Author: Basmajian Ani

Russian air base in Armenia ready to open fire at NATO planes – TV report

Channel One TV, Moscow
4 May 04

Presenter Back in Soviet times airborne troops stationed in
Transcaucasia served as a reliable defence of the country’s southern
borders. In the mid-1990s Russia’s airspace in the area was left
without any defence. Armenia alone met Russia halfway and allowed for
the Russian Airborne Troops to remain on its territory.

Correspondent Aleksey Artemyev Fighters at the Russian air base
Erebuni have six minutes and not a second more to take off for a duty
flight and intercept a target that has illegally entered Armenia’s
airspace. The end of the runway and the border with the neighbouring
country are separated by a distance of 15 km. The neighbouring country
is Turkey, a NATO member state, with a great number of air bases
stationed on its territory, including those belonging to the USA.

Two years ago Russian pilots cut short an attempt by a high-speed spy
plane to enter Armenia’s airspace from Turkey. One should always be on
alert here. All interceptors on combat duty here are equipped with
four air-to-air missiles. The two bigger ones are located closer to
the fuselage and are capable of hitting a target within a distance of
up to 80 km. The two smaller ones are intended for close combat, they
are capable of hitting any target within 30 km. The equipment is
completely ready for combat.

NATO intelligence is monitoring the Russian air base in Armenia round
the clock. Two sites for direct tracking are situated on a slope of Mt
Ararat. The Turkish Air Force are trying to have every Russian pilot
under control.

Valeriy Ded, captioned as fighter pilot We do not normally meet them
in the air. At times we spot them on our radar screens, both on board
and on the ground. They know every pilot of ours, our voices, if not
our names.

Correspondent The Erebuni air base is part of the Russian air defence
complex situated in Armenia, the only one remaining in Transcaucasia,
protecting Russia’s southern borders. The main air defence forces are
located high up in the mountains, not far from Gyumri, formerly
Leninakan. There are four launch pads for air defence missile systems
Kub and S-300 there.

We were the only TV crew that was given a chance to film a Russian air
defence command post on alert duty.

Unidentified officer This facility allows us to see the sites where
the air defence batteries are stationed as well as the sectors they
are facing. We can give them the whereabouts of a target to hit.

Correspondent This radar station is able to operate within a radius of
300 km. The nearest NATO airfields in Turkey are situated at a
distance of about 200 km. In other words, the Russian command post is
able to spot any plane takeoff from any of the airfields.

Aleksey Gorskiy, captioned as commander of the combat command and
control division In May 2001 we began our test alert duty. We did not
have a right to open fire at trespassers. The Turks used to fly along
the border all the time. After the alert duty started in earnest in
October ?2001 , in other words when we were allowed to open fire, they
hardly ever appear here now.

Correspondent All the Russian air defence divisions stationed in
Armenia are working in close coordination with each other. In everyday
life pilots and anti-aircraft gunners are rivals. The air base is
proud of its unique barracks, containing fish water tanks,
mantelpieces and even a small zoo of their own. Meanwhile, the air
defence system command division claims that they have the best cook
and cuisine.

Passage to end omitted: interview with cook.

South China Morning Post
May 5, 2004

Money before morality

The dead, wrote German novelist W.G. Sebald, are forever returning to
us. Unhappily, some governments continue to deny them, in the name of
trade, realpolitik or revisionism. Even as the Dalai Lama was leaving
millions of Canadians light-headed last month with his mantra of
gentleness and compassion, the federal government shrugged off a
genocide. It came after Canada’s parliament voted to recognise the
slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks 89 years ago. One
US president called it “the great crime of the first world war”. But
Canada’s minister of foreign affairs repudiated the vote, effectively
apologising to Turkey, a trading partner. So much for compassion and
altruism.

“Turkey is an incredibly important country,” wrote columnist Jeffrey
Simpson in the Globe and Mail, the country’s national newspaper.
Parliamentarians, he said, have no business meddling in foreign
policy, especially when it concerns a “disputed” atrocity nearly a
century ago. “Canada should mind its own business,” the headline
read.

“Business” is what this is all about. Canadian companies are trying
hard to sell subway cars and engineering services to Turkey. Hundreds
of millions of dollars are at stake, and a Canadian cabinet minister
warned that the genocide vote could have “negative consequences” on
trade.

It is not the first time Canada has put money ahead of morality. A
Canadian oil company operated for three years in Sudan with Ottawa’s
approbation, pumping out profits for a Muslim government that was
bombing civilians in Africa’s longest civil war. And with the Dalai
Lama here seeking support for his people’s struggle against Beijing
rule, Ottawa gave Tibet only the barest official nod. China, of
course, is Canada’s second-largest trading partner. Enough said.

Half a dozen other countries have already recognised the 1915
genocide. They, like the Canadian parliamentarians, felt it was
important to do so because Turkey continues to deny that a genocide
even happened. This denial is offensive to Armenians, and to anyone
who believes that history matters. We deny it at our peril. Hitler
told his generals: “Kill without mercy. Who today remembers the
extermination of the Armenians?”

So why is it important that civilised nations condemn genocides past
and present? “It’s easy for the international community to say,
‘never again’,” says Robert Adamson, of the Global Justice Programme
at the University of British Columbia. “But there has to be some
recognition of what went wrong and who was responsible. People have
to be brought to account for these injustices.” The moral is: if you
ignore yesterday’s barbarity, you risk ignoring what is happening
today.

Interfax
May 5 2004

Azerbaijan, Armenia to resume talks on Nagorno-Karabakh

Baku. May 3 (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – The foreign ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia are due to meet on May 12 to consider
proposals on settling the conflict between the two countries over the
Azerbaijani Armenian-speaking enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“There are definite ideas on which we will exchange opinions. The
co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the OSCE [Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe] will also state their opinion on this
issue,” Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told reporters
in Baku on Monday.

The Minsk Group is a mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mammadyarov said the Group co-chairmen would be present at his
meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, to be held in
Strasbourg, France.

The meeting would be held “in the context of the negotiations that
the two presidents have held,” Mammadyarov said in reference to a
meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, Ilham Aliyev
and Robert Kocharian, during an economic summit in Warsaw on April
28.

Mammadyarov denied allegations that Nagorno-Karabakh talks between
special representatives of the presidents of the two countries have
been suspended.

“I can say that the special representatives will also be in
Strasbourg,” he said.

Mammadyarov and Oskanian will meet during a session of the Council of
Europe Committee of Ministers.

Twenty Features Set for Cannes 2004 Director’s Fortnight

Indiewire.com
by Eugene Hernandez
April 28, 2004

The lineup for the Quinzaine des Realisateurs, also known as the
Director’s Fortnight, was unveiled in France today by new artistic
director Olivier Pere. The sidebar will run May 13-23 in Cannes. Among the
list of 20 feature films are four from the United States and an array of
pictures from around the world. (The complete list is available below.)

Katsuhito Ishii’s “The Taste of Tea” will open the section and Andres
Wood’s “Machuca” will close the sidebar.

The U.S. contingent includes Asia Argento’s “The Heart is Deceitful…
Above All Things,” adapted from JT Leroy’s novel and starring Winona
Ryder, Peter Fonda, and the filmmaker. The three other entries screened at
Sundance earlier this year, including Jonathan Caouette’s “Tarnation,”
which was recently acquired by Wellspring, Jacob Aaron Estes’ “Mean Creek”
which was nabbed post-Sundance by Paramount Classics, and Nicole Kassell’s
“The Woodsman,” which Newmarket acquired.

COMPLETE LINEUP:

Feature Films

” vot’ bon coeur,” directed by Paul Vecchiali

“Ano Tonneru,” directed by Manda Kunitoshi

“Babae sa Breakwater,” directed by Mario O’Hara

“En attendant le dluge,” directed by Damien Odoul

“Gavkhouni,” directed by Behrouz Afkhami

“Je suis un assassin,” directed by Thomas Vincent

“Khab Talkh,” directed by Mohsen Amiryoussefi

“L’Odore del sangue,” directed by Mario Martone

“La Blessure,” directed by Nicolas Klotz

“Los Muertos,” directed by Lisandro Alonso

“Maarek Hob,” directed by Danielle Arbid

“Machuca,” directed by Andres Wood

“Mean Creek,” directed by Jacob Aaron Estes

“Mur,” directed by Simone Bitton

“Oh, Uomo,” directed by Yervant Gianikian and Angela Ricci Lucchi

“Tarnation,” directed by Jonathan Caouette

“The Heart is Deceitful… Above All Things,” directed by Asia Argento

“The Taste of Tea,” directed by Katsuhito Ishii

“The Woodsman,” directed by Nicole Kassell

“Vnus et Fleur,” directed by Emmanuel Mouret

Short Films

COLLECTION – PORTRAITS

“Capitaine Achab,” directed by Phillipe Ramos

“La Peur, petit chasseur,” directed by Laurent Achard

“Le Dieu Saturne,” directed by Jean-Charles Fitoussi

“Tristesse beau visage,” directed by Jean-Paul Civeyrac

PROGRAMME – ALTERNATIVES

“A Feather Stare At The Dark,” directed by Naoyuki Tsuji

“Frontier,” directed by Jun Miy Azaki

“Odya,” directed by Edgar Bartenev

“Vostok 1′,” directed by Jan Andersen

PROGRAMME – FICTIONS

“Charlotte,” directed by Ulrike Von Ribbeck

“Fill In The Blanks,” directed by Kim Youn-Sung

“La Petite Chambre,” directed by Elodie Monlibert

“Le Droit Chemin,” directed by Mathias Gokalp

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/30/2004
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1) ANC Capitol Hill Observance Honors Balakian, Canadian Legislator
2) Elected Officials Express Dismay at US Apathy on Genocide
3) Chirac: Turkey Not Fit for EU Entry
4) The Passing of Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian
5) Genocide Acknowledgement–Bushwhacked Again!

1) ANC Capitol Hill Observance Honors Balakian, Canadian Legislator

SENATE AND HOUSE MEMBERS CALL FOR PROPER US REAFFIRMATION OF THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON, DC–Over 40 Members of Congress joined with several hundred
Armenian Americans from across the country this week to honor victims and
survivors of the Armenian Genocide, at the 10th annual ANCA Observance on
Capitol Hill. Special guests at the Observance included New York Times Best
Selling author Peter Balakian, who received the ANCA Freedom Award for his
tireless efforts to document the US humanitarian response to the Armenian
Genocide in his landmark book, “The Burning Tigris.”
Longtime Canadian Armenian community supporter and champion of the recently
adopted Armenian Genocide resolution, the Honorable Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral,
spoke poignantly of worldwide efforts to recognize this crime against
humanity.
Senators and Representatives, as well as Congressional staff representing
some
100 Congressional offices, were greeted by over 400 community members, many of
whom travel annually to Washington, DC to attend the Capitol Hill Observance
and discuss Armenian American concerns with their elected representatives. The
program was held in the historic Cannon Caucus Room.

2) Elected Officials Express Dismay at US Apathy on Genocide

INSPIRE 12,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT MONTEBELLO ANC COMMEMORATIONS

MONTEBELLO–Once again, the Armenian-American community of Montebello and
surrounding communities observed the anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide
with an April 23 rally and vigil candlelight at the foot of the Armenian
Martyrs’ Monument, organized by the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of San
Gabriel Valley (ANC-SGV). This year’s message was a collective call to
political action by the Armenian community. The rally opened with introductory
remarks by Tamar Sadorian, who then invited the evening’s master of
ceremonies,
Serge Samoniantz, to conduct the event.
Special guest speaker Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-34th District)
was
one of many public officials who expressed dismay at the US government’s
failure to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Napolitano, a staunch supporter of Armenian-American concerns,
presented a
keen view of the community’s obstacles in having the genocide recognized by
the
Bush Administration and the backers of the Turkish deniers. She noted that her
efforts and those of her colleagues in the Congress would, nevertheless,
continue until justice is served to the Armenian people.
Introduced by San Gabriel Valley ANC member Jack Hadjinian, Montebello
Mayor Norma Reid-Lopez presented a proclamation from the City of Montebello
unanimously declaring April 24 a Day of Remembrances for the Victims of the
Armenian Genocide.
Special assistant to Sheriff Lee, Baca Captain Gary A. Nalbandian,
representing Baca, presented plaque from the LA County Sheriff’s Department.
Nalbandian closed his remarks with a rousing Armenian remark: “Struggle until
Victory!”
Speaking on behalf of the youth, Mesrobian Armenian School Associated
Students
Body officer and Montebello AYF member Angie Achikian, conveyed willingness to
take on the torch from the older generation and continue until final success.
Emcee Serge Samoniantz recognized the public officials present, including
Montebello City Council members Bob Bagwell, and Bill Molinari, as well as
Police Chief Gary Couso-Vasquez, Gil Cedillo Jr., from Assemblyman Ron
Calderon’s (D-58th) office, and Greg Martayan, a former LA City Commissioner,
who is running for a Los Angeles City Council seat in the San Fernando Valley.
Also attending were ARF Western Region Central Committee chairman Hovig
Saliba,
ARF Dro Gomideh chairman Sako Sassounian, and Armenian Mesrobian School
principal Hilda Saliba.
Before introducing the final speaker, Samoniantz announced the arrival of
the Homenetmen Western Region Scouts who had marched from Pasadena, a distance
of about eight miles, to pay their respects to the genocide victims, with a
candlelight procession.
San Gabriel Valley ANC Chairman Seto Boyajian, delivered the keynote
address recounting steps taken by the Armenian community to advance
recognition
of the Armenian Genocide in the United States. He assailed Pres. Bush’s
inability to come to terms with the Armenian Genocide and his unwillingness to
properly characterize the 1915 events as Genocide in his annual April 24
statement, emphasizing Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Kohn Kerry’s
lengthy and meaningful message calling for the international recognition of
the
genocide.
The program concluded with the traditional distribution of candles to the
audience, the candlelit gathering around the monument plaque, and the solemn
Requiem Service conducted by the clergy of the Holy Cross Cathedral.

3) Chirac: Turkey Not Fit for EU Entry

PARIS (AP/Zaman)–Turkey’s aspirations to be the first Muslim-majority member
of the European Union took a hit Thursday when French President Jacques Chirac
said Ankara most likely will not meet the bloc’s conditions for another 10-15
years.
Speaking at his first full-fledged news conference in six years, Chirac also
said the upcoming transfer of power in Iraq must be “unambiguous” and the
US-led occupation authorities must cede complete control to an Iraqi
administration.
The French president said Turkey needed to improve its human rights record
and
reform its justice system before being considered for EU membership.
“Is Turkey’s entry possible today? I say ‘No,'” he said.
But Turkey could become a member “in the perspective of 10-to-15 years,”
Chirac said. “My conviction is that it is in the long term.”
Asked whether the recognition of the Armenian genocide would be taken as a
precondition for Turkey’s EU membership, Chirac said it was an issue between
Turkey and Armenia.
Turkey, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and a part of NATO since
1952, is hoping to begin talks next year on joining the EU. Ten new members
are
joining the 15-nation union on Saturday.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity that
Turkey
accepted Chirac’s comments but still hoped the EU would open membership talks
in 2005.
“Negotiations are one thing, and membership is another,” the official said.
“Chirac was speaking about the long term. There’s nothing new about what he
said.”
Chirac’s news conference came weeks after Foreign Minister Michel Barnier
told
parliament that France would oppose Turkey’s entry.
The European Commission in November noted Turkey’s “significant progress” in
meeting the EU’s conditions, but said more needed to be done.

4) The Passing of Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian

His Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian died on Friday, in Lebanon, at 57
years of age.
Archbishop Zareh faithfully served the Armenian Apostolic Church as an
ordained celibate priest for 38 years, most of which was spent at the
Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon; he spent two
years in Rome pursuing a higher education, and three years as the Prelate of
Cyprus.
Archbishop Zareh was an eminent teacher at the Cilician See’s Theological
Seminary. He was a noted composer of both religious and secular music, a
gifted
scholar, a Biblical translator, and an author of textbooks and
commentaries. He
was considered one of the most noted Biblical scholars within the Armenian
Church.
The Extreme Unction will take place during the Divine Liturgy service at the
Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, on Monday, May 3.
Interment will follow in the Mausoleum of the Holy See of Cilicia.
Requiem Services will take place in all Prelacy churches on Sunday, May 2.

5) Genocide Acknowledgement–Bushwacked Again!

“There’s an old saying in TennesseeI know it’s in Texas, probably in
Tennesseethat says, fool me once, shame onshame on you. Fool meyou can’t get
fooled again.”
–George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002.

Another anniversary of the Armenian Genocide passed last week, and Armenians
were presented another impotent statement by the Bush administration omitting
the word “genocide.” After reading the recent articles on all Genocide
reaffirmation-related news this last week, I remembered the above quote from
President Bush which pretty much sums up how I feel. Come November, when I
cast
my vote for the candidate opposing President Bush, I’m going to write the
White
House a letter referencing this “old saying in Tennessee.”
It’s been four years since President Bush promised to properly acknowledge
the
Armenian Genocide in a statement as candidate for the nation’s highest office
and after being elected, became afflicted with severe selective memory loss
(Weapons of Mass Destruction, Service in the Air National Guard, the Armenian
Genocide, etc). I didn’t expect much from someone who had a “C” average
throughout college, but I also expected that four years would be enough
time to
cram for the Genocide final. It seems as though he still doesn’t get it. But
what’s worse is that some Armenian-Americans still don’t get it either. And
even worse than that? There’s one group out there, the Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA) who not only is supposed to get it, but is also supposed to go
after it and pursue it. (“Supposed to” is the operative term here).
My favorite article was the one issued by the AAA which stated that the AAA
“…expressed surprise and disappointment in President Bush’s statement…which
used language to clearly define the events but once again stopped short of
using the word genocide.” In 2001, when President Bush didn’t use the word
“genocide,” the AAA expressed “regret and disappointment.” In 2002, the AAA
praised the President for his toothless statement by saying that by using the
word “murder” he invoked the same words as US Ambassador to the Ottoman
Empire,
Henry Morgenthau, Sr. I guess since I use the words “the” and “and” I’m
invoking such greats as Shakespeare and Hemingway in my writing.
I tried to find out what the AAA reaction was to the President’s statement in
2003, but there were no press releases posted on their website for April 24 of
that year (). Fortunately, the Armenian National Committee of
America had a press release and the statement posted on their site
(). I had forgotten what a doozy the 2003 statement was. The
President referred to the genocide as the “great calamity” and get this…
saluted “our wise and bold friends from Armenia and Turkey who are coming
together in a spirit of reconciliation to consider these events and their
significance.” (Skeptik looks pensive and rubs chin–MAJOR SARCASM ALERT IN
5…4…3…2…) So, that’s where our friend’s at the AAA were in 2003? They were
coming together to reconcile our “differences” with the murdering, lying,
sneaky, fraudulent government of Turkey who is responsible for murdering my
ancestors and then denying the crime. And I thought they were up to no good.
Well, I guess it’s fine that they didn’t issue a press release in 2003 and we
can all rest better knowing these guys are looking out for us.
Am I going to only pick on the AAA, you ask? How about we make a deal? When
you have your own column, you can do whatever you want! As far as the AAA is
concerned, I can’t honestly believe that in 2004, after being used and abused
for four years, after they praised the President’s 2002 statement and didn’t
issue one in 2003, that they were genuinely “surprised.” They must think that
either we’re idiots or that we will understand and have pity on them for being
idiots. I have some advice for the AAA that may console them seeing as to how
shocked and surprised they must be by Bush’s statement–There’s an old saying
in that state of Tennessee which recently acknowledged the Armenian Genocide
for the first time. Yup, there’s a saying there–I don’t think they have the
same saying in Turkey or in Texas–but it says “Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on me for sticking
around, and fool me four times, its no surprise!”

Skeptik Sinikian is not a psychiatrist nor a licensed therapist but offers
clinics to help Armenian organizations cope with dikephobia (fear of justice)
and ideophobia (fear of ideas). If you would like to “surprise” Skeptik, write
to him at [email protected].

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PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
May 3, 2004

His Holiness Karekin II Departs for Pontifical Visit to South America

On the morning of May 3, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, departed from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin for his first Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Dioceses of South
America.

The first stop of His Holiness will be Sao Paolo, the headquarters of the
Armenian Church Diocese of Brazil. During the visit to Brazil from May 4 to
9, His Holiness will also travel to Osasco, where there is a large Armenian
community.

>From May 10-12, His Holiness will visit the Armenian Church Diocese of
Uruguay and will be with the Armenian faithful in the capital city of
Montevideo.

The Pontifical Visit of His Holiness will conclude in the Armenian Church
Diocese of Argentina. From May 13-25, His Holiness will visit the cities of
Buenos Aires and Cordoba.

During the course of the visit, His Holiness will bring his message and
Pontifical blessing to the faithful Armenians of South America. The Pontiff
of All Armenians will celebrate Divine Liturgies in various Armenian
communities, will meet with representatives of Sister Churches, and be
received by high ranking state officials.

His Holiness Karekin II is accompanied by His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan,
Vicar General of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese; Rev. Fr. Kyuregh
Vardanian, Staff-bearer to His Holiness; Mr. Vilen Hakobian, Rector of
Yerevan Medical University; and Mr. Vrezh Markosian, President of the
“Tigran Mets” Publishing Company.

##

Big News Network.com, Australia
April 25 2004

Iran bans Armenian protest

Iranian authorities Saturday banned Iran’s Armenian community from
demonstrating in front of the Turkish embassy.

The Iranian News Agency said the interior ministry refused to grant
Iranian Armenians a permission to organize the protest to mark the
89th anniversary of Turkey’s 1915 massacre of Armenians.

The ministry, instead, permitted the march be staged in the north of
Tehran away from the Turkish embassy’s building, but the Armenian
community insisted on staging the protest in front of the mission.

Radio Canada
April 22 2004

Motion sur le génocide arménien: la Turquie en colère

La Turquie fustige les parlementaires canadiens, à la suite de
l’adoption d’une motion du Bloc Québécois reconnaissant que la
Turquie avait commis un génocide contre les Arméniens en 1915.

«Nous condamnons vivement le fait que le Parlement fédéral canadien,
en dépit de toutes nos démarches, n’ait servi l’intérêt que de
groupes marginaux», souligne un communiqué du ministère turc des
Affaires étrangères.

Le document indique que les autorités turques ont expliqué à
plusieurs reprises aux autorités canadiennes, les ennuis que devrait
provoquer une telle décision, à leurs yeux erronée.

Dans ce cas, la Turquie pourrait faire usage de rétorsions à
l’encontre du Canada avec lequel elle entretient traditionnellement
de bonnes relations.

Mercredi, une vaste majorité de députés de la Chambre (153 contre
68), dont de nombreux libéraux, ont voté en faveur de cette motion,
déposée par une députée bloquiste, malgré l’avis défavorable du
ministre des Affaires étrangères, Bill Graham. M. Graham souhaitait
éviter de froisser le gouvernement turc, qui n’a jamais admis son
rôle dans le massacre de 1,5 million d’Arméniens.

.
Bill Graham
.
Pour sa part, le ministre Graham a déclaré que le Canada voulait
maintenir les meilleures relations possibles avec Ankara.

Il a souligné que la Turquie était un partenaire important au sein de
l’OTAN et que la politique étrangère du Canada encourage actuellement
le rapprochement entre l’Arménie et la Turquie.

Il a dit espérer que la Turquie comprendrait que ce sont les députés
qui s’expriment inidividuellement sur une question de conscience.

Parmi les députés libéraux qui ont voté en faveur de la motion, on
note plusieurs anciens ministres, dont Martin Cauchon, Stéphane Dion,
Lyle Vanclief, Lawrence MacAulay et Herb Dhaliwal.

Plus d’une vingtaine de pays ainsi que les Nations unies ont reconnu
jusqu’ici le génocide arménien.

En 1996, la Chambre des communes a reconnu la tragédie qui a frappé
les Arméniens à la chute de l’Empire ottoman. Elle a cependant refusé
d’évoquer un génocide.

International Association of Genocide Scholars
Robert Melson, President
Department of Political Science
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907

NEW YORK TIMES CHANGES POLICY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

The New York Times has recently revised its guidelines for editors
regarding the Armenian genocide. The new policy notes, `After careful
study of scholarly definitions of `genocide,’ we have decided to accept
the term in references to the Turks’ mass destruction of Armenians in
and around 1915.’ The guidelines continue, `The expression `Armenian
genocide’ may be used freely and should not be qualified with phrasing
like `what Armenians call,’ etc.’

The Times’ new guidelines state that: `By most historical accounts, the
Ottoman empire killed /more than one million/ Armenians in a campaign of
death and mass deportation aimed at eliminating the Armenian population
throughout what is now Turkey.’

The memo notes, `While we may of course report Turkish denials on those
occasions when they are relevant, we should /not/ couple them with the
historians’ findings, as if they had equal weight.’

– end –

For more information contact: Peter Balakian <[email protected]>
Robert Melson <[email protected]> or
Samantha Power <[email protected]>

Top MP urges Armenian authorities, opposition to call time out

Arminfo
15 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Given the current domestic political situation, the Armenian
authorities and opposition had better call a time out, the deputy
chairman of the Armenian National Assembly, Tigran Torosyan, told a
news conference at the discussion club of the Pakagits newspaper
today.

He said that it would be good to take a break at least until the
parliament finally adopts the law on demonstrations and marches. The
deputy speaker recalled that this law had already been adopted in its
first reading and that over 100 amendments had been made to the law
since the resolution of the Venice Commission of the Council of
Europe. Only the proposal on holding counter-demonstrations by
different political forces at the same time and in the same place was
declined. The opposition boycott in this regard is absolutely
irrelevant since this law protects the rights of the opposition in the
first place, Tigran Torosyan said.

Commenting on the domestic political situation on the whole, he said
that unfortunately, he had to say once again that the country’s
political field had not been fully formed yet and therefore, relations
between different political forces sometimes reach a point when the
law-enforcement agencies have to intervene.

“It is a pity that absolutely innocent people, including journalists,
often suffer,” the deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament said.

He believes that responsibility lies with all the political forces in
the country and that maximum effort has to be made to prevent this,
the deputy speaker said. He noted that if he had been in the shoes of
the opposition leaders, he would have tried to persuade people to
leave Bagramyan Avenue and postponed the demonstration for security
reasons, on seeing water cannons, barbed wire and lots of policemen
armed with shields and truncheons.