Author: Kamalian Hagop

COMMEMORATION EVENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE HELD IN HOLLAND

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 16, 2009
AMSTERDAM

Commemoration of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
is organised by the 24 April Committee of the Federation of Armenian
Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON).

Lectures will be given by experts from a variety of fields including
Dr. Ton Zwaan, researcher at the Centre for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies and professor at the University of Amsterdam, Mr. Harry van
Bommel, member of Socialist Party faction in the Dutch Parliament,
Prof. Dr. Mihran Dabag, director of the Institute for Diaspora and
Genocide Studies at Ruhr University in Bochum in Germany, Mr. Recep
Marasli, writer and poet, Mr.

Osman Koker, publicist, Mr Viguen Tchitetchian, Ambassador of Armenia
to Belgium and Mr Ronny Naftaniel, director of Centre for Information
and Documentation on Israel (CIDI).

The event will also include artistic interludes such as performances
by Nicolai Romashuk Jr., Ruzan Hakobyan and Hambardzum Sahakyan.

During the commemoration particular attention will be paid to the
100th anniversary of Adana massacre by Ottoman Turks. Exhibition
Adana: Past and Present will be organized with indication of Armenian
buildings and institutions, which have been perished as a result of
the Armenian Genocide.

A commemoration event will be also organized in Assen on 24 April
2009. The local community will lay wreaths at the Armenian monument
a Commemorative Ceremony will take place.

MUSEUM OPENS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ONLINE EXHIBITION

HULIQ
eum-opens-armenian-genocide-online-exhibition
Apri l 15 2009
SC

How does anyone deny the existence of a systematic killings of the
Armenians as a genocide in the early 20th century after looking these
documents presented online by the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute
on the occasion of Adana Massacres of 1909.

The Adana Massacre was the second series of large-scale massacres
of Armenians to break out in the Ottoman Empire. The atrocities
committed in the province of Adana in April 1909 coincided with
the counter-revolution staged by supporters of Sultan Abdul Hamid
(Abdul-Hamid) II (1876-1909) who had been forced to restore the Ottoman
Constitution as a result of the 1908 Young Turk Revolution led by
the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP). A prosperous region on
the Mediterranean coast encompassing the old principality of Cilicia,
once an independent Armenian state between the eleventh and fourteenth
centuries, the province of Adana had been spared the 1890s massacres.

The disturbances were most severe in the city of Adana where a reported
4,437 Armenian dwellings were torched, resulting in the razing of
nearly half the town and prompting some to describe the resulting
inferno as a "holocaust." The outbreaks spread throughout the district
and an estimated 30,000 Armenians were reported killed. While attempts
at resistance in Adana proved futile, and Armenians in smaller
outlying villages were brutally slaughtered, two towns inhabited
mostly by Armenians organized a successful defense. Hadjin (Hajen
in Armenian) in the Cilician Mountains withstood a siege, while the
10,000 Armenians of Dortyol (Chorkmarzban in Armenian) held off 7,000
Turks who had surrounded their town and cut off its water supply.

The intensity of the carnage prompted the government to open
an investigation, but the failure to prosecute dashed Armenian
expectations of liberal reforms by the new regime. The reactionary
elements of the Ottoman Empire were suspected of instigating the
massacres to discredit the CUP, but the Young Turks were also
implicated. The Adana Massacre exposed the twin composition of the
Young Turk Movement, which consisted of both liberal and radical
nationalist elements. It also demonstrated the convergent interests
of the nationalists with the reactionary and conservative elements
of Ottoman state in their policies toward a progressive-minded
minority. For the Young Turks, the Adana Massacre proved a rehearsal
for gauging the depth of Turkish animosity in the Ottoman Empire toward
Christian minorities and for testing their skills in marshaling those
forces for political ends. Despite the restoration of a constitutional
government, the specter of mass violence was reintroduced as a
mechanism of state power.

Two commissions were set up after the massacres. One of them was
formed by the Ottoman Parliament (members of the commission were
Hayk Papikyan, Harutyun Mostichyan, Yusuf Kemal, Fayid Bey), the
second was formed by the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. The
commissions investigated the causes and consequences of massacres and
submitted the official reports. In those reports the Governor Jevad
Bey, the Commander Mustafa Remzi Pasha and the local authorities
that implemented their orders at the local levels, were mentioned
as responsible for massacres. The investigations revealed that more
than 30.000 Armenians fell victim to massacres. The total damage of
the Armenians was equal to 20 million Turkish Liras. 24 churches, 16
schools, 232 houses, 30 hotels, 2 plants, 1429 cottages, 253 farms,
523 shops, 23 mills and many other public buildings were burnt.

The Young Turks launched formal investigation trying to evade the
responsibility for the massacres. However the organizers and the
figures responsible for the massacres remained unpunished. The original
photos included in the on line exhibition are from the recently found
collection comprising more than 70 mostlyunpublished pictures taken
in April and May of 1909 in Adana and it’s contiguous districts.

Adapted from: ‘Adana Massacre’ by Rouben Paul Adalian ‘Encyclopedia
of genocide’

OPENING BORDER BETWEEN TURKEY, ARMENIA MEANS RECOGNIZING OCCUPATION: BAYKAL

Xinhua General News Service
April 13, 2009 Monday
China

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party Leader Deniz
Baykal warned the government against making a very serious mistake
on the issue of re-opening the border with Armenia, local Daily News
reported on Monday.

As tensions mount between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Baykal told reporters
before his party’s meeting Saturday, "If the border is opened, the
occupation (of Upper Karabakh) will have been safeguarded."

The Upper Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been
going on for a long time. Both Azerbaijani leaders and public opinion
have expressed serious concerns over the possibility of the border
between Turkey and Armenia being re-opened.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev refused to attend the Alliance of
Civilizations summit in Istanbul earlier this month, a move that was
seen as a protest against the pending border move.

"Turkey closed its border with Armenia in protest of the occupation
of Azerbaijan," said Baykal, adding, "this has nothing to do with
historical conflict. The issue on the opening of the border can only
be considered with the occupation of Azerbaijan."

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan
during its conflict with Armenia over the Upper Karabakh region.

On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan confirmed in Istanbul
that his country has held talks with Armenia for months to normalize
ties.

"We are working on a comprehensive solution and our talks are going
well. We have made significant progress so far and both parties have
declared satisfaction over the process several times, " said Babacan.

U.S. President Barack Obama said during his visit in Ankara last
Monday that he was encouraged by the dialogues between Turkey and
Armenia aimed to improve ties.

He said that as Turkey and Armenia are having "serious negotiations"
that could bear fruit quickly, "I will be as encouraging as possible,"
adding the world should also encourage them.

Armenians claim that more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in
a systematic genocide in the hands of the Ottomans during World War
I before modern Turkey was born in 1923.

But Turkey insists the Armenians were victims of widespread chaos
and governmental breakdown as the 600-year-old empire collapsed in
the years before 1923.

JOINT CONFERENCE AT END OF VISIT

A1+
02:07 pm | April 14, 2009

Official

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan paid a two-day official visit to Iran
at the invitation of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad on April
13. This is Sargsyan’s first visit to Iran. The behind-closed-doors
talks between Sargsyan and Ahmadinezhad took place after Sargsyan
arrived at the "Mehrabad" airport after which the talks were held in
a wide format. After the arrival of the president at the "Mehrabad"
airport

As the presidential press service reports, Serzh Sargsyan underscored
that Armenia attaches special importance to the dynamic broadening
of relations with Iran and viewed Iran as a trusted and key
neighbor. Mahmud Ahmadinezhad considered the deepening of relations
with Armenia as one of the most important priorities of the foreign
policy.

Both presidents attached importance to the role of the Armenian
community of Iran in the strengthening of relations with Iran. The
sides discussed the deepening of economic ties, increase in trade,
construction of the Iran-Armenia railway, construction of the
hydroelectric stations on the Arax river coast, and issues concerning
programs in the energy, transportation and economic spheres.

With the request of Mahmud Ahmadinezhad Serzh Sargsyan reported
on the latest developments of the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement
and the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The
interlocutors attached importance to the peaceful settlement of all
issues. President Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude to Iran for its
balanced position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On the same day RA President Serzh Sargsyan met with Chairman of the
Mejlis of Iran Ali Larijan. Last night Mahmud Ahmadinezhad served
an official dinner in honor of President of the Republic of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan.

Today Serzh Sargsyan will meet with spiritual leader of the Islamic
Republic of Iran Ayatolla Seyed Ali Khamanei and Secretary of the
Supreme Security Council Said Jalili, lay flowers in front of the
tombstone of founding leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatolla
Khomeini. After the signing of documents in a number of fields,
Serzh Sargsyan and Mahmud Ahmadinezhad will hold a joint press
conference. Serzh Sargsyan’s first official visit to Iran will end
with the meeting with the Armenian community of Iran at the "Ararat"
sport/culture complex.

TURKISH DEPUTY: `BORDER CLOSED UNLESS NKR ISSUE IS REGULATED’

11:47 10/04/2009
Source: Panorama.am

`It is impossible to open the closed border with Armenia unless a
significant point for Turkey, the issue of Nagorno Karabakh is not
regulated,’ announced Shenol Bal from `National Movement’ oppositional
party in Turkey. According to him the Turkish Government has not yet
answered to the opposition’s requests regarding the opening of the
border. The oppositional representative has also mentioned that a
group of Azerbaijani deputies arrive in Turkey to discuss the issue
next week.

ANKARA WILL SOOTH BAKU’S CONCERNS ON THE PROBABILITY ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER OPENING

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.04.2009 21:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s parliament speaker Koksal Toptan decided
to send delegation to Azerbaijan. The delegation headed by Mustafa
Kabakci, chairman of the Azerbaijan friendship group at the Turkey’s
parliament, Konya-based member of the parliament from the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP), will visit Azerbaijan next
week. The Turkish parliamentarians will meet with their Azerbaijani
counterparts, representatives of non-governmental organizations and
media. Kabakci said they would stress that Turkey’s policy toward
Azerbaijan was not changed, APA reported

"HEALTH SERVICE AND PHARMACY EXPO 2009" OPENS IN ARMENIA
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
10.04.2009 15:15

Logos EXPO Center of Armenia and the Ministry of Health organized the
"Health Service and Pharmacy EXPO 2009" 8th international specialized
exhibition at the Moscow House cultural and business center from
April 10 to 13. Both local and foreign producers participate in
the exhibition.

Conveying the message of the Minister of health of the Republic of
Armenia Harutyun Kushkyan, the Deputy Minister of Health Tatul Hakobyan
said at the opening ceremony: "This exhibition is a good opportunity
for companies and specialists to get familiarized with the achievements
of contemporary health service and pharmacy presented by companies
from Armenia, Russia, Japan, Georgia, Belarus and Spain. Therefore,
I call on medical institutions and specialists to actively participate
in the works of the exhibition.

IT SIMPLY CAN’T BE

A1+
08:54 pm | April 09, 2009

Society

The situation at Northern Avenue is as tense as it was
yesterday. Police officers are not allowing citizens to enter the
avenue and take a stroll.

According to an "A1+" correspondent, there are more police officers
than citizens. The police have surrounded citizens and are pushing
them as far away from the avenue as possible.

The Kentron police have arrested two citizens Ashot Tadevosyan and
Mushegh Harutyunyan. Ashot Tadevosyan, a former police officer himself,
told "A1+" that police officers applied force when arresting him.

KARABAKH WILL NEVER BE INDEPENDENT – PRESIDENT ALIYEV

Interfax
April 7 2009
Russia

Nagorno Karabakh will never gain independence, Azerbaijan President
Ilham Aliyev said.

"We hope that Armenia will finally have to put up with reality, and
the Karabakh conflict will be resolved," Aliyev said at a meeting of
the Azerbaijan Security Council on Monday.

"We are supporting it and we have demonstrated our constructiveness
and have proved our commitment to peaceful negotiations for 15 years
now, since the cease-fire was reached," the president added.

However, "the opponent must demonstrate constructiveness as well,"
he said.

"It should know that Nagorno Karabakh will never gain independence,
the international community will never recognize Nagorno Karabakh as
an independent state, and the Azeri people and the Azeri state will
never put up with this policy of occupation and ethnic cleansing,"
the president said.

TURKISH HISTORY LESSON

The Boston Herald
April 7, 2009 Tuesday
ALL EDITIONS

During the 2008 presidential campaign, candidate Barack Obama said,
"The Armenian genocide is not an allegation," but rather "a widely
documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence."

Yesterday as President Obama stood before the Turkish parliament –
which largely sat in stony silence – he said, "Human endeavor is by
its nature imperfect. History is often tragic, but unresolved, it
can be a heavy weight. Each country must work through its past. And
reckoning with the past can help us seize a better future.

"I know there’s strong views in this chamber about the terrible
events of 1915 . . . And the best way forward for the Turkish and
Armenian people is a process that works through the past in a way
that is honest, open and constructive."

The word "genocide" did not cross his lips during his visit to Turkey
even as he called for an "honest, open" exploration of the past. Points
at least for raising the issue; points off for burying the "g-word."