Author: Babajanian Karo

TURKISH PM ASKS MERKEL NOT TO USE WORD ‘GENOCIDE’ IN BUNDESTAG RESOLUTION

17:20 22/04/2015 >> IN THE WORLD

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has personally asked German
Chancellor Angela Merkel not to use the word “genocide” in the
statement of Bundestag dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, German news outlet Die Welt reports citing its
sources.

According to the report, the Turkish and German leaders had a telephone
conversation, during which Davutoglu attempted to substantiate his
request to not use the term “genocide.”

The denial of the Armenian Genocide is Turkey’s official policy,
the news outlet notes.

NO JUSTIFICATION FOR MASS DESTRUCTION OF PEOPLES ON NATIONAL BASIS – PUTIN

YEREVAN, April 22. / ARKA /. In his address to the participants of a
gathering ‘World Without Genocide,” commemorating the centenary of
the Armenian Genocide, Russian president Vladimir Putin said mass
destruction on a national basis can not be justified.

“Russia’s position has been and remains objective and consistent: mass
destruction on a national basis can not be justified. The international
community must do everything possible so that such atrocities never
happen again. New generations of Armenians and other peoples of the
region should live in peace and harmony, without the horrors that
result from inciting religious hatred, aggressive nationalism and
xenophobia,” his address said.

Putin t wished “the brotherly Armenia, all the Armenians living in
Russia peace and prosperity”, RIA Novosti reported.-0-

“BAN PRODUCING HARVEST”: METS AYRUM COMMUNITY HEAD (PHOTO REPORT)

12:49 April 20, 2015

EcoLur

“If you substantiate that the harvest is toxic, ban producing any
harvest”: this was Mets Ayrum Village Head Sahak Nazaryan’s response
to expert Seyran Minasyan.

The expert drew Sahak Nazaryan’s attention to the fact that the lead
concentration in 60-70% of the peach samples from Mets Ayrum and
Tchotchkan communities exceeds the sanitary and health standards by
2-4 times because of Nahatak tailing dump operation.

‘We have 500 ha of plough land areas and today people take loans
and make investments in their land areas…If they substantiate,
that the harvest is toxic, let them ban producing any harvest,’
Sahak Nazaryan said.

On 17 April Mets Ayrum Village Head met with the participants of the
media campaign. The objective of the media campaign is to make aware
of the situation in Nahatak tailing dump, Akhtala Ore Dressing Combine,
Lori Region.

‘For many years an unofficial environmental and health disaster takes
place here: a tailing dump incompliant with standards, increase in
diseases, reduction of harvest etc,’ said Oleg Durgaryan, Mets Ayrum
Aldermen’s Council Member, ‘Community Union and Support Center’ NGO
Chairman. Chairman of Greens Union of Armenia Hakob Sanasaryan outlined
the extent of damage caused by Akhtala reclaimed and operating tailing
dumps cause and continue causing the water resources.

‘Environmental Academy’ NGO Chairman Greta Gabrielyan mentioned
that the toxic metals available in the tailing dumps het spread
into environment and penetrate into food chain together with soil,
water and plants. According to biochemist Dolores Ghapantsyan, heavy
metals penetrating into human organism are not digested and accumulaed
in biologically important organs and generate differnet diseases,
including cancer and other genetic deviations.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM-INSTITUTE PRESENTS UNIQUE EXHIBITION – PHOTOS

21:47 * 21.04.15

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has presented to the public
its new exhibits and contemporary design solutions.

The museum-institute’s building was completely renovated in 2011-2014,
which enlarged its exhibition halls by 2,400sq meters.

Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan told
reporters on Tuesday that no budgetary funds were allocated for the
renovation or exhibition.

“All the work was done on donations by philanthropists. A total of
US $4.5 was spent on the construction work,” he said.

Due to the collection work done over the past seven or eight years,
the museum has 90,000 original pieces, which has enabled it to organize
exhibitions in 50 cities round the world.

Thousand new exhibits are displayed at the new exhibition. Among
the exhibits are unique books, pictures, documents. One of them is
Ottoman Turkey’s a law on confiscation of deported Armenians’ property.

“The original document is in our museum, and we do not need to open
Turkish archives. Another unique document deals with the presentation
of a military award to Armenian serviceman Sargis Torosyan by Enver
Pasha, signed by him. During the Dardanelles Operation Sargis Torosyan
sank two warships and thus saved Istanbul. But his family was later
murdered,” Mr Demoyan said.

Some exhibits tell about world mass media’s reaction. A Danish
journalist’s article of 1911 has Talaat saying: “Either they or we.

And If I come to power, I am going to resolve this problem by
annihilation.”

“That is, as far back as 1911 Talaat announced his intention to commit
a great atrocity. Anyone seeing the exhibition will never doubt the
Armenian Genocide had been planned,” Mr Demoyan said.

The exhibition will be open to the public from April 25.

Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute presents unique exhibition

21:47 * 21.04.15

The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute has presented to the public
its new exhibits and contemporary design solutions.

The museum-institute’s building was completely renovated in 2011-2014,
which enlarged its exhibition halls by 2,400sq meters.

Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan told
reporters on Tuesday that no budgetary funds were allocated for the
renovation or exhibition.

“All the work was done on donations by philanthropists. A total of
US $4.5 was spent on the construction work,” he said.

Due to the collection work done over the past seven or eight years,
the museum has 90,000 original pieces, which has enabled it to organize
exhibitions in 50 cities round the world.

Thousand new exhibits are displayed at the new exhibition. Among
the exhibits are unique books, pictures, documents. One of them is
Ottoman Turkey’s a law on confiscation of deported Armenians’ property.

“The original document is in our museum, and we do not need to open
Turkish archives. Another unique document deals with the presentation
of a military award to Armenian serviceman Sargis Torosyan by Enver
Pasha, signed by him. During the Dardanelles Operation Sargis Torosyan
sank two warships and thus saved Istanbul. But his family was later
murdered,” Mr Demoyan said.

Some exhibits tell about world mass media’s reaction. A Danish
journalist’s article of 1911 has Talaat saying: “Either they or we.

And If I come to power, I am going to resolve this problem by
annihilation.”

“That is, as far back as 1911 Talaat announced his intention to commit
a great atrocity. Anyone seeing the exhibition will never doubt the
Armenian Genocide had been planned,” Mr Demoyan said.

The exhibition will be open to the public from April 25.

KARABAKH PRESIDENT ATTENDS EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL AT STEPANAKERT CITY GALLERY

16:34, 22 April, 2015

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. On 22 April Artsakh Republic
President Bako Sahakyan was present at the opening ceremony of Artsakh
painters’ exhibition devoted to the Armenian Genocide centennial held
at the Stepanakert city picture gallery.

The Central Information Department of the Karabakh President’s Office
informed “Armenpress” that the Head of the State accentuated the
importance of touching upon the topic of the Armenian Genocide by
Artsakh painters both from historic and academic viewpoints.

AZERBAIJAN – IN COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS’ LIST OF 10 MOST CENSORED COUNTRIES IN WORLD

16:55 22/04/2015 >> LAW

International human rights organization Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) has published the list of 10 most censored countries
where journalists are threatened with imprisonment and Internet access
is restricted to silence the press. Azerbaijan got the 5th place in
the list. The list, published on CPJ website, is based on research
into the use of tactics ranging from imprisonment and repressive laws
to harassment of journalists and restrictions on Internet access.

According to the article, government harassment is a tactic used in
at least five of the most censored countries, including Azerbaijan,
where offices have been raided, advertisers threatened, and retaliatory
charges such as drug possession levied against journalists.

“The main sources of information in Azerbaijan are broadcasters, which
are owned and controlled by the state or its proxies. International
broadcasters are barred or their satellite signals are jammed.

Critical print outlets have been subjected to harassment from
officials, including debilitating lawsuits, evictions, a ban on
foreign funding, and advisories to businesses against advertising,”
the publication reads.

As the article has it, online speech is subject to self-censorship
because of a criminal defamation law that carries a six-month prison
sentence. News and social media websites are blocked arbitrarily.

“At least 10 journalists and bloggers, including the award-winning
reporter Khadija Ismayilova, are in Azerbaijani jails. Several
critical journalists fled the country in 2014, and those remaining
faced attacks and harassment, were banned from traveling, or were
prosecuted on fabricated charges,” the organization says.

The authors of the list mention Emin Huseynov, director of the
Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS), who was forced
into hiding in August, 2014 after authorities raided his office,
confiscated all of IRFS’ documents, and sealed the premises.

“Several other international non-governmental organizations that
supported the local media were also forced to cease work in Azerbaijan
after authorities accused them of tax evasion, raided their offices,
and froze bank accounts. Staff at these organizations and their
families faced harassment from officials,” the article reads.

CPJ states that imprisonment is the most effective form of intimidation
and harassment used against journalists. Seven of the 10 most censored
countries – Eritrea, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Iran, China,
and Myanmar – are also among the top 10 worst jailers of journalists
worldwide, according to CPJ’s annual prison census.

Related:

Arrested Azerbaijani activists are in spotlight of international press

OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media: There is no hope today for
liberalization of Azerbaijan

PRESS RELEASE
Date: April 20, 2015

ARMENIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE
Contact: Press Office
Telephone: (202) 383-9009
Email: [email protected]
Web:

SURVIVORS OF THE Armenian Genocide: 31 ORAL HISTORY PROJECT WITNESSES DEPICTED

WASHINGTON, DC – On the occasion of the beginning of the week of
centennial commemorations, the Armenian National Institute (ANI), Armenian
Genocide Museum of America (AGMA), and Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly) announced the release of a one-panel exhibit titled `Survivors
of the Armenian Genocide.’

The exhibit features 31 survivors who participated in the Armenian Assembly
of America Oral History Project in the 1970s and 1980s. The portraits were
retrieved from the Assembly’s archives and illustrates survivors from
across the United States.

Each individual is identified by name, place, year of birth, and their
residence at the time of the interviews. They hailed from Afion-Karahissar,
Aintab, Akshehir, Arabkir, Behesni, Charsanjak, Diayrbakir, Denizli,
Hadjin, Harput, Kayseri, Kamakh, Keghi, Khjilar, Malatia, Manissa, Sivas,
Tomarza, and Van.

These survivors were living in California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, and
Wisconsin. They had been born in Armenia and Anatolia and became the
founders of the Armenian American diaspora.

`We remember and pay tribute to the survivors who participated in the
Armenian Assembly of America Oral History Project,’ reads the inscription
on the panel, which goes on to explain that the portraits of the 31
survivors are representative of the hundreds who were interviewed and gave
oral testimony.

`We cherish and honor their memory for taking the time to provide permanent
witness to the fate of their friends and families, and for sharing their
recollection of historic Armenia before its destruction in 1915,’ the
inscription concludes.

As with the four exhibits previously released jointly by ANI, AGMA, and the
Assembly, titled Witness to the Armenian Genocide: Photographs by the
Perpetrators’ German and Austro-Hungarian Allies; The First Refuge and
the Last Defense: The Armenian Church, Etchmiadzin, and The Armenian
Genocide; The First Deportation: The German Railroad, the American
Hospital, and the Armenian Genocide; and Iconic Images of the Armenian
Genocide; `Survivors of the Armenian Genocide’ is also being issued in
digital format for worldwide distribution free of charge on the occasion of
the centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Founded in 1997, the Armenian National Institute (ANI) is a 501(c)(3)
educational charity based in Washington, DC, and is dedicated to the study,
research, and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

###

ANI NR#: 2015-06

EIFFEL TOWER LIGHTS TO SWITCH OFF FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

21:04, 21.04.2015
Region:World News, Armenia, Turkey
Theme: Politics, Society

Eiffel Towel lights will be turned off on April 24 in memory of the
Armenian Genocide victims, Armenia’s embassy in France reports.

According to the Mayor’s decision, on the Armenian Genocide Centennial
Day at 22:00 (midnight Yerevan time) Eiffel Tower lights will be
partly turned off, this symbolizing the tribute to the Armenian
Genocide victims.

FRONTLINE SABOTAGE: AZERBAIJAN RETREATS WITH LOSS, INJURED SOLDIERS (PHOTOS)

16:59 * 21.04.15

One Azerbaijani soldier was killed and several others were injured
in an attempted border infiltration attack in the north-east of the
Line of Contact.

According to a press release by the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army,
the incident was registered at 5:15am local time.

The Armenian frontline forces managed to halt the adversary in time
through ring defense operations. After armed clashes that lasted
about fifteen minutes, the Azerbaijani forces retreated, leaving
behind blood stains and weapon debris.

The Defense Army reports no losses.

An investigation into further circumstances is under way.

TERM “GENOCIDE” USED SEVERAL TIMES IN BUNDESTAG’S TEXT NEW ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION DRAFT

19:27, 21 April, 2015

YEREVAN, 21 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The term “genocide” is mentioned
several times in the text of the new Armenian Genocide Centennial
Resolution posted on the official website of the German Bundestag. As
“Armenpress” reports, the preliminary agenda and schedule for the
April 24th session has also been posted.

The plenary session devoted to the discussion on the Armenian Genocide
will start on April 24 at exactly 9:00 in Germany. The session will
last an hour, during which members of the German Bundestag’s largest
political parties (Christian-Democratic Union/Christian-Socialist
Union, Social-Democratic Party of Germany and the Left-Wings Party).

The speeches will be followed by a voting for the draft of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution with the term “genocide” and with a justification
stating the point of the Convention by which the massacres perpetrated
in the Ottoman Empire will be referred to as “genocide”.

Unlike France and other countries having recognized the Armenian
Genocide, Germany had been opposing usage of the term “genocide”
for a long time. The change of Germany’s position comes after the
statements that Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic
of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
speaker Steffen Seibert made on April 20. On April 20, the Chancellor’s
speaker announced that the government would support the resolution
to be submitted to the Bundestag on April 24, declaring the events
of 1915 as an example of genocide.