Author: Madatian Greg

23/02/2004- ANKARA ET LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Analyse/opinion par Yves TERNON, historien.
Le Figaro – 20/04/2004

Au sommet de Copenhague, en 2002, l’Union européenne a pris rendez-vous en
décembre 2004 pour l’ouverture de négociations sur la candidature de la
Turquie. Le délai est court et il est occupé par une offensive médiatique du
gouvernement turc qui laisse à entendre que la Turquie, ayant rempli les
conditions requises, est prête à entrer dans l’Europe. En fait, le débat est
ouvert et chacun, opposant ou partisan à cette entrée, de présenter ses
arguments.

A Copenhague, la Turquie a été invitée à remplir les critères définis en
1993, en particulier à respecter les droits de l’homme et les minorités et à
relever son économie. La condition posée est le respect de tous les
critères, non seulement dans la lettre mais aussi dans l’esprit. Plusieurs
membres de l’Union semblent se satisfaire de quelques avancées. La
suppression de la peine de mort, des concessions faites sur le papier à la
minorité kurde mais non appliquée sur le terrain et surtout le règlement de
la question de Chypre seraient des preuves suffisantes de la bonne volonté
de la Turquie.

Dans toutes ces analyses, on escamote un point fondamental, qui figure
pourtant dans la résolution en quinze points adoptée le 18 juin 1987 par le
Parlement européen. Celle-ci subordonnait l’admission de la Turquie dans la
Communauté européenne à plusieurs conditions précises, dont la
reconnaissance du génocide arménien. Dix-sept ans après, cette résolution
n’a pas été appliquée. L’obligation faite à la Turquie est restée sans
effet. Elle garde cependant tout son sens. Le 26 février 2004, le rapport du
député suédois Per Gahrton, adopté par le Parlement européen, réitère sa
position «telle qu’énoncée dans sa résolution du 18 juin 1987». Il demande
donc au gouvernement turc de reconnaître le génocide arménien. Ce ne sont là
cependant que des recommandations et le Parlement européen ne dispose
d’aucun pouvoir de décision sur les négociations d’adhésion d’un État à
l’Union. Les députés n’interviennent qu’au terme du processus pour ratifier
l’adhésion ou y apporter leur veto, mais il est alors bien tard. La décision
d’ouvrir les négociations dépend des chefs d’État et de gouvernement
européens, dont certains s’expriment déjà ouvertement en faveur de la
candidature turque.

Après l’entrée, le 1er mai, des dix nouveaux membres, le dossier turc
deviendra la plus important de l’agenda européen. Il apparaît donc
nécessaire, aujourd’hui, à l’occasion de la dernière commémoration du 24
avril 1915 avant le rendez-vous de décembre, de lancer un ultime appel à la
conscience de l’Europe et de lui rappeler la signification du mot
«génocide». La destruction planifiée des deux tiers des Arméniens de
l’Empire ottoman en 1915 et 1916, un meurtre de masse planifié par le comité
central du parti union et progrès, ne fut pas un événement mineur.

Les faits sont là. En 1915 et 1916, les Arméniens de l’Empire ottoman ont
été victimes d’un génocide. Sous le prétexte fallacieux d’une trahison et
d’un complot, le Comité union et progrès a décapité l’élite arménienne de
Constantinople, le 24 avril 1915, puis effacé toute présence arménienne dans
les provinces d’Anatolie orientale, par le massacre sur place des hommes et
la déportation des femmes, des enfants et des vieillards. Cette déportation
n’était qu’un des moyens de la destruction: les convois ont été décimés, les
déportés tués ou enlevés. Dans un second temps, de juillet 1915 à décembre
1916, le reste de l’Empire ottoman a été vidé de sa population arménienne, à
l’exception des Arméniens demeurant à Smyrne et à Constantinople. La plupart
des déportés ont été mis à mort au terme d’un long exode de camp en camp
jusqu’aux déserts de Mésopotamie. Pendant vingt mois, les Arméniens n’ont
plus eu le droit de vivre dans l’Empire ottoman. Les témoins ont, par
centaines, rapporté les faits. Des procès ont établi la responsabilité du
gouvernement et des milices de l’Organisation spéciale.

Depuis, les travaux des historiens ont établi, au-delà d’un doute
raisonnable, les preuves du génocide et, en particulier, de l’intention
criminelle des dirigeants turcs de l’époque. La question arménienne est
restée, même après sa solution finale, une priorité pour la Turquie. Toute
référence à l’Arménie disparaît du traité de paix signé à Lausanne en 1923
et il fallut la création d’un droit pénal international entre 1945 et 1948
pour que la Turquie soit invitée à rendre des comptes sur ce génocide
qu’elle avait effacé de l’histoire imaginaire qu’elle s’était aménagée dans
les années 1930.

Les nations sont confrontées à un phénomène singulier, caractéristique du
crime de génocide: le négationnisme. En Turquie, c’est un négationnisme
d’État. Voici un État qui prétend être une démocratie et qui administre,
avec arrogance, la preuve du contraire en refusant de qualifier de génocide
un épisode de son passé proche. Voici un gouvernement qui retourne
impudemment l’évidence en accusant les victimes de ce génocide d’avoir
perpétré un génocide contre les Turcs…

Je ne suis qu’un historien qui, depuis plus de trente ans, examine le crime
de génocide, dans sa complexité, dans ses différences et ses similitudes
selon les cas observés. Je suis cependant en mesure de mettre en garde les
États contre une complaisance envers le négationnisme. Masquer un génocide,
refuser la qualification de cette infraction du droit international, rejeter
l’évidence, c’est participer à sa continuation.

Les États de l’UE feraient bien de se souvenir de cette exigence éthique
avant qu’il ne soit trop tard, car la Turquie ne reconnaîtra pas le génocide
arménien si elle devient, sans que cette condition soit satisfaite, membre
de l’Union. Une phrase, une petite phrase, clairement formulée – «La Turquie
reconnaît le génocide de 1915-1916 et demande pardon au peuple arménien» –
et ce pays, malade de son passé, rentre dans le concert des démocraties.
Est-ce trop exiger que de demander à l’histoire de donner au politique des
leçons d’éthique?

* Historien. Il est notammant l’auteur d’Empire ottoman: le déclin, la
chute, l’effacement, Éditions du Félin, 2002.

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]
April 22, 2004

Representatives of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to Participate
in Eastern Diocesan Assembly and Clergy Conference

>From April 26-28, the annual Clergy Conference of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) will convene in White Plains, New York,
following which, from April 29-May 1, the annual Diocesan Assembly will take
place. The host parish this year is St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Church.

Upon the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Rev. Fr. Vahram Melikian and Rev. Fr. Asoghik
Karapetian will participate in the Conference and Assembly as the
representatives of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. During their stay in
the United States, the Reverend Fathers will also visit Armenian communities
and parishes throughout the diocese. They are scheduled to visit parishes
in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida and
Washington D.C.

##

Protesters in Armenian capital condemn attack on politician

Noyan Tapan news agency
23 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Representatives of over a dozen human rights, youth and educational
public organizations staged a protest action outside the office of the
Forum of Intellectuals between 1300 and 1400 [0800-0900 gmt] on 23
April. Ashot Manucharyan, a member of the political council of the
Armenian Socialist Forces and the Union of Intellectuals, was brutally
beaten up outside the office yesterday [22 April].

The protesters condemned the act of violence and demanded that the
organizers and perpetrators be unmasked and punished. “If
law-enforcement agencies do not begin fulfilling their direct duties,
we consider it our duty to draw the public’s attention to the problem
of permanent violence through persistent actions and achieve the
restoration of justice,” the youth representatives said.

“This country is for all the citizens, not just for a group of people
who will decide who should be beaten today and who tomorrow. Until a
crime is not solved, this will continue,” the chairman of the Uys
(Hope) organization, Karen Akopyan, said.

Georgian authorities dismantle Armenian “genocide” monument – agency

Arminfo, Yerevan
23 Apr 04

AKHALKALAKI

At about 2100 local time [1600 gmt] yesterday, employees of the
regional police of the town of Akhaltsikhe dismantled a khachkar
[cross-stone], which had been installed on top of a hill in the
vicinity of the town. According to A-Info news agency, the khachkar
was installed to commemorate the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide
in Ottoman Turkey. A solemn ceremony to unveil it was to be held on
the genocide day – 24 April.

According to the report, before dismantling the khachkar, the
policemen detained the head of the organizational committee for
installing the khachkar, Lyudvig Petrosyan, and set him free after
holding him at the police station for four hours. According to
Petrosyan, the khachkar was dismantled on direct orders from the
Georgian president’s plenipotentiary representative in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Nikoloz Nikolozashvili, “in connection with
the absence of permission to install it”. However, Petrosyan insists
that the Akhaltsikhe mayor’s office had earlier given permission to
install the khachkar.

Akhaltsikhe residents are planning to hold a protest rally on 23 April
in connection with the incident, A-Info news agency reports.

Armenian leader says opposition infighting to be blamed for tension

Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, Yerevan
21 Apr 04

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has criticized the opposition for
obstructing his work by staging rallies and vowed to give “an
appropriate response to that”. In a wide-ranging interview with the
newspaper Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, he said that the opposition was not
fighting against him “but for the position as Armenia’s opposition
leader”. Kocharyan said that tension in the country could be
alleviated if opposition deputies resume their parliamentary
activities. He rejected allegations made by the opposition about the
pending sacking of the prime minister and said that his goal was “to
work fruitfully” with this team. The following is an excerpt from
report by Armenian newspaper Hayastani Hanrapetutyun on 21 April
entitled “We shall continue working with the same team till the next
elections”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

An interview with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

[Hayastani Hanrapetutyun correspondent] Mr President, you continue to do
your work and the opposition seems to continue to stage rallies and
other mass events. What developments or outcome do you expect?

[Robert Kocharyan] I do not quite understand the word “outcome”. We
are working. The government is implementing what it planned. Of course
there are shortcomings and we are trying to eliminate them in the
process.

The opposition has halted its work in the National Assembly and has
organized rallies. To be honest, I do not think anything can be
achieved through that. Had they staged peaceful rallies without
blocking the streets, I would have said: Let them stage them. We shall
continue to build this country. We want to continue to do that.

There are people who are not happy with the positive results, and are
trying to hamper this. There is nothing new here. There is no country
in the world where the opposition does not want the incumbent
authorities to resign. At the same time there is no country where the
authorities do not take measures to ensure stability. We are working
and we will continue to do so.

I am under the impression that we are concentrating far too much on
the numbers of people gathered under the opposition banners. Some say
3,000 to 4,000, others say hundred of thousand…[ellipsis as
published]. I think we should not concentrate so much on these
figures, although there were not so many people. But we are no
worried about the figures. Just because there were so many people,
does not mean that they should be allowed to flout the law. Twenty
three thousand people is only one per cent of our citizens who have
the right to vote. However there were not that many. Even if there
were, one per cent of the population has no right to impose its ways
on the whole society.

[Passage omitted: Kocharyan compares the number of people at a rally
to support him before the second round of the presidential elections
with the number of people at recent opposition rallies]

One should carefully study the problem. Why are they doing that? The
goals are obvious and they have nothing in common with legality and
constitutional order. And there will be an appropriate response to
that.

Denies plans to sack premier

[Correspondent] Mr President, today the prime minister gave interviews
to two newspapers. He said that in case of his possible resignation
the Republican Party of Armenia [RPA] will join the opposition. What
is your attitude to this statement?

[Kocharyan] I have not read his interviews, but I am sure that in view
of the situation similar things might be said. This can probably be
explained by rumours that the president is planning to dissolve the
National Assembly and dismiss the prime minister. It is clear why this
kind of rumours are being disseminated. This is done to create the
atmosphere of distrust in the coalition and to undermine relations
between the president and prime minister.

[Passage omitted: Kocharyan hails government for budget implementation
and economic growth and says that the prime minister and himself
should treat such statements with humour and advises journalists to do
the same, by doing that the opposition encourages the coalition to
unite]

I would like to reiterate the point I made earlier that the opposition
was fighting not against me but for the position as Armenia’s
opposition leader. I am under the impression that the leader has
already been found and this will lead to calmness. This is quite a
profitable position for which it might be worthwhile to fight.

Iran

[Correspondent] Mr President, there are conflicting reports about the
construction of a gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia. Will it only
be used to meet the needs of Armenia or will it be a transit one? What
is the state of the Karabakh issue settlement today?

[Kocharyan] We signed a preliminary contract with the Iranian party
under which the gas pipeline will be constructed only for the needs of
our country. We are not discussing any other options.

The other option is in some ways more problematic. Today the
construction of the gas pipeline is the most significant problem in
terms of Armenian’s energy security.

We are also constructing a second electric power transmission line. It
will be finished in two to three months. It will enable us to transmit
more electricity and to use the gas pipeline more fruitfully. This
will be an interesting business.

Karabakh

There is nothing new as regards the NKR issue. The foreign ministers
held a familiarization meeting in Prague. Yesterday I met the Minsk
Group newly-appointed co-chairman from the USA. My impression is very
positive. He is aware of regional developments and knows the situation
quite well, but we have nothing new from the point of view of the NKR
conflict settlement.

[Passage omitted: Kocharyan says he is sorry that famous Armenian poet
Kaputikyan’ turned down award]

Appeals to opposition deputies to resume work

[Correspondent] According to sociologists, the internal political
situation is very tense. What can you do to alleviate tension?

[Kocharyan] There is only one way: to return to the National Assembly
and to fulfil their obligations. I don’t understand why they put
forward conditions for the implementation of their own obligations. If
you do not want to implement them, don’t but why put forward
conditions? Under the constitution I am responsible for the security
of the country, regional integrity and many other things.

[Passage omitted: Kocharyan compares opposition leaders to children
and says tension may create problems for investments, recalls the
events of 1989]

National Assembly

[Correspondent] Mr President, not only the opposition but also the
coalition is boycotting the National Assembly’s sittings. Do you think
that in view of that the National Assembly may be dissolved?

[Kocharyan] The coalition is not boycotting. The National Assembly
will have a three-day session next week which will be fruitful. One
sitting had failed to take place because of the rally and
threats. Though I think they should have still held their sessions. I
rule out the dissolution of the National Assembly. There is no need
for that. Such rumours are being spread to create havoc in the
country. They have been doing that for five years already. According
to them, I have been dissolving the assembly since May
2000…[ellipsis as published]. [Passage omitted: reiterates the
point].

Our goal is to work fruitfully with this political team. We shall work
together till the next parliamentary election at least.

Le Point
15 Avril 2004

Arménie
La contagion géorgienne

Marc Nexon

«Robert, va-t’en ! » Une partie de l’Arménie se prend à rêver de la
révolution géorgienne. Et se verrait bien chasser son président,
Robert Kotcharian, comme la rue a su évincer en novembre dernier
Edouard Chevardnadze dans la Géorgie voisine.

L’opposition ne décolère pas. Après les affrontements survenus en
début de semaine devant le Parlement d’Erevan, celle-ci promet
d’autres manifestations dans les jours à venir. « C’est un crime
contre le peuple », s’est insurgé Stepan Demirtchian, ancien candidat
à l’élection présidentielle, après la charge policière, menée à coups
« de grenades assourdissantes et de matraques électriques », à
l’encontre de 2 000 manifestants.

Les opposants arméniens réclament depuis des semaines l’organisation
d’un référendum destiné à mesurer la confiance de l’opinion à l’égard
du chef de l’Etat. Ils contestent en effet le résultat de l’élection
présidentielle assurant, il y a un an, une large victoire (à 67,5 %)
à Kotcharian, le plus solide allié de Moscou dans la région.

Misère, corruption, bureaucratie, les maux de l’Arménie, petit pays
de 3,5 millions d’habitants, n’ont pas fini de nourrir le
mécontentement général. Même s’ils n’ébranlent nullement son
président. « Le changement de pouvoir en Géorgie a enthousiasmé notre
opposition, mais elle n’a pas pris en compte que nos pays sont
différents », a déclaré Kotcharian. « La lutte n’est pas terminée »,
lui ont répondu ses adversaires

US commission for democratic Armenia condemns violence against opposition

Arminfo
15 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The US commission for democratic Armenia expresses its deep concern
about the Yerevan events on the night of 12-13 April. A statement
forwarded to Arminfo news agency today says that the terrorist gang
acting under the name of the state law-enforcement bodies subjected
the opposition leaders, peaceful demonstrators and journalists to
brutal beatings and mass arrests.

The US commission for democratic Armenia and other human rights
organizations addressed US President George Bush, Secretary of State
Colin Powell, all senators and congressmen, condemning the bloodbath
in Armenia and calling on them to take the necessary measures to end
acts of violence and persecution continuing in the country.

The commission informs Armenia’s relevant bodies that deviation from
democracy casts an irreparable shadow on Armenia’s authority. The
night events make it possible to note that the Armenian authorities
are quite indifferent to their commitments to authoritative
international organizations.

“We warn that from now on, using all possibilities and levers, we will
disrupt all visits by Armenian officials to the USA. At the same time,
we state our fight for forming a legal government, democracy and a
civic society in Armenia,” the commission noted in the statement.

Armenian foreign minister slams US statement on Yerevan events

Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan today warned against
superficial judgments on the internal political situation in Armenia.

The minister pointed out that “stability in Armenia has deep roots,
and the events we witness today have been created artificially and
will soon be overcome”, Mediamax reports.

Commenting on the assessment of the official representative of the US
Department of State, Richard Boucher, of the situation in Armenia,
Vardan Oskanyan said that “he has made an attempt to make a balanced
statement”.

“However, Mr Boucher has forgotten one important thing – the
opposition’s calls for violence must be clearly and sharply
condemned. If Richard Boucher’s statement had included this component,
I would have backed it,” Vardan Oskanyan said.

The official representative of the US Department of State, Richard
Boucher, said on 13 April that “the United States is concerned about
the current political situation in Armenia, particularly the sharp
escalation in confrontation between the government and the opposition”.
He also noted that “physical assaults, raids on political party
offices and widespread arrests and detentions of opposition activists
by the police do not contribute to creating an atmosphere conducive to
political dialogue”.

Azeri TV interviews Turkish minister on re-opening of Armenian border

ANS TV, Baku
14 Apr 04

[Presenter] The visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Turkey
is continuing. In about three hours he will deliver a speech at the
Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Aliyev has already had several meetings. We will now have a link with
Turkey. ANS TV’s special correspondent seconded to Turkey, Qanira
Pasayeva, is joining us now. Qanira, who has the president met?

[Correspondent Pasayeva over telephone] Aliyev has attended the
opening ceremony of a park named after [the late Azerbaijani
President] Heydar Aliyev. In future, it will become a large recreation
area. Ilham Aliyev himself planted a tree there.

[Passage omitted: Minor details]

One of the main issues which attracted a lot of attention from the
mass media was the re-opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. The
protest staged recently by Azerbaijani journalists here in this regard
is still being discussed.

Although no statements have been made concerning this issue, Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has given an exclusive interview to ANS
TV in the wake of the talks.

He said he was informed about those protests and about Azerbaijan’s
concerns. The Turkish government’s official position in the wake of
this meeting is that the Turkish-Armenian border will not be re-opened
unless Armenia is ready to make compromises on the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, withdraws its troops from the occupied territories, and
unless the US-based Armenian lobby drops its false claims about the
alleged Armenian genocide, Gul said. He said he had voiced this stance
during a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanyan. Gul
said he would inform the Armenian government about the final and firm
position of Turkey in this regard during their next meeting.

Following the meetings with Aliyev, the Turkish government has decided
to step up its efforts to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

FUNCTION ON OCCASION OF COUNTRY’s DAY TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. A function on the occasion of the Day of
Country is to be held in Republic Square in Yerevan on April 25, the
press service of the Public Ecological Council of Yerevan reports.
Tree planting, territory cleaning and an exhibition of works of
ecological organizations are expected to be organized. An exhibition
of works about nature, children’s traditional drawings on asphalt and
a concert of children’s groups are expected as well. the participants
will receive T-shirts with slogans. The opening will be marked by
flying pigeons. The arrangement will be organized by the Public
Ecological Council of Yerevan and the Center of regional development
(Armenian branch of the Transparency International organization).