Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

CATHOLICOS ARAM I ARRIVES IN YEREVAN TO PARTICIPATE IN CANONIZING 1.5 MILLION ARMENIANS MASSACRED IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE

YEREVAN, April 23. / ARKA /. Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
Aram I has arrived in Yerevan by a special flight to participate in
a service canonizing up to 1.5 million Armenians massacred in the
Ottoman Empire.

The service will be held Thursday evening in Armenia’s main church,
Etchmiadzin, a 4th-century building believed to be the Christian
world’s oldest cathedral. After the ceremony to be led by Catholicos
of All Armenians, Karekin II, bells will chime in Armenian churches
across the world and a minute of silence will be observed.

In canonizing the genocide victims, “the Church only recognizes what
happened: that is, the genocide”, Karekin II said ahead of the event.

Catholicos Aram I has brought to Armenia remains of the victims
of genocide, which were kept in the chapel of the Holy Martyrs in
the Great House of Cilicia in Lebanon. Aram I is accompanied by a
delegation of bishops and archimandrites.

On Wednesday Turkey recalled its ambassador to Vienna in protest
against the Austrian parliament’s decision to call the massacre
“genocide.” Earlier this month Ankara recalled its envoy to Vatican
after Pope Francis described the killings as “the first genocide of
the 20th century.”

More than 20 nations – including France and Russia – have so far
recognized the Armenian genocide, a definition supported by numerous
historians.

On April 24 hundreds of thousands will join a procession in the
capital Yerevan to remember the victims.

Commemorations will be held also In Paris, Los Angeles and hundreds
of other cities across the globe.

Russian Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande are among
a handful of world leaders to travel to Armenia for the commemorations.

The Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia is a
hierarchal see of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Since 1930, the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has been headquartered
in Antelias, Lebanon.

His Holiness Aram I has served as Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenian
Apostolic Church since 1995.-0-

From: Baghdasarian

OPERATION NEMESIS : UNE AFFICHE INTERACTIVE SUR ARTE

Revue de presse

À l’occasion du centenaire du genocide armenien, decouvrez une affiche
interactive et sonore qui permet d’explorer l’histoire de l’Operation
Nemesis : un des commandos militaire les plus extraordinaires du
20ème siècle. Ce dispositif interactif accompagne la diffusion du
documentaire La vengeance des Armeniens РLe proc̬s Tehlirian, ecrit
par Laurence Chassin et Bernard George.

A la fin de la Première Guerre mondiale, un reseau clandestin de
justiciers armeniens, se met en place sur trois continents. Son but :
rendre justice a plus d’un million de morts. Son arme : quelques jeunes
militants armeniens. Sa cible : les pachas et hauts dignitaires turcs
qui tenaient les renes du pouvoir et qui ont orchestre ce qui est connu
– a defaut d’etre reconnu – comme le premier genocide du 20ème siècle.

A decouvrir sur Arte.fr

jeudi 23 avril 2015, Claire (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

BARONESS CAROLINE COX ENDORSES NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC’S RIGHT TO INDEPENDENCE

YEREVAN, April 23. / ARKA /. Baroness Caroline Cox (UK) has endorsed
today Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s right to independence comparing it
with Kosovo when speaking at the global forum “Against the Crime of
Genocide” in Yerevan.

The two-day gathering commemorating the centennial of the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottoman Turkey has brought to Armenia some 600
delegates from many countries.

“Nagorno-Karabakh, like Kosovo, has the same right to independence
and self-determination and we must fight for justice to triumph for
Artsakh (the Armenian name of Nagorno-Karabakh),” she said.

Baroness Cox is a strong supporter of self-determination for the
Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. She was awarded the Armenian Mkhitar
Gosh and Mesrop Mashtots medals. She has made over 80 trips to
the region.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the
collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly
Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan, sought to secede from
Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by succeeding
referendum. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no
permanent peace agreement has been signed.

Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been
under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh
is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued
to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with
snipers causing tens of deaths a year. -0-

From: Baghdasarian

REP. ADAM SCHIFF READS NAMES OF 1,000 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS ON HOUSE FLOOR – VIDEO

10:45, 23 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

On Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), for an entire hour on the
House Floor, read the names of a small fraction of the 1.5 million
people killed during the Armenian Genocide after business concluded
in the House for the day, Asbarez reports.

During the hour, Schiff read 1,000 names of constituents’ relatives
and those of the Armenian-American community that were submitted over
the past two weeks to the office through social media and email.

Schiff’s reading of the names comes the day after the White House
confirmed to Armenian-American community leaders that the President
would not use the word genocide when he issues a statement Friday on
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“In a single hour, I was only able to read the names of a mere fraction
of those who were killed in the Armenian Genocide,” said Schiff. “To
read all of the names of the more than 1.5 million people murdered
at the time, would take many weeks, and I hope that the recitation of
the victims will help call attention to the magnitude of the crime. A
name, unlike a number, is no abstraction – each was a son or daughter,
a mother or father, a grandparent, an aunt or an uncle; each was a
precious life.”

In past years, Schiff has taken to the House floor in April to
recognize the Genocide. Two years ago, he spoke on the House Floor
in Armenian to recognize and pay tribute to those lost – the first
time that language had been spoken in the well of Congress. And
last year, he delivered an open letter to the Turkish people urging
them to examine their ancestor’s role in the first genocide of the
20th century.

This past month, Schiff joined over 40 congressional colleagues to
introduce the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution. This
bipartisan resolution calls upon the President to work toward
equitable, constructive, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based
upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgement of the facts and
ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution will
also establish a fair, just, and comprehensive international record
of this crime against humanity.

This year, 2015, marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
– a systematic and deliberate annihilation campaign launched by the
government of the Ottoman Empire against its Armenian population which
left 1.5 million Armenians dead and millions more displaced. While
the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by more than twenty nations
including Canada, Italy, Sweden, France, Argentina and Russia, as well
as the European Parliament, it has not been formally recognized by
the U.S. Congress in decades and has not been recognized by President
Barack Obama.

From: Baghdasarian

LE PARLEMENT EUROPEEN A ADOPTE UNE RESOLUTION A L’OCCASION DU CENTENAIRE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

ARMENIE

La > de l’ensemble des quotidiens est consacree a l’adoption
par le Parlement europeen d’une resolution relative au centième
anniversaire du Genocide armenien, qui a ete votee a une très large
majorite. Le Parlement europeen, qui a reconnu le Genocide armenien
en 1987, appelle l’Armenie et la Turquie a >, en ratifiant et en
mettant en oeuvre, sans conditions prealables, les protocoles sur
l’etablissement de relations diplomatiques entre les deux pays,
en ouvrant la frontière, et en ameliorant de manière active leurs
relations, notamment en ce qui concerne la cooperation economique. Les
deputes europeens soulignent la necessite pour la Turquie de
reconnaître le Genocide armenien afin de poser les jalons d’une
veritable reconciliation et saluent la declaration du pape Francois,
le 12 avril dernier, commemorant le centenaire du Genocide. Ils se
felicitent en outre des declarations du President turc en 2014 qui a
adresse ses condoleances aux Armeniens. Les parlementaires encouragent
la Turquie a saisir l’occasion offerte par la commemoration du
centenaire du Genocide armenien pour ouvrir ses archives, poursuivre
ses efforts de confrontation avec son passe, reconnaître le genocide
et poser ainsi les jalons d’une veritable reconciliation entre les
deux peuples. Par ailleurs, ils invitent la Turquie a effectuer > un inventaire du patrimoine culturel armenien
detruit ou endommage au cours du siècle dernier sur son territoire
et proposent finalement d’instaurer une >.

L’Armenie a salue, par la voix du Ministre des AE, Edward Nalbandian,
l’adoption de cette resolution, se felicitant de ce que le Parlement
europeen rappelle que, dans sa resolution du 18 juin 1987, il
reconnaissait que les actes tragiques perpetres entre 1915 et
1917 contre les Armeniens sur le territoire de l’Empire ottoman
constituaient un genocide au sens de la convention pour la prevention
et la repression du crime de genocide de 1948 et deplore vivement
toute tentative de denegation de ces actes. Selon le Ministre,
en rendant hommage a la memoire de 1,5 millions d’Armeniens, le
Parlement europeen, qui represente 28 pays europeens, se joint a la
commemoration du centième anniversaire du Genocide armenien. M.

Nalbandian estime que la resolution contient un message important
a l’attention de la Turquie, en invitant celle-ci a utiliser la
commemoration du centenaire du Genocide pour se reconcilier avec son
passe. >, a conclu le Ministre. Aux
yeux du porte-parole du parti Republicain, Edouard Charmazanov, la
resolution du Parlement europeen est un > a
la politique de deni d’Ankara. Il rappelle que c’est deja la septième
resolution adoptee par des instances europeennes relative au Genocide
armenien, ce qui signifie que le processus de sa reconnaissance
internationale semble etre entre dans une nouvelle phase.

Le pro-gouvernemental Hayots Achkhar qualifie egalement de > a Ankara la resolution du Parlement
europeen, mais aussi les discours des parlementaires, dont aucun ne
remettait en question la realite du Genocide armenien. Sont retenus
par la presse armenienne les discours de plusieurs parlementaires
ayant condamne les autorites turques, en l’occurrence le President
Erdogan, pour avoir lance des affronts personnels contre le pape
Francois pour sa prise de position sur la question du Genocide
armenien. L’un des parlementaires italiens est alle jusqu’a qualifier
les propos du President turc de >. >. Le quotidien appelle Erevan
a tirer profit sur le plan politique de ce > au lieu de se
borner a une reaction emotionnelle.

Aux yeux de Hraparak, Ankara paye pour la non-ratification des
protocoles de Zurich et pour avoir cede aux > d’Ilham
Aliev. Joghovourd remarque pour sa part que plus le negationnisme
d’Erdogan devient acharne, plus la reaction de la communaute
internationale s’avère enfin appropriee.

Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun et Haykakan Jamanak relèvent que, de peur
que le President Obama puisse repeter l’expression utilisee par le
pape Francois dans son message annuel du 24 avril, Ankara a decide
de depecher son Ministre des Affaires etrangères a Washington afin
de prevenir l’usage du mot > par le President americain.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 16 avril 2015

jeudi 23 avril 2015, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

168 ZHAM: OBAMA’S USE OF ‘GENOCIDE’ MATTERS LITTLE IF AT ALL

11:00 * 23.04.15

In comments to the paper, the president of an Armenian tink-tank
shared his comments on the country’s foreign policies in regards to
achieving a final recognition of the Genocide by the United States.

Manvel Sargsyan, who heads the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies, particularly pointed out to foreign policy
trends which he said are the major drawbacks preventing the US
president from saying “genocide” in his annual April 24 address to
the Armenian people.

“Armenia’s political leadership – if they are really interested in
hearing President Obama use “genocide” – does not conduct appropriate
work with the United States. What matters is political evaluations
that would help see the questions raised and the necessary steps to
be undertaken, and to evaluate whether or not the failure to use the
term results from wrong policies. They are questions the Armenian
authorities won’t get an answer to as they do not carry out the
necessary work with the United States, instead raising problem.

“On the public level, people wait – like football fans – to see
‘whether or not [Obama] will say it.’ This question has become an
element inthe international politics, whereas the Armenian side does
not have its official understanding and does not conduct the policies
that would yield the desired results,” he is quoted as saying.

From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN’S AIM TO OUST ARMENIANS FROM ARTSAKH IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT OF GENOCIDE – CAROLINE COX

13:58 23/04/2015 >> POLITICS

Yerevan is the only place where I want to be in these days, Baroness
Caroline Cox, a member of the British House of Lords, said at the
International Social and Political Global Forum against the Crime of
Genocide which is taking place in Yerevan.

“I applaud those governments that have recognized the Armenian
Genocide. I bow before Pope Francis for his powerful statement which
is addressed to all of us,” she said.

In her words, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is in the
interests of the Turkish people. The Baroness stressed that it is
necessary to fight against those who deny the Armenian Genocide.

Azerbaijan’s aim to oust the Armenians from their historical homeland,
Artsakh, is another attempt of genocide, Caroline Cox stressed.

“Regrettably, Azerbaijan continues to threaten and kill. It is
important to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the massacres and ethnic
cleansings it has committed,” she said.

“God bless this wonderful people,” Caroline Cox said, concluding
her speech.

From: Baghdasarian

CYPRUS PRESIDENT’S CALL TO TURKEY IS CALL FOR ACT OF CONSCIOUSNESS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE: EXCLUSIVE

13:08, 23 April, 2015

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. We call on all partners that have not
recognized the genocide to put values and principles beyond interests
and political expedience. The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades,
who’ll visit Armenia on April 24, stated this in an exclusive interview
to “Armenpress”, while reflecting on the Armenian Genocides issue.

– Mr. President, as You know, 2015 is a symbolic year for Armenia and
the Armenian people. This year we’ll commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide. You have already confirmed that You’ll
visit Yerevan and pay tribute to the memory of the victims in the
Tzitzernakaberd Memorial. What will be Your call in Tzitzernakaberd?

– My message to the Armenian people is a message of concrete
solidarity. This year marks the anniversary of a most tragic crime
against humanity, the Medz Yeghern, which has defined the history of
the Armenian people, a genocide of enormous proportions that shows
the abominable brutality of the Ottoman rule.

I cannot but refer to the fact that after the evacuation of Cilicia
100 years ago, Armenian refugee ships, crowded with people devastated
by the heinous and relentless persecution and famine, found a safe
haven in neighbouring Cyprus. Cypriots are proud of the fact that
the children and grand children of these refugees constitute today
a creative and important part of Cyprus society, preserving and
developing their worthy origins.

It is only natural that Cyprus and Armenia are united in condemning
the perpetrators of the genocide because of their common history
with Turkey. I should remind you that Cyprus was the first European
country to have recognised, the Armenian genocide (and the second
country worldwide), and recently has criminalised the public claim
of denial of the genocide, by Parliamentary decree. Cyprus was also
the first country to raise the issue to the UN General Assembly.

– Mr.President, in Your opinion, what is the lesson the Armenian
people and the international community should learn from this episode
of history – the Armenian Genocide?

– The lesson to be learned by the Armenian genocide, holds two parts;
a part of keeping alive the remembrance of the genocide by paying
tribute to the millions of lives lost a century ago and a part of
our obligation to make known “urbi et orbi” that impunity cannot
go unpunished.

The people of Armenia and Cyprus are victims of impunity. We also
share universal values and principles: Faith in international law,
peace, the independence and freedom of peoples and respect for human
rights. These characteristics stem from our interwoven history and the
struggles of our peoples who persevered for survival and prosperity.

– The genocides will go on as long as they are not recognized and
condemned. Unfortunately, the Armenian Genocide has not yet been
fully recognized. As a significant EU state, what is Cyprus’ call to
the EU member states and Turkey?

– Our call to the other countries and Turkey is a call for an act
of consciousness. We are satisfied with the fact that the European
Parliament has once again added its voice to ours by calling Turkey to
recognize the Armenian genocide as part of the pre-accession process
with Ankara.

It is our duty to not turn our back or act in defiance of the tragic
reality of a historical fact which overshadows the contemporary
history of Turkey. We call on all partners that have not recognized
the genocide to put values and principles beyond interests and
political expedience.

At the same time, we see no reason for Turkey being put off by actions
relating to the recognition of the Armenian genocide. On the contrary,
this would be an opportunity for Turkey to really prove that it can
redefine itself and its self acclaimed role as a regional player,
by acknowledging the value of full normalization of its relations
with Armenia and gain the backing of the international community
to this direction. The possibility of a proactive stance by Turkey
in respecting the principle of good neighborly relations would be
welcomed by Cyprus, as it could also be setting a precedent for the
normalization of relations with Cyprus.

– The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is not a borderline,
but a new destination. In this regard, how should we look at the
future and what will be our priorities in future?

– The future should reflect the resilience of the Armenian people
to survive and its commitment to honour the legacy of strength and
perseverance of the millions of its predecessors who were either lost
or managed to escape the frenzied wrath of the Ottoman rule.

This legacy constitutes a firm and most honourable basis for young
generation of Armenians. It constitutes the compass that should
guide not only them, but also the civilized world beyond, through
a challenging and changing international environment, bedeviled by
conflicts, economic crises, and political instability. Remembering
the Medz Yeghern, and honoring the herculean strength and resilience
of the Medz Yeghern survivors, who today make up the Armenian nation
and the prolific Armenian Diaspora, should be a duty of Humankind in
its entirety.

Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan

From: Baghdasarian

ASSYRIAN MEMBER OF IRAN MAJLIS: WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ARMENIA FOR SPEAKING ABOUT ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE

16:29 23/04/2015 >> POLITICS

We are grateful to Armenia for speaking about the Assyrian Genocide,
Assyrian member of Iran Majlis, Ivnatan Beyt Kolia, said, according
to the Alik daily newspaper of the Iranian Armenian community.

“Here pass hundred years since the horrible Genocide perpetrated
by the Ottomans against the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks. Still,
they have not only failed to comply with the righteous demands of the
victims’ descendants, but also have not even said a word of apology.

Today, only after hundred years, they say ‘researches are needed to
find out whether that inhumane disaster was genocide or not.’ How
childish!” the Assyrian MP said referring to the Armenian Genocide
Centennial in his speech in the Iranian Majlis.

“Today only Armenia and the European Parliament speak about the
Assyrian Genocide in 1915; and we are grateful for that,” Ivnatan
Beyt Kolia added.

Robert Beglaryan and Karen Khanlaryan, MPs of Armenian origin, have
also had speeches in Iran Majlis concerning the Armenian Genocide
Centennial.

“We call on the government and the President Rouhani in particular
to call the real facts by their name. That will make it possible
to support the security in the region,” Robert Beglaryan said in
his speech.

Related:

Iran’s position regarding recognition of Armenian Genocide

Iranian outlet: Ottoman Turks slaughtered also Iranian Azaris apart
from Armenians

Iranian Turkic-speaking Azaris condemn Turkish government for not
recognizing Armenian Genocide

From: Baghdasarian

MAJOR PART OF TURKEY’S TERRITORY BELONGS TO ARMENIANS: RUSSIAN BENEFACTOR

15:47, 23 April, 2015

YEREVAN, 23 APRIL, ARMENPRESS: The major part of the Turkey’s territory
belongs to the Armenians. “The solution of any historical controversial
issue is based on historical sources. We suggest a chronicle, developed
in the 16th century by the order of Ivan IV, commonly known as Ivan the
Terrible, the Grand Prince of Moscow and the Tsar of All the Russia,
which presents the world history – from ancient times to 1550s”, –
stated the famous Russian political and social activist, businessman
and benefactor German Sterligov at the press conference held at the
press hall of Armenpress News Agency.

Sterligov added that due to the efforts by the Armenian side, an
International Non-Governmental Committee “Restoration of historical
justice” will be established, in which many experts and political
scientists will work. The work of the abovementioned Committee might
have a great contribution to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
and the return of the Armenian lands from Turkey.

Sterligov stated that on April 24 he will by all means participate
in the mourning procession.

From: Baghdasarian