Author: Harutyunian Christine

ISRAELI SCHOLAR ASSAILS ISRAEL’S DENIAL OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Harut Sassounian

The California Courier
20/04/2010

An important international symposium on "Armenia-Turkey: How to
Normalize Relations," was held in Paris on April 14. It was organized
by the French Bureau of the Armenian Cause and the Armenian National
Committee of France.

The participants were: Dr. Yair Auron, Professor of History at
Open University, Israel; Dr. Israel Charny, Executive Director,
Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem; Ali Ertem, Turkish
historian and President of the Association to Combat Genocide, Germany;
Dogan Ozguden, Turkish journalist and President of the Foundation
"Info-Turk," Belgium; Dr. Alfred de Zayas, Prof. of International Law,
Geneva; Dr. Yves Ternon, historian, Paris (by video); Frederic Encel,
Political Scientist, Lecturer, Institute of Political Studies of Paris;
Giro Manoyan, spokesman of the Armenian Cause office of the ARF Bureau,
Armenia; and Harut Sassounian, Publisher of The California Courier,
Los Angeles.

Given the recent heated exchanges between Israeli and Turkish officials
and the upcoming discussion on the Armenian Genocide in the Knesset
on April 28, the audience paid particular attention to Prof.

Auron’s bold and candid remarks. He has been, for many years, a
staunch supporter of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and a
strong critic of its denial by the Israeli government.

Prof. Auron started his presentation by quoting from an article written
in 1918 by Shmuel Talkowsky, the secretary of Chaim Weitzmann, who
later became the first president of Israel. Talkowsky deplored the
"martyrdom" of Armenians and suggested that "a free and happy Armenia,
a free and happy Arabia, and a free and happy Jewish Palestine are
the three pillars on which will rest the future peace and welfare of
the Middle East." Dr. Auron expressed his regret that the policy of
the State of Israel today is far from the principles enunciated by
Talkowsky in 1918.

Criticizing Israel’s opposition to the acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide, Prof. Auron listed the following specific anti-Armenian
actions: "In 1978, a film on the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem was
banned from being screened. In 1982, the Israeli Government intervened
in an international Congress on the subject of the Shoah and Genocide,
pressing the organizers to eliminate lectures on the Armenian
Genocide. In 1989, Israel was involved in preventing mention of the
Armenian Genocide in an American calendar. In one way or another,
Israel and Jews were involved in the debate in the United States also
in 1985, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2007, and 2010. In 1990, the showing of
‘Armenian Journey,’ a TV film produced in the U.S., was banned."

Prof. Auron further related that on April 24, 2000, when Yossi
Sarid, Israel’s Minister of Education, suggested the inclusion of
the Armenian Genocide in high school curricula, Israel’s government
rejected the idea.

A year later, on April 10, 2001, the then Foreign Minister (now
President) of Israel Shimon Peres was quoted as stating: "We regret
attempts to create a similarity between the Holocaust and the Armenian
allegations. Nothing similar to the Holocaust occurred. It is a
tragedy, but not a genocide." Reminding his audience that Israel’s
Ambassador to Armenia Rivka Cohen made similar denialist remarks in
February 2002, Prof. Auron considered these statements "as Israel’s
escalation from passive to active denial, from moderate denial to
hard-line denial." He said that an Armenian friend "rightly" told him:
"I do not know of any enlightened politician in a democratic state that
has ever made remarks such as these; you, the Jews, of all people!"

Prof. Auron also spoke about discussions held in the Israeli Parliament
on the Armenian Genocide in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Each time, the
Israeli government opposed this issue. He expected a similar rejection
later this month when the issue is raised in Knesset once again.

Prof. Auron specifically pointed out the double-standard practiced by
Israel: "The State of Israel continues to struggle against Holocaust
denial on one hand, but participates in the denial of another genocide
on the other. This most likely will damage the struggle against
Holocaust denial in the future. One might view this attitude as a
moral failure. We have to remember that moral claims can have influence
only if they are consistent…. Everyone would agree that Israel has
no right to bargain with the memory of the Holocaust. But, even more,
it has no right – by no means, in any circumstance, and much less so
than any other country – to bargain with the memory f another victim
group. And yet Israel did just that with the Armenian Genocide. Israel
is contributing to the process of genocide denial and by doing so,
it also betrays the memory and the legacy of the Holocaust."

The Armenian Genocide has been almost universally acknowledged
by dozens of countries, international organizations and prominent
scholars. Armenians do not need to beg Israel to recognize it. By
denying the Armenian Genocide, Israel morally undermines its own
credibility and standing in the world!

THE ARMENIAN NATION’S FRIEND PRIZE GOES TO VLADIMIR JIRINOVSKY

Aysor
April 19 2010
Armenia

Accepting The Armenian Nation’s Friend Prize at the Tashir-2010
ceremony, Chairman of the Russian Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir
Jirinovsky said: "It’s very nice to be awarded with the Prize;
however, Turks will immediately respond to this and will award me
with The Turkish Nation’s Enemy Prize, so then I’ll have to travel
to Turkey to accept it."

"I am perfectly aware of the importance of the April 24 Day to the
Armenian nation; I perfectly aware that we still live in the world
where stomach is more important than thoughts, and where kerosene
is more important than honor and dignity; but anyway we will step
by step move towards reaching the common understanding and justice,
and those who caused enormous harm to the Armenian people, will
have to recognize and acknowledge the happenings, that took place 95
years ago," he said referring the 1915 Genocide, committed by Turks
against Armenians early in the 20th century, resulting in more than
1,5 million deaths among the civil population of Armenian origin.

"Though it’s impossible to bring all the killed people back to lives,
even if Turks acknowledge their crimes and pay compensations and
surrender territories," added Jirinovsky.

HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN SENDS MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION TO SYRIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MAHMUD AL-ABRASH

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 19, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Speaker of RA National Assembly
Hovik Abrahamian sent a message of congratulation to the Speaker of
the Syrian parliament Mahmud al-Abrash.

The text of the message was submitted to NT by the press service of
the RA National Assembly. It reads:

"On behalf of the Republic of Armenia and myself, I cordially
congratulate you, all our colleagues and the people of Syria on the
occasion of Independence Day. I am convinced that the current friendly
relations between Armenia and Syria and the close interparliamentary
ties will develop and expand in the name of prosperity of our peoples".

What Happened in 1915, Constituted Genocide: John McCain

17:35 – 17.04.10

US former presidential nominee Republican Senator John McCain
reiterated his view on what happened in the waning days of the Ottoman
Empire, saying it constituted genocide.

`For years the U.S. and Turkey have been friends and allies. Turks
fought next to U.S. troops in many wars and I hope we will do our
utmost to maintain relations,’ said McCain in an interview with Voice
of America radio station, adding that the Armenian Genocide should not
become an long-lasting problem in Turkish-Armenian relations.

`I am confident that what happened, constituted genocide, but I say
now that it was orchestrated in other times and under another
government. This should be considered by all parties,’ said McCain.

Tert.am

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DISMISSES LUXURY TAX BILL PRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT MP VIKTOR DALLAKYAN

ArmInfo
2010-04-15 16:56:00

ArmInfo. During its meeting today the Government of Armenia dismissed
the luxury tax bill presented by independent MP Viktor Dallakyan.

Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said that he is concerned
over the question raised by Dallakyan. "Since we have the unsolved
problem of poverty and social polarization, it is clear that people
earning big money should pay more taxes," the Premier said. However,
he was not satisfied with the mechanisms proposed by Dallakyan. He said
that the Government, jointly with the Ministry of Finance and based
on the international experience, should find effective mechanisms for
the tax authorities. "From technical point of view this document does
not meet our requirements," Sargsyan said.

Dallakyan’s bill qualifies as "luxury" large land plots, large
apartments and mansions, expensive cars, helicopters, planes, yachts,
big sums of money, securities, foreign exchange and culturally valuable
artworks. The bill says that the tax should be paid by both residents
and non-residents living in Armenia – both physical and legal entities.

National Assembly (Parliament.am)
April 14 2010
Armenia

Meetings of RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan Continue in Lebanon On April
12 in the morning the RA National Assembly Speaker had a meeting with
the Minister of Foreign Minister and Emigrants of Lebanon Ali Shami.

Noting that the Armenians play a major role in the development of
Lebanon the Foreign Minister said that they always wanted to develop
relations in the political, economic and cultural spheres. And the
embassies of the two countries have a major role.

Hovik Abrahamyan noted that such visits promote the strengthening of
ties between the two countries and peoples. He considered necessary
the activation of the relations in the international structures. RA
NA Speaker especially highlighted the activation of the parliamentary
diplomacy.

The sides also touched upon the Armenian-Turkish relations and NK
issue. RA NA Speaker reiterated Armenia’s willingness to establish
relations with Turkey without preconditions. Meanwhile the latter
delays the ratification of the protocols, which was signed in Zurich,
by the parliament.

RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the NK conflict should
be regulated in peaceful way within the framework of OSCE Minsk
Group. He considered very important the recognition of the right
of self-determination of the Nagorno Karabakh people. In Ali Shami’s
words, they agree that the issue will be regulated within the framework
of OSCE Minsk Group.

After the meeting with the Lebanese Minister the NA Speaker left for
Baabda, where he met the President of Lebanon, General Michel Suleiman
in the residence of the President of Lebanon.

Expressing his gratitude for reception Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the
bilateral warm relations and fraternal attitude to our compatriots.

The interlocutors touched upon the Armenian-Lebanese bilateral
relations, regional problems. Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish
relations, Hovik Abrahamyan considered unacceptable and condemnable
that Turkey connects their ratification with NK issue. In the words
of RA NA Speaker, Armenia wants to have friendly relations with
its neighbourr, but they must not be at the expense of our people’s
dignity.

The President of Lebanon considered desirable the normalization of
relations with the neighbours in diplomatic way. In his words, Lebanon
realizes the pain, to which lead the deportations and genocides. He
considered unacceptable the violation of the rights of small states and
nations. Michel Suleiman highlighted the cooperation between Armenia
and Lebanon in the international structures for the solution of the
issue of peace in the Near East and the Armenian Cause.

RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan noted the right of the
self-determination of every nation should be protected. In the process
of the NK conflict settlement the most important thing is the right of
the Nagorno Karabakh self-determination and the issue of the NK status:
the Nagorno Karabakh can never be in the composition of Azerbaijan. In
the remaining issues Armenia can go to compromises.

RA NA Speaker and the President of Lebanon also emphasized the
activation of ties between the governments of the two countries. In
particular, the spheres of trade and tourism were noted.

During the meeting of RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan and the Prime
Lebanese Minister Saad Hariri the Armenian-Lebanese economic relations
were more thoroughly discussed. Hovik Abrahamyan considered necessary
the expansion of economic ties, noting that as Speaker of Parliament
he would do his best for its development. He proposed to hold
Armenian-Lebanese business forum within the framework of the Lebanese
Prime Minister’s visit in September of this year. The Lebanese Prime
Minister noted that the businessmen of Armenia and Lebanon are very
active but we should connect them with each other. The sides also
discussed the issue of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Saad Hariri
noted that for the improvement of those relations the steps taken by
Armenia were aimed at ensuring security and stability in the region.

After the meeting with Prime Minister RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
visited the late martyred Prime Minister Hariri’s tomb and laid
a wreath.

Later the delegation by RA NA Speaker left for Historical Baalbek,
where he was met by the Mayor and had a short meeting.

On the evening of April 12 the delegation led by Hovik Abrahamyan
visited Aynjar, which is resided with Armenians. He laid a wreath
at the monument erected in memory of those who died in Musa Dagh,
after that he had a meeting with our compatriots.

PRESIDENT OF FORUM OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF EUROPE ADDRESSED TO THE USA PRESIDENT ASKING TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 14, 2010
BRATISLAVA

BRATISLAVA, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. President of Forum
of Armenian Associations of Europe Ashot Grigorian disposed to Noyan
Tapan a text of the open letter addressed to the USA President Barack
Obama which runs as follows: "His Excellency, Mr. President Barack
Obama, on behalf of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe I
would like to convey our utmost appreciation for your using the words
"Mets Yeghern" on April 24th last year. Whilst that was a step forward,
we turn to you again this year with the plea to use the international
term "Genocide" in your speech and allow the US Congress to pass the
Resolution 252 adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier
this year. Mr. President, I appeal to you with the request that you
honor the worldwide Armenian Diaspora’s sufferings related to Turkey’s
ignorance of the Armenian Genocide, its falsification of justice,
its sinning against the truth and that you recognize the Armenian
Genocide as a fact. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide will make
Turkey honor the worldwide international opinion and establish good
relations with its important neighbour, Armenia.

Please be assured that this is the most realistic and just path to
solving the Armenian-Turkish relationship."

Ashot Grigorian attacked with the letter addressed to Barack Obama in
April 2009 signed by a number of significant European figures. Several
eminent figures put their signature under the letter: Ashot Grigorian
– President of Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, (Slovakia)
Marios Garoyian – President of the House of Representatives, Republic
of Cyprus Charles Aznavour – Singer, Public Activist (France) Hilda
Tchoboian – President of European-Armenian Federation for Justice
and Democracy (France) Sergey Khachatryan – Violinist (Germany)
Arthur Abraham – World Champion in Boxing (Germany) Levon Aronian –
Chess Grandmaster (Germany).

The letter runs as follows:

"In the name of the representatives of the Armenian communities in
Europe please allow us to express our deepest and utmost gratitude
for your stance on the Armenian Genocide during your pre-election
campaign. We feel confident that your continuous efforts will
contribute to the adoption of the resolution on the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by the US Congress. Honorable President, Armenian
communities have hitherto contributed to the adoption of similar
resolutions by the Parliaments of a number of European countries
in faith that this will aid to the development of Turkish-Armenian
relations and their neighborly cooperation. By helping Turkey
to reconcile with its past and enhance working relations with its
neighboring country, we will naturally contribute to the development
of Turkey’s democracy and create an opportunity for it to earn its
right for its future integration into the European Union. The adoption
of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide
by the United States will greatly contribute to this historical
process and will help the Turkish authorities to cross "Rubicon"
and rid themselves of the heavy burden inherited from their past."

"Honorable President, we eagerly await your speech on April 24 in
faith and hope and we express our admiration and deepest gratitude
for your newly initiated efforts", it was said in the last year’s
open letter addressed to the USA President.

S. SARKISSIAN RENCONTRE R.T. ERDOGAN A WASHINGTON
Gari

armenews
mardi13 avril 2010

Comme il en avait fait la proposition la semaine dernière via un
emissaire depeche a Erevan, le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip
Erdogan a rencontre le president armenien Serge Sarkissian lundi 12
avril au matin en marge du sommet sur la securite nucleaire organisee
a Washington par le president Barack Obama. Le ministre armenien
des affaires etrangères Edouard Nalbandian et le directeur adjoint
du cabinet du president armenien, Viken Sarkissian, ont ete rejoints
par le ministre turc des affaires etrangères Ahmet Davutoðlu et son
sous-secretaire Feridun Sinirlioglu, lors de la reunion. Aucune
information n’a filtre concernant la teneur des discussions, qui
n’ont ete d’ailleurs suivies d’aucune declaration officielle.

Par ailleurs, le president Sarkisian devait profiter de sa visite
a Washington pour se rendre au Monument de Woodrow Wilson où il
assistait a une brève ceremonie en hommage de l’ancien president
americain considere comme un ami de la nation armenienne pour l’avoir
soutenue durant et après l’epreuve douloureuse du genocide de 1915. Le
president armenien devait deposer une gerbe au pied de sa statue,
où il rencontrait egalement des survivants du genocide. Le president
Woodrow Wilson a joue un rôle determinant dans l’elaboration du traite
de Sèvres signe le 10 août 1920 entre les dirigeants de l’Empire
ottoman a l’agonie et les puissances victorieuses. Ce traite,
qui reconnaissait un Etat armenien independant s’etendant sur une
superficie dix fois superieure a celle de l’Armenie actuelle, car
englobant trois provinces armeniennes de l’Empire ottoman (Erzeroum,
Bitlis, Van, avec une facade maritime sur la Mer Noire, a Trabzon)
donnera helas de faux espoirs a l’Etat armenien exsangue, en voie de
bolchevisation et menacee par les troupes de l’officier nationaliste
et republicain turc Mustapha Kemal, qui s’imposaient en Asie mineure.

Les frontières de l’Armenie tracees par le president Wilson telles
qu’elles avaient ete consignees dans le traite de Sèvres ne seront
donc jamais respectees, le traite ne devant jamais etre ratifie.

L’Armenie devenait bolchevique quelques mois après la signature du
traite de Sèvres, dont les termes seront annules par le traite de
Lausanne de 1923.

ARMENIA WEIGHTLIFTING COACH PLEASED WITH HIS TEAM

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 13, 2010 – 13:47 AMT 08:47 GMT

Six Armenian weightlifters won 7 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze medals
at the European Weightlifting Championships, which finished in Minsk,
Belarus, on April 11.

"I am happy and proud. Our team proved most efficient. it is wonderful
when the results surpass expectations," coach Ashot Mkhitaryan told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

He also informed that after a short rest the weightlifters will start
training for the World Championships to be held in Turkey in September.

Hurriyet, Turkey
April 9 2010

The nuclear security summit and Namık Tan resumes his post

Friday, April 9, 2010
ILHAN TANIR

U.S. President Obama will be hosting an unprecedented nuclear security
summit in Washington on April 12 and 13. Obama, after passing health
care reform in Congress, received a big boost in his standing. And
after this historic achievement, he now wants to go on a roll by
building international consensus on a variety of nuclear
non-proliferation issues, as well as he is hoping to find some
solidarity among the international actors against Iran’s misbehavior.

In the last couple of weeks, the Obama administration has signed a new
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, with the Russians to cut
both countries’ nuclear arsenals by one-third.

The Obama administration also released its New Nuclear Posture Review,
or NPR, last Tuesday, and declared to the world that he is radically
narrowing down the conditions under which the U.S. could use nuclear
weapons.

Obama spelled out his `nuclear dream’ almost a year ago in Prague for
the first time. In that speech, Obama said he would work to reduce the
role of nuclear weapons in the U.S.’s National Security Policy and
eventually work to fully eliminate nuclear weapons from the face of
the Earth, even though he will probably not see such a goal realized
in his life.

In both of these cases, START and NPR, Obama has been criticized by
the left and right on the domestic political spectrum. The liberals
think that already Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama did not go far
enough (such as Michael Levi). And the conservatives think that Obama
is weakening the country by putting too many constraints on its
biggest deterrence policy (like Tunku Varadarajan.)

On the other hand, Obama is realistic enough to see that he needs
two-thirds of a majority of the Senate to ratify international
treaties such as START, and it means that as long as he does not
secure some of the Republican support, however big the promises he
wishes to extend to world, he will end up failing at home.

The nuclear security summit that will start on Monday also stems from
another goal that was set in Prague a year ago by Obama, which was to
do more to prevent nuclear arsenals from falling into the hands of
non-state actors.

Turkey will be attending the summit as well, but not because it has
much to say on the topic, but because it sits at the U.N. Security
Council and its proximity to Iran.

While the Turkish Prime Minister visibly increased his anti-sanctions
posture recently, according to the latest reports, China and Russia
have been moving slowly to support some kind of sanctions against
Iran. The final version of the sanctions will not be tough or as
`biting’ as America or more importantly like Israel wishes to see,
according to experts. Still it looks like we are headed to a voting
day at the U.N. Security Council this spring.

Will there be a bilateral meeting?

While it took some time for the prime minister of Turkey, Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an, to make his decision to participate in the summit, following
this decision to visit, the Turkish side expected to secure a
`bilateral’ meeting with Obama. When the White House Press Secretary
Robert Gibbs announced that Obama would have a one-to-one meeting with
the president of Armenia, Serge Sarkisian, but not with ErdoÄ?an, it
felt like another cold shower for the Turkish delegation that is
gearing up to leave for Washington.

I reached a senior White House official after Gibbs announced that
there would be no meeting bilaterally or trilaterally with Turkey. The
senior official, who wanted to stay anonymous, confirmed the
no-meeting news but added that "[they] expect the president will have
a chance to talk with PM ErdoÄ?an as they will be seated next to each
other at one of the events."

Namik Tan, who was recalled after the resolution of "genocide" passage
at the key House Committee last month, returned to Washington Tuesday
night, and had some meetings at the White House the next day.

Mr. Tan, during his meeting in the White House, along with other
issues, raised the issue of `bilateral’ meetings as well, but the
reaction he received from the White House was the same reaction that I
received from the senior White House official a day before.

Though I must add, the Turkish diplomats believe that there will be a
`bilateral’ meeting between Obama and ErdoÄ?an at the end, even though
the current ambiguity is a bulky annoyance.

The meeting between the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and Armenian
leader Sarkisian is already agreed on, but still the parties are
working on the details.

ErdoÄ?an recently sent his special envoy, Mr. Feridun Sinirlioglu, to
Erivan to deliver a letter. According to people who know the
developments first hand, the `meetings in Erivan went well."

The Turkish administration also believes that "there are some hopeful
signs in terms of reaching a some kind of understanding over the
Karabakh issue" with Armenia. The reaction from Armenians is not the
same. Instead, the Armenian side insists that the Karabakh issue was
not even addressed before and during the signing of protocols last
year, according to daily Radical.

Different Armenian officials have constantly given the same message
with the backing of the U.S. and many other European countries in
recent months, which is that they already did enough work for the
protocols and rest is up to the Turkish administration. "It is
impossible to ratify protocols before April 24," says the Turkish
side, while the Armenian diaspora is increasing pressure and lobbying
the White House in run up to the April 24.

`Nuclear option’ for genocide?

>From various discussions in circles in Washington recently, there is
another option being implied to handle the issue of `genocide’ in
Turkey. I would call this `thinking’ the `nuclear option’ and it
basically suggests Turkey consider what would happen if it changes its
official view of the 1915 events, which it does not see as genocide
currently. This option is not valid before the 24 April apparently,
but can be put into perspective in times to come.

Omer Taspinar, director of the Turkey Program at the Brookings
Institution, a Washington based think tank, gave one of the most
`straight’ talks of this option in Washington at the Gulenist Rumi
Forum last week. Taspinar suggested that Turkey has not compromised
yet as Armenia did during the `normalization process.’ According to
Taspinar, Turkey should come to terms with regarding to the events of
1915 as well.

TaÅ?pınar also predicted in a phone conversation later on that, "there
is a 99 percent chance that, this year like the last year, President
Obama will cite the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia
and avoid using the word of genocide while he will give his annual
Armenian Remembrance Day statement on April 24."