relations and information center" of the
President’s Administration to find out what should be done in this
regard. It was said that soon "hot line" would be set to receive common
calls. According to the source an official statement will be made soon.

PROFESSOR CLAUDE MUTAFIAN – "FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMENIA THE KARABAKH ISSUE IS MORE IMPORTANT"
Liana Sayadyan

hetq.am/en/politics/klod-mutafian/
2009/04/22 | 16:14

Feature Stories important politics

Professor Claude Mutafian of the Sorbonne, visiting Armenia to
participate in the conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of
the Adana massacres, stated that in terms of the on-going negotiations
between Armenia and Turkey, "The talks are one thing but the issue
of the 1915 Genocide will not be resolved in that manner since the
fact cannot be overlooked that the bulk of diaspora Armenians are
the inheritors of that tragedy."

Professor Mutafian, originally a mathematician who has specialized
in Armenian history for the past thirty years, noted that Turkey’s
position in linking a settlement of the Karabakh issue to the
normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations raises concerns that
the Karabakh issue will be solved "by making concessions regarding
the Genocide".

"It is difficult to oppose the opening of the border, but the important
question to be asked is at what price? For me, as a by-product of 1915,
the recognition of the Genocide is important but, to put it somewhat
crudely, it terms of the future of Armenia the Karabakh issue is more
important," Professor Mutafian stated to Hetq.

When referring to the attitude in the diaspora regarding the
negotiations now taking place between Armenia and Turkey, Professor
Mutafian said, "The diaspora is in a difficult situation. Many
say that they don’t want to upset the talks but the reality is of
course different. I can’t say whether the talks are good or bad. On
principle, negotiations are a good thing. One must always be able
to sit down with the enemy and talk. The same holds true here; but
many are opposed to them. I, however, am opposed to those diaspora
Armenians that claim that this is treachery. I, on the other hand,
don’t say that the talks are a wonderful thing rather, like it or not,
this is the situation. Our interests are different. There are more
Armenians living in the diaspora than in Armenia and still today
what you have at the basis of the diaspora are the descendants of
the Genocide victims. The memories of the Genocide belong more to
the diaspora than to the Armenia of today."

Regarding France’s position on the Genocide, Professor Mutafian stated
that even though it has been recognized by law, legislation to punish
genocide deniers hasn’t been included into the agenda of the French
Senate since, "The French government states that Armenia and Turkey
are now negotiating and that we shouldn’t upset these talks."

Professor Mutafian also sounded a note of caution when it came to the
issue of the campaign, organized by Turkish intellectuals, to collect
signatures apologizing for the events of 1915. "Twenty thousand Turkish
intellectuals signed the statement and that’s good. But we must not
forget that statement refers to the ‘Great Calamity’ and doesn’t use
the word ‘Genocide’. The Turkish authorities understand their role
very well. On the one hand it was a good thing but, on the other hand,
we cannot forget that it lead to other measures. We should never say
thanks for these other actions."

When asked if he thought that demands made by Armenia would produce
results Professor Mutafian responded, "It’s hard to say, but one must
always demand a great deal in expectation of the day when the other
side might be ready to make concessions. You must always go with your
hands full. I find that the possibility of financial reparations is
more realistic. The issue of the supervision of cultural monuments
still exists even though some initial steps have been taken in this
direction. Turkey must, at the minimum, permit Armenian specialists
to oversee the repair and restoration of our monuments in Turkey."

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF CSTO MEMBER STATES APPRECIATED HIGHLY ARMENIA’S ACTIVITIES IN THE ORGANIZATION

Noyan Tapan
April 22,2009
Yerevan

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsian welcomed on April 17 foreign
ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member
states and organization’s Secretary General, Nikolay Bordjuzha, who
participated in the meeting of the foreign ministers’ Council of CSTO
in Yerevan.

The President of Armenia expressed confidence that the Yerevan
session would contribute to the strengthening of the organization
and higher efficiency of cooperation of its member states. According
to Mr.Sargsian, recently held numerous events made CSTO’s activities
more dynamic.

Presenting the agenda of the session, CSTO Secretary General
N. Bordjuzha mentioned that discussions were held in the atmosphere
of mutual understanding and issues mainly related to topical problems
of international security, coordination of member-states’ foreign
policy and basic directions of the Organization’s cooperation with
international and regional institutions. The package of prepared
documents will be presented to the Heads of states for approval at
the June summit of the CSTO.

As the RA President’s press-service told to Noyan Tapan, the ministers
of foreign affairs of the CSTO member states highly appreciated
Armenia’s fruitful work during her presidency in the Organization.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsian noted with satisfaction that
works aimed at coordination of foreign policy in the framework of
the CSTO have already yielded tangible results.