Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

United Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
1701 N. Greenwood Road
Glenview, IL 60026
Contact: Greg Bedian
email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2005

Prof. Robert Krikorian Addresses Chicago Genocide Commemoration

Chicago, IL – Prof. Robert O. Krikorian addressed a crowd of over 350
people on Saturday evening, April 23, at an event organized by the
United Committee for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide held
at Shahnasarian Hall in the Armenian Community Center in Glenview,
Illinois.

The event opened with the presentation of the colors by the Chicago
Homenetmen Scouts and its newly formed Drum Corps. Following the
singing of the US and Armenian national anthems by Mary Khatcherian
and Melanie Mardoian, respectively, the hall fell silent to honor the
1.5 Million Armenians who perished in the Genocide 90 years ago, as
well as those who died in the pogroms in Sumgait, Baku, and Kirovabad.

In his opening remarks, United Committee Co-Chair Greg Bedian provided
an analysis of recent developments, citing the Bush administration’s
efforts to help Turkey clear the genocide recognition hurdle for its
entry into the European Union by establishing a
`recognition-without-reparations, crime-without-consequences
environment’ via the discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission and others. `Unfortunately, the administration’s latest
tactic appears to be the creation and promotion of a class of
`reasonable’ Armenians whose purpose is not to represent and serve
Armenia’s interests, but instead to unwittingly serve merely as
yes-men to help clear the way for Turkey to enter Europe without the
fear of reparations,’ he stated. `If we do nothing more tonight, we
must all be resolute and united in rejecting this attempt to divide
our community and stand firm in demanding both recognition and
reparations from Turkey in atonement for its crime,’ he concluded.

In his presentation to the community, Krikorian, who holds a PhD from
Harvard University in History and Eurasian Studies, described the
implicit and explicit links between the 1915 Armenian Genocide and the
development of the Armenian democratic movement of 1988-1991. He
began with a brief review of Soviet Armenian history, defining what he
termed a tacit `social contract’ created between Armenians and the
Soviets during the takeover of independent Armenia in 1920, namely
that the physical security of the Armenian people would be guaranteed
in return for their loyalty.

Krikorian then took the audience through the gradual loosening of
censorship regarding the topic of the Genocide beginning in 1965 and
continuing through the Glasnost era of the 1980’s. He outlined how
the Soviets allowed Armenian agitation against Turkey in order to
promote their own interests while reinforcing message that `without
the protective umbrella of Soviet power, the very existence of the
Armenian nation would be in doubt.’ He went on to describe how the
pogroms in Sumgait in February and March of 1988 shattered the myth of
Soviet guarantees of physical security, calling into question the
reason for remaining under Soviet rule, and detailed its impact on
political currents in Armenia at that time. He also cited his
research on the almost universal theme among Armenian self-defense
fighters who stated that `they were motivated to act by the desire for
the 1915 Genocide to never be repeated.’

The program also featured a musical interlude by the Chicago Hamazkain
Choral Group and an exhibit about the Genocide prepared by members of
the Armenian Youth Federation. In addition to this exhibit, the
Taniel Varoujan and Sahag Sislian Armenian Saturday schools displayed
essays prepared by their students on the experiences of their own
family members during the Genocide. During the program, Sahak
Zakarian of the Taniel Varoujan school shared his essay with the
community.

Messages from various political figures including Cook County
Treasurer Maria Pappas and a proclamation issued by Illinois Governor
Rod Blagojevich designating April 24, 2005, as `Armenian Martyrs Day
in Illinois, in honor of the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide’ were presented to the community by ANC of Illinois
representative Karine Birazian.

The event was organized by the United Committee for the Commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide, which was formed by the Armenian Democratic
Liberal Party and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation last year to
prepare a series of events to mark the 90th Anniversary of the
Genocide. In addition to Krikorian’s lecture, these events include an
April 27th cultural program entitled `Snowflakes in April’ by actress
Nora Armani, accompanied by cellist Lusine Petrosyan, and an April
30th lecture featuring Turkish historian Professor Taner Akcam.

Harold Doan and Associates, CA
April 26 2005

OPEC Fund extends US$5 million to Armenia for rural economic
development project

Press Release – OPEC Fund for International Development

The OPEC Fund for International Development has signed a US$5 million
loan agreement with the Republic of Armenia in support of an
initiative to increase sustainable incomes among needy rural
communities by stimulating the growth of rural enterprise activity.

Focusing on the seven provinces of Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Gegharkunik,
Vayats Dzor, Syunik and Aragotsotn, the project seeks to enable small
farmers to move away from subsistence agriculture to other, more
sustainable forms of employment.

At present, the majority of cultivable land in Armenia is owned by
peasants, who grow food on small plots for personal consumption.
Government envisages rural enterprise development as playing a
pivotal role in raising income and employment among these people.

Armenia’s rural sector exhibits many of the classic constraints to
production and profitability: Farmers’ technical knowledge and skills
are limited; and the equipment and machinery used are outdated. This
results in low yields, together with soil and pasture degradation. In
addition, the infrastructure, institutions and instruments necessary
for the efficient operation of a market-oriented rural economy are
lacking.

To stimulate commercial activity and encourage people to diversify
into other areas of work, the project will provide financial services
for small and medium-scale rural enterprises, together with business
intermediation services to assist the less experienced entrepreneurs.
Another component will help alleviate constraints imposed by the poor
condition of essential infrastructure, such as water and energy
supplies, sanitation and rural roads, by supporting public/private
investment in small-scale, commercially derived infrastructure.

An estimated 1.3 million people are expected to benefit from the
project, which represents the OPEC Fund’s first development operation
in Armenia.

The agreement was signed in Vienna by H.E. Mr Jivan Tabibian,
Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Austria, and by H.E. Mr.
Jamal Nasser Lootah, Chairman of the Governing Board of the OPEC
Fund.

Christian Science Monitor
April 26 2005

With Syria out, Lebanon clout grows

The last Syrian troops left Lebanon Tuesday, ending 29 years of
military domination.

By Nicholas Blanford | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

RAYAK, LEBANON – Elite Syrian paratroops in pressed camouflage
uniforms and red berets marched alongside their Lebanese counterparts
at an old airfield here Tuesday in a colorful farewell ceremony that
formally ended Syria’s 29-year military presence in Lebanon.
The departure of the last batch of Syrian troops was a historic
moment for the Lebanese and underlined just how dramatically and
quickly Syria’s grip on this tiny Mediterranean country has weakened
after 15 years of near-total domination.

With the pro-Syrian establishment in Beirut continuing to unravel by
the day, any hope that Damascus might have harbored of retaining some
level of influence in Lebanon appears to be fading fast. “The
question should be what influence will Lebanon have on Syria,” says
Michael Young, a Lebanese political analyst.

“Syria was stronger militarily but it was never stronger politically,
economically, culturally … in all the domains Syria imposed its
order through force,” Mr. Young says. “At this point, to my mind,
Lebanon is stronger.”

Without the pervasive and sometimes ruthless Syrian military
intelligence, known as the mukhabarat, Damascus lacks the means of
maintaining its tight control over Lebanon’s vibrant politics and
economy.

Some of Syria’s ruling political and military elite amassed fortunes
in Lebanon, muscling in on business deals with Lebanese partners and
raking off profits from numerous ventures such as cellular telephone
networks and casinos. Syrian laborers, too, relied on Lebanon for
work, their remittances providing a welcome boost to Syria’s
cash-starved economy.

But the era of easy pickings for the Syrians appears to be over.
Syria’s one-time loyal allies in Lebanon are turning their backs on
their former masters in Damascus, playing to the new mood of
independence to ensure political survival.

And what is seen by many as a humiliating withdrawal for Syria may
even force the government led by Bashar al-Assad to consider swift
political reforms to ensure the survival of his regime. Some
observressay the emergence of a sense of independence in Lebanon may
begin to resonate among Syrians who have been calling for democratic
reform in growing numbers.

The vanishing Syrian influence in Lebanon goes much deeper than the
departure of 14,000 troops once stationed here. The once-feared
chiefs of Lebanon’s intelligence and security services, who upheld
Syrian rule here, are toppling one by one as the new Lebanese
government promises to hold them accountable for alleged past
misdeeds.

On Monday, Jamil Sayyed, the powerful head of the General Security
service, announced his resignation, blaming “changing political
developments,” while Raymond Azar, the chief of Lebanese military
intelligence, was reported to have fled with his family to France.

The opposition blames the security and intelligence chiefs of
colluding with Syria in the assassination of Rafik Hariri, a former
prime minister, whose death in February triggered a wave of
anti-Syrian demonstrations that ultimately led Syria to withdraw its
troops.

A United Nations team arrived in Damascus Tuesday to begin a
verification mission to ensure that Syrian forces and intelligence
personnel have fully departed Lebanon in compliance with UN
Resolution 1559. The Syrian government has pledged to cooperate with
the UN and has handed over maps, documents, and aerial photographs to
confirm its withdrawal.

The team is expected to issue a preliminary report in two weeks,
according to a UN spokesman in Beirut.

Although it should be an easy task to discover if the military
positions and intelligence offices have been vacated, it will be more
difficult to ascertain whether all Syria’s undercover agents have
departed. “I don’t think the UN team can do it,” says a European
defense attaché, speaking after the military ceremony in Rayak. “We
can’t tell if they have all gone, so I don’t see how they can.”

Washington also has voiced concerns that Syria could still interfere
in Lebanese affairs if its intelligence agents remain in Lebanon. A
State Department official was quoted by Agence France Presse as
saying that while the Syrian army appeared to have departed Lebanon,
“I think there is considerable more skepticism about the intelligence
assets.”

The Lebanese army has moved into most of the abandoned Syrian army
and intelligence positions in the Bekaa Valley. Relaxing in the
morning sun, three Lebanese soldiers sat on stools in a courtyard
beside several farm buildings. The soldiers turn away visitors,
saying the area is a closed military zone.

The farm, known as the “Onion Factory,” sends a chill through the
hearts of local Lebanese, since it was the main interrogation center
for Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon. “This place has a dark
reputation,” says a truck driver from the nearby village of Majdal
Anjar, refusing to give his name. He recalls working near the Onion
Factory two summers ago.

“It was terrible because I could hear screams coming from inside,” he
says. “I could see about 15 people blindfolded and kept out in the
hot sun.”

Syrian symbols have been painted out on the walls of the building,
although the departing intelligence agents spray-painted one wall
with several slogans and quotations from the Koran. “The Arab nation
won’t die,” reads one slogan.

In the nearby ethnic Armenian town of Anjar, headquarters since 1976
of Syria’s military intelligence service, there is barely disguised
delight at the departure of the Syrians.

“We are very happy to see them go,” says Rafi Tamorian. “They might
be our brothers, but they have been treading on our hearts for too
long.”

ARTSAKH YOUTH ABOUT THE GENOCIDE

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
25 April 05

In the years of World War I, in 1914 – 1918 the Turkish rulers, with
the support of Kaiser Germany and the connivance of the Western powers
perpetrated massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The first
victims of the horrible manslaughter perpetrated by the Young Turks
were the intelligentsia of West Armenia. Soon the policy of genocide
of the Turkish tyranny involved all the places in the Ottoman Empire
inhabited by Armenians. Massacres were perpetrated in the settlements,
on the way and in places of exile, particularly in the deserts of Deir
El Zor and Ras El Ain. The progressive countries of the world have
always condemned by the Armenian Genocide. A number of countries,
namely Uruguay (1965), Argentina (1985), Cyprus (1990), Russia, Greece
(1995), Australia (1997), Belgium (1998), Sweden, Italy, Lebanon,
Vatican (2000), France (2001), Switzerland (2003), Canada, Slovakia
(2004), Poland (2005) recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide. No doubt after ninety years the Armenian diplomacy will
become more actively involved in the process of the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and will do its best to achieve
the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by
Turkey. It is interesting to know the opinion of the young people of
Artsakh on this. YERVAND HAJIYAN,`Haiki Serund’ Youth Public
Organization, in charge of public relations:`The ninetieth anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide is a stimulus for the process of recognition
of the monstrous crime by the international community, and making it
an up-to-date topic of discussions in different governmental and
public sectors. It is reassuring that the parliament of Poland
condemned the ruthless massacres of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, and
the parliaments of Germany and Hungary are going to discuss the
question of recognition of the Genocide. Sixteen foreign countries
have recognized the undeniable fact of the Genocide. On the 90th
anniversary of the Genocide large-scale propaganda is carried out in
Armenia and the Diaspora, as well as in Artsakh. Besides the official
events the youth public organizations of Nagorno Karabakh are also
determined to contribute to the difficult process of achieving
recognition of the worst crime of the twentieth century.’ ARMINE
HAYRAPETIAN, chair of ARF `Aram Manoukian’ Students’ Union: `Ninety
years after the Genocide an unprecedented reaction to the Armenian
Genocide both in Armenia and foreign countries was reported, whichis
both good and bad. It would be better if similar reaction was not only
on the occasion of the ninetieth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
but the entire Armenian nation was a persistent claimant in the
process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This especially
refers to the Armenian youth. Decades ago the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation was, in fact, the only force which consistently pursued the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. There were moments when the
Federation had to sacrifice the lives of its young fighters (five
young men in Lisbon) to keep the idea of fair claims burning. Today
the role of the youth in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is
becoming leading, and on the way of pursuing the Armenian Cause
besides recognition the Armenian youth must pay much attention to the
issue of restitution. I think the wound will never heal if justice is
not restored.’

NVARD OHANJANIAN.
25-04-2005

PRESS RELEASE
Near East Foundation – Headquarters
90 Broad Street, 15th Floor – New York, NY 10004, USA
Phone: +1 (212) 425-2205 Fax: +1 (212) 425-2350

This speech was the keynote address for the April 20th Congressional
Armenian Genocide Commemoration held on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

200 distinguished guests attended including members of Congress and
Armenian American representatives from around the country, religious
leaders and the Armenian Ambassador to the US. If you have any
questions/comments pls contact Andrea Couture, Near East Foundation
[email protected] telephone in New York 212-425-2205 x17.

Also available, but not included here, is a 3-part series on the history
of the Near East Foundation which was founded to respond to the Armenian
Genocide and deportations and consequently is celebrating its 90th year
as this country’s oldest international development organization. I hope
you are interested in seeing the series as well.
_____

Keynote Remarks
Armenian Genocide Observance
Capitol Hill
Ryan A. LaHurd, Near East Foundation
April 20, 2005

Honorable congresswomen and congressmen and honored guests: I
am privileged to be addressing you today as we commemorate the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and deportations, one of the
darkest times of our era, and privileged to be representing the Near
East Foundation which this year commemorates the 90th anniversary of its
founding as America’s first nationwide international relief and
development effort, born in response to those tragic events.
On the wall of the offices of the Near East Foundation in
downtown Manhattan hang framed yellowed front pages from New York Times
editions of the autumn of 1915. In terms very reminiscent of what we
read in the New York Times these days about Darfur, lead stories tell of
almost unimaginable atrocities against innocent people and the
determination of Americans to respond to the victims’ needs. I pass
these newspapers every day as I work around the office, just as I pass
vintage posters by American artists of the early 20th Century with
legends like “They Shall Not Perish,” “Remember the Starving Armenians,”
and “Which Shall it be: Life or Death?” These artifacts are invitations
to despair, for they simultaneously recall the subsequent human
tragedies of the Nazi holocaust and of Cambodia, Rwanda, Yugoslavia, and
Darfur – inescapable evidences of humanity’s terrible propensity toward
what we have come to call “man’s inhumanity to man.” The fact that we
call such actions “inhuman” indicates our deep desire that such
murderous events remain unrepresentative of who we are essentially as
human beings.
Yet, in a very real sense, those same newspaper pages and posters stand
also as a monument to hope, heroism, and what is best in us as human
beings. And, notwithstanding the beating Americans have taken recently
in the forums of international opinion, I think we can feel comfortable
in the assertion that they truly report something representative of us
as Americans. For despite our vaunted isolationism and the warnings of
our national founding fathers against international entanglements,
Americans by and large understand the great privilege we have of living
in a land of freedom and bounty; and we are motivated to bring to others
in need the help we are able to give.
So it was that in September 1915, Henry Morgenthau, then U.S. Ambassador
to the Ottoman Empire, gave notice to President Wilson that the world
was witnessing “the destruction of the Armenian race in Turkey” and that
immediate assistance was needed. Despite the fact that the American
government had determined to maintain neutrality with regard to the
alliances fighting in the Ottoman Empire, the situation of the Armenians
demanded a response. At the request of the President, a private relief
committee was established in New York headed by industrial leader
Cleveland H. Dodge “with the remote hope of raising $100,000 for relief
in Turkey” for hundreds of thousands of Armenians, Greeks and suffering
members of other minorities. The committee received bipartisan
congressional support, including the active assistance of President
Wilson, who himself appealed to the American people for contributions.
The “remote hope” was not so remote after all. Between 1915 and 1918,
hundreds of thousands of refugees were fed, clothed, housed and cared
for in camps and orphanages in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, the Caucasus and
Persia. After the Armistice, the committee was chartered by an act of
Congress in 1919 as Near East Relief, and designated as the primary
channel for U.S. post-World War I aid to the region. Foreshadowing its
future name change, NER expanded its mandate beyond relief to address
the resulting huge social problems of the vast numbers of refugees,
including over one hundred thousand orphans. Help was for all
“suffering people” on the basis of “need not creed” and under the slogan
“Hunger Knows no Armistice.” As one of the founders of the organization
observed, they could continue to give relief forever and nothing would
change. If there was to be hope for the future, people must have their
capabilities developed so they could build their own futures.
Based on population, each American town and city was asked to
contribute, resulting in an unprecedented manifestation of American
generosity to provide hope and reconstruction. Among the innovative
fundraising approaches employed were the posters created by top American
illustrators. Thousands of tons of used clothing collected on “Bundle
Days” were sent overseas; and the “Milk Campaign” was spearheaded by
10-year-old child actor Jackie Coogan with movie theaters around the
country used as “food stations” for the collection of cans of milk.
Coogan even visited the Near East, traveling on a “milk ship” out of New
York Harbor. On “International Golden Rule Sundays,” families across
the nation ate a simple “orphanage meal” and donated the equivalent cost
of an average American Sunday dinner.
By 1930, when it was renamed the Near East Foundation, $110 million had
been collected and dispensed for humanitarian assistance, including $25
million in in-kind food and supplies in less than 15 years – at a time
when bread cost a nickel a loaf. More than one million people had been
rescued from certain death by starvation and exposure. Some 12 million
people had been fed, and at one point between 1919-20, an average of
333,000 people were fed daily. Forty hospitals were built as NEF
provided medical aid to six million patients. Over 135,000 children
were housed, fed and taught in orphanages and provided with medical
care.
In the almost 90 years since the Near East Foundation’s founding, calls
like that of Ambassador Morgenthau have continued to come. Though they
are usually less dramatic, they are no less critical to people in the
extremes of crisis, poverty and need. And NEF still answers these
calls, seeking to accomplish its mission of helping people in the Middle
East and Africa build the future they envision for themselves. Whether
it is a village woman in the mountains of Morocco learning to read, a
young man in Lebanon disabled by a landmine getting a job, a family in
Darfur getting food to celebrate a holiday, or a man in Egypt turning
his life from drug use to contributing citizenship – NEF continues what
it started by helping people one by one to have a better life today and
tomorrow.
What this continuing work demonstrates is that something of long term
benefit has come from the terrible malice perpetrated in the Armenian
Genocide. The work of NEF argues that humanity can respond to evil with
good, to despair with hope, and to destruction with rebuilding. Perhaps
more than anything, the Near East Foundation’s continuity recalls that
while human beings are capable of extreme self-interest, we are also
capable of great generosity – and we celebrate the choice of generosity.
Another lasting impact of the work of Near East Relief is the creation
of the idea of international development. One of NEF’s early leaders
noted that “everything we know we learned from the orphans.” What these
philanthropists learned is that if we are to truly help those in need,
we must move beyond relief into development, building their capacity
through education and supplying technical assistance and resources. In
this way they can build their own better future in independence and
self-reliance. Thus the work with the survivors of the Armenian
Genocide became through Near East Foundation the model for the Marshall
Plan of post-World War II recovery, Truman’s Point-4 Program, the US
Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, and the
United Nations Development Program. Good has come from evil; hope, from
despair.
Perhaps most importantly, the notion that the Near East
Foundation learned its approach from dealing with the orphans of the
Armenian Genocide reinforces the value of dealing with recipients of our
philanthropic concern, not as projects, but as fellow human beings. In
the best spirit of our country, America’s citizens, not its
government, took responsibility for rescue and relief efforts among
these people they did not know, and formed an organization that has
lasted nine decades. The organization pioneered an approach its
leadership called “practical citizen philanthropy.” By this they meant
assisting people to gain the skills and resources they need, using an
approach that seeks partnership and equality with “no sense of
domination or superiority.” It is this approach the Near East
Foundation has continued to use throughout its history and still
employs, one which encourages participation of the people we seek to
assist and listens to their needs and plans, treating them with the
dignity and respect they deserve.
The reward of this approach is not only that the projects we work on
together are more likely to be successful but, in the process, we build
friendships and we build human beings. Our staff has seen repeatedly
over the years that dealing with people as dignified and honorable
equals builds their capacity more than any training sessions or
educational programs. By insisting on building the capacities of its
local partners and on programs that will be sustainable after NEF has
moved on, the Foundation has, over the decades, built local
community-based organizations that still exist. There are numerous
village organizations throughout Egypt; cooperatives and women’s
associations in Sudan and Mali; larger scale non-governmental
organizations birthed by NEF and then spun off as independent
organizations like GROW in the Mokhotlong province of Lesotho; a
cooperative for women who raise goats and produce and sell goat cheese
in Morocco continues today, fifteen years after NEF’s work introduced
such goat raising in the Atlas mountains.
The Near East Foundation was truly an American response to the Armenian
Genocide. This is true not simply because it occurred in the United
States, but because it combined private, independent entrepreneurship
with Americans’ great commitment to humanitarianism. These values came
together and developed a creative approach in a successful venture which
saved over a million lives and then went on to find new places of need.
Further, NEF values the American commitment to investment rather than
simply spending, understanding the time and energy needed to help people
learn new ways and change old approaches in a manner that preserves what
is most valuable in their culture. Ironically, this very approach which
gave birth to USAID has largely been abandoned. In an effort to
streamline their approach and supposedly become more cost-effective,
USAID and other government agencies which fund international development
now fund almost entirely short term, very large, tens-of-million dollar
projects. This approach has given birth to large contractors whose sole
purpose is to manage such grants, often leaving organizations like ours
– with our hands-on, people orientation — out in the cold.
I ask those of you in Congress to remember today not only the past, but
the living legacy of America’s response to the Armenian Genocide, first
in the people who survived it and went on to become valuable citizens in
our own and many other countries, and then the living legacy of those
Americans who helped them to survive. While we recall the horrors of
which humankind is capable, recognize the need to demand justice and
commit ourselves to preventing the recurrence of such inhumanity, let us
also recall the philanthropy and heroic generosity of which we are also
capable and commit ourselves to ensure its continuity as an American
value.

Turkish NGOs send letter to 24 embassies denying Armenian genocide claims

Anatolia news agency
24 Apr 05

ANKARA

NGOs (associations and foundations) from Eastern Anatolia have sent
letters on the “Armenian genocide” to 25 embassies in Ankara.

Members of the NGOs came to the Kizilay Mail Office and sent the
letters to embassies of several European Union (EU) countries and to a
few neighbouring countries of Turkish Republics in Ankara.

The Erzurum Economic and Social Research and Assistance Foundation
member of the executive board, Vahdet Nafiz Aksu, indicated that the
Armenian diaspora insists on the biggest lie of the century and has
declared 24 April as a day of remembrance of the so-called Armenian
genocide.

“It is really sad that the modern world considers the Ottoman
government’s decision to re-locate a portion of its Armenian
population as a genocide. The modern world must be aware that those
governments supporting the thesis of a genocide will not be forgiven
by history,” told Aksu.

Aksu mentioned that the residents of Erzurum wish to live in an
atmosphere of good ties and brotherhood with Armenia. History should
be the task of historians and not national parliaments, remarked Aksu.

“We are ready to host all Western friends who want to research the
issue and meet families who experienced the incidents. The Turks, who
have helped the Jewish immigrants in the 15th century, Jews running
away from Hitler in the 1940s, Iraqis from north of Iraq during the
Gulf War and many others, should not be left alone with a huge slander
against their identity and culture,” commented Aksu.

Armenpress

FOREIGN DIPLOMATS REMEMBER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: “France was one of the first nations to
give shelter to thousands of Armenians who escaped massacres in Turkey.
France has also officially recognized the Armenian genocide and I am happy
that the Armenian community in my country is flourishing and prospering.
France was and is Armenia’s friend,” French ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny
told journalists today after he and other embassy officials laid a wreath at
the Genocide Memorial.
“We have come here to remember the Armenian victims of the first genocide
of the 20-th century. Armenians sustained the greatest damages during the
World War I. At this hour of sad remembrance Georgians are with their
Armenian brothers and sisters,” Georgian ambassador to Armenia Revaz
Gachechiladze said.
“It is a sad today, but it is also a happy day, because the Armenian
nation has proved its viability, contrary to the desire of the Ottoman
Empire. No one can destroy a nation, Armenians live, grow and are on the
path of registering new achievements,” an Armenia-American benefactor Vahakn
Hovnanian told reporters.

Paris-Normandie
23 avril 2005

La communauté mobilisée pour l’anniversaire du génocide ; A
Alfortville, les Arméniens se souviennent

par Bogatay Sophie

La communauté arménienne, très présente en Ile-de-France, célèbre le
90e anniversaire du génocide perpétré par les Turcs. La douleur reste
vivace.

Ils ont tranché la gorge de mon grand-père devant les yeux de son
propre père. 90 ans après le génocide, Ani Okhkian, professeur
d’arménien à Alfortville (Val-de-Marne), raconte avec colère le
terrible sort de sa famille.

7.000 arméniens vivent aujourd’hui dans cette ville qui borde Paris.
Une petite Arménie a pris corps autour de la discrète église
Saint-Paul et Saint-Pierre, btie en briques blanches en 1929 par les
premiers immigrés, quelques années après la fin des massacres qui ont
fait 1,5 million de morts selon Erevan, 300.000 à 500.000 pour
Ankara.

Une poignée de survivants

Dans le pavillon de Simon Okhkian, l’un des cinq frères d’Ani, la
télévision est branchée sur une chaîne arménienne. Le programme est
consacré exclusivement aux commémorations des 90 ans du génocide.

La famille Okhkian veut entretenir ses racines et le souvenir des
exactions commises par les Jeunes Turcs entre 1915 et 1916 en est un
des piliers. Il ne reste aujourd’hui qu’une poignée de survivants, se
désole Simon, un quinquagénaire fier de voir Armen, son fils de 5
ans, manier aussi bien le français que l’arménien.

Si la diaspora arménienne est unanime pour faire de la reconnaissance
du génocide un préalable indiscutable à l’entrée de la Turquie dans
l’Union européenne, certains y ajoutent d’autres conditions.

Sur l’un des murs des Okhkian, une grande carte montre ainsi les
contours de l’ancienne Arménie et celle d’aujourd’hui, ramenée à la
portion congrue après le partage de 1920 entre Turcs et Russes.

Ils attendent réparation

Toute cette partie doit revenir à l’Arménie, explique Simon en
désignant le sud-est de la Turquie d’aujourd’hui et d’où des milliers
d’Arméniens ont été déportés à partir de 1915.

Cette revendication territoriale accompagnera automatiquement la
reconnaissance du génocide par la Turquie, se persuade le père de
famille. Après seulement, la Turquie pourra rentrer dans l’Europe,
ajoute-t-il estimant que le travail de mémoire se fera grce à
l’ouverture des frontières.

Ce qu’il faut, c’est une véritable réhabilitation de l’histoire et
non pas seulement une reconnaissance opportuniste, soutient Hasmig
Nadirian Kevodian, directrice de la maison de la culture arménienne
dans la même ville.

Mme Nadirian, dont la grand-mère était la seule survivante d’une
famille de 75 personnes, évoque ces monastères devenus hôtels de
passe ou ces cimetières traversés par des routes ne menant nulle
part, autant de réparations qu’elle attend des Turcs. Les mères
turques devront aussi expliquer à leurs enfants ce qui s’est
réellement passé, conclut-elle.

Ani semble, elle, définitivement opposée à l’adhésion de la Turquie à
l’UE. Je n’ai plus confiance, dit la sexagénaire hantée par les
souvenirs d’horreur racontés par sa tante paternelle, la seule parmi
sept soeurs à être restée en vie. Les six autres ont été empoisonnées
par leur mère à l’arrivée des Turcs, raconte-t-elle, bouleversée.
Elle s’est ensuite donnée la mort.

LAWS WERE SIGNED

A1plus
| 13:35:33 | 20-04-2005 | Official |

Today Robert Kocharyan has signed the RA Laws on State Labor Inspectorate
and Combat against Terror.

On the same day he has also signed the Law on amending the RA
Administrative Violations Code.

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian Moms and Daughters
Team 813
Revlon Walk for Cancer

Contacts:
Eileen Keusseyan
Tel.: 818-404-5686
Email: [email protected]
Alice Chakrian
Tel.: 818-388-6734
Email: [email protected]

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2005

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum At Exposition Park

On Saturday, May 7th, join with thousands in the fight against women’s
cancers by participating with “ARMENIAN MOMS & DAUGHTERS” in a Walk
of Love in the 12th annual Revlon Run/Walk for Women.

It is the first time that we, Armenian moms and daughters, have
participated as a group in such a remarkable event. The Revlon
Run/Walk for Women raises vital funds for research into the cause and
cure of women’s cancers, as well as providing support to patients
surviving these diseases. To date, the Revlon Run/Walk has raised
nearly 32 million dollars. During 2005, it is estimated that more
than 212,900 new cases of breast cancer and more than 22,200 new
cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed. More than 98,200 women
will lose their life as a result of some form of women’s cancer.
We need your help to continue this fight against women’s cancers.

To be a part of this special day, you may register at
with a credit card. Please be sure you
indicate you are a part of team no. 813. If you do not have online
access, simply fill out the attached registration form. You may
send the form, stamped with our team number, along with your $25.00
registration fee directly to Race Central (see form for address), or
turn in the registration form and fee directly to Eileen Keusseyan,
(818) 404-5686, or Alice Chakrian (818) 388-6734, the Armenian Moms &
Daughters team co-captains. You may also pick up a registration form
at all Armenian schools and Armenian church offices.

If you are unable to attend the Revlon Run/Walk for Women, we hope
you will take an active role by sponsoring a participant in our team.
Your sponsorship is the key to furthering the fight against women’s
cancers.

Please join in the camaraderie by participating in this worthwhile
event, either by attending or by sponsoring a team member.

If you need additional registration forms or have any questions,
please call or contact any of the following individuals:

Alice Chakrian: (818) 388-6734: [email protected]

Eileen Keusseyan: (818) 404-5686: [email protected]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT and we hope to see you on May 7th!

ARMENIAN MOMS & DAUGHTERS
TEAM NO. 813