Author: Nalchajian Markos

ACADEMICIAN ZARIDZE: SOME ARMENIAN "SCIENTISTS" SHOULD BETTER LEARN HISTORY IN ORDER TO AVOID ITS FALSIFICATION
Author: E. Husseynov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 31 2006

Such Armenian scientists-researchers like Ivansyan, Migranyan, Muradyan
should learn the history better in order to avoid its falsification,
academician Vladimir Zaridze, a full member of the Georgian National
Academy of Sciences, exclusively told Trend.

All the above-mentioned issues were discussed during the conference
"Armenian-Speaking Population of the Whole Georgia: Problems on
Revival of the United Statehood of Georgia. The participants of the
conference heard the following reports: "Some Armenian Scientists and
the Population of Tbilisi", "From the History of Georgian-Armenian
Relations in 1918-1921", "Armenian Ethnic Processes on the Georgian
Land". "History of Military Conflicts between Georgia and Armenia and
Nowadays"; "Demographic Situation in Djavakhetia and Ways Outs from the
Existing Situation", "Armenia, or Samkheti-Somkheti?", and other ones.

Addressed the participants of the conference with a report "Armenia,
or Samkheti-Somkheti?", Mr. Zaridze told that according to maps
published up to 1725 in the Russian Empire, these territories were
within the Georgian rule. Since the beginning of 19 century, the
Armenian population has compactly lived here. He pointed out that
the territories called Armenia (Samkheti-Somkheti – in Georgian)
was fixed as Tashir-Zarakert on this map. Armenians themselves called
these lands Vrats Tashtan (Armenian for "Georgian Field" ).

According to Mr. Zaridze, the above-mentioned Armenian scientists "have
run into absurdity that called the clan of Bagration Armenian one". In
addition, Armenians of this region added the endings of the Georgians
surnames ended on – iani to Armenian ones. But that was not an end,
They began to add different letters and voices to the new surnames,
mostly – "ts", and as a result of all that the surnames of many of
them have been transferred to the surnames with the endings – "yansts".

The Georgian academician advised "scientists" Migranyan, Muradyan,
and Ivansyan to get acquainted with the history of the region, and
learn Georgian in order to find the confirmation of the above-mentioned
words.

DUTCH TURKS LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN AGAINST PARTIES RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmRadio.am
01.11.2006 16:35

The Dutch "Turkish Forum" lobbyist organization has launched a
campaign, urging Dutch voters of Turkish origin to boycott all the
political parties, which recognize the Armenian Genocide.

According to the Associated Press, the campaign launched three weeks
before the parliamentary elections on November 22, is response of
Dutch Turks to the two leading Christian-Democratic and Labor Parties,
who expelled Turks from their party lists for denying the Armenian
Genocide.

The lobbyiist organization calls tto cast the ballots for D-66 Party,
which is the only one among the main parties of the country that does
not recognize the Armenian Genocide.

"Use our votes to teach those who want to restrict our democratic
rights," say the posters the organization disseminated in the cities
having largest Turkish populations.

KOCHARIAN CONFIRMS RUSSIAN CONTROL OF IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 30 2006

President Robert Kocharian confirmed on Monday that Russia’s state-run
Gazprom monopoly will gain a controlling stake in Armenia’s national
gas distribution company that will almost certainly own the incoming
gas pipeline from Iran.

Gazprom’s board approved and announced on Friday the issuance of
additional shares in the ArmRosGazprom (ARG) operator, saying that it
will buy all of them and thereby raise its ARG stake from 45 percent
to 58 percent.

Kocharian confirmed the information as he met with Russian President
Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. "I would like to immediately inform you
that all of our serious agreements on energy projects with Gazprom
are entering the implementation phase," he said in remarks posted
on the Kremlin’s website. "Just a few days ago, they were finally
approved by the Gazprom board."

The Armenian government has until now owned another 45 percent of ARG,
with the remaining 10 percent belonging to ITERA, a private Russian
gas exporter.

There has been no word yet on whether the Russian giant will
pay Armenia anything for gaining control of its gas distribution
network and further tightening the Russian grip on the Armenian energy
sector. All the signs are that the ARG takeover is part of last April’s
controversial deal that allowed Armenia to avoid a doubling of in the
price of gas imported from Russia until January 2009 in exchange for
handing over more energy assets to Gazprom.

One of those assets is the incomplete but modern Fifth Unit of the
country’s largest thermal power plant located in the central town of
Hrazdan. Gazprom initially confirmed but later refuted reports that
it will also get hold of the Armenian pipeline from Iran as part of
the deal. Armenian officials also denied that.

Nonetheless, Russian control of the first 40-kilometer Armenian section
of the pipeline, slated for completion this winter, now seems a forgone
conclusion. Prime Minister Andranik Markarian revealed last week
Yerevan’s plans to incorporate the pipeline into ARG, saying that "it
would be illogical to have two gas distribution networks in Armenia."

The ARG chief executive, Karen Karapetian, likewise indicated on Friday
that his company’s ownership of the pipeline is imminent. "The question
is whether the Iran-Armenia pipeline will be a separate enterprise
or will be given to ARG," Karapetian told reporters. "In my view,
giving to ARG would be logical." "ARG has offered to take over that
pipeline," he added.

The pipeline in question was supposed to end Armenia’s strong
dependence on Russian gas and other energy resources. Critics say that
by placing it under Russian control the Armenian government would
only deepen that dependence. Moscow is thought to have already made
sure that the pipeline’s diameter is not large enough to allow Iran
to export its gas to Georgia and other countries via Armenia.

This and other economic issues apparently topped the agenda of
Kocharian’s talks with Putin, who described as "shameful" the fact
that Russia is only the third largest foreign investor in Armenia. "I
say ‘shameful’ because it is odd that Russia does not occupy the first
place in terms of investments in the economy of its strategic partner,"
Putin said.

It is not clear if the two men discussed the Kremlin’s controversial
blockade of Georgia which is seriously hurting Armenian companies
trading with Russia. Meeting with their Russian colleagues earlier
this month, senior Armenian lawmakers exposed Yerevan’s frustration
with Moscow’s perceived failure to reckon with the interests of its
main regional ally in its dealings with the pro-Western government
in Tbilisi. Some of the visiting Russian parliamentarians demanded,
for their part, that Armenia make a clear-cut "choice" between Russia
and Georgia.

However, the Kocharian administration has avoided taking sides in
the latest Georgian-Russian confrontation, expressing hope for its
peaceful settlement. Parliament speaker Tigran Torosian reiterated
those hopes at a meeting with the Georgian ambassador to Armenia,
Revaz Gachechiladze, on Monday. According to Torosian’s office,
Gachechiladze praised Yerevan’s stance as "balanced and acceptable
to the international community."

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Oct 27 2006

PROBLEMS OF YOUNG PEOPLE: REALITY AND PROSPECTS

NORAIR HOVSEPIAN

On October 20 and 21 the first conference of young people of Artsakh
took place in Artsakh, and about 60 young people from all over the
country, from the capital, the rural areas, the universities and youth
organizations were invited. During these two days, a number of
participants made interesting reports and came up with bold proposals,
which often gave rise to heated debates and arguments.

NOT RURAL OR URBAN YOUTH BUT ARTSAKH YOUTH

Unfortunately, the relation between the urban and rural youth is very
weak. We may even say there are no ties at all. The participants of
the conference are also aware of this. And often by saying "the young
people of Artsakh" we refer to the young people of Stepanakert, more
exactly, its part involved in some youth organizations. Mostly young
people representing the youth organizations of Stepanakert take part
in the all-Armenian events outside the republic. This gap is
especially tangible, considering what a small number of young people
are involved in youth organizations.

COMMON PROBLEMS REQUIRE JOINT TACKLING

The representatives of the regions reported the problems of rural
areas. Despite some peculiarities, the same problems are in all the
regions. The first is the isolation of young people from the capital
and from the other regions. In addition, the representatives of the
regions point to two circumstances: first, almost all the youth
organizations, which count over a dozen, are based in Stepanakert, and
usually they do not cooperate with the regions; second, the department
of youth of the NKR ministry of education, culture and sport also
focuses on the capital. Although there is already a tendency to invite
young people from the regions to different events, it is a fact that
there is much more to do. The importance of direct cooperation with
young people from rural areas is also important because in most
regions the Internet and even the telephone are not available
yet. Hence, the level of awareness partly determines the degree of
involvement of the youth of the regions, which makes think. The other
problem of employment. The question was viewed from two aspects:
first, the necessity to create jobs, second, appointing young people
to the existing jobs. The problem of entertainment was also raised. It
became clear that in most areas there are no places of entertainment
at all, such as in Kashatagh.

"ENTERTAINMENT IS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM"

This was stated by the representative of the region of Martuni. He
said, and the representatives of the other regions agreed that the
first danger is the migration of young people from the villages. This
factor affects all the other spheres. When young people or young
families migrate, the number of schoolchildren drops, and schools face
closing. "Our goal should be the general development of rural
communities, for in a prosperous village young people will surely find
ways how to entertain themselves," was the core of the report. And the
best way of having young people stay to live in rural communities is
to create sufficient conditions for life and work. Most people are
employed in schools or in the army. But naturally, these two
organizations cannot employ everyone. The gap is possible to overcome
by enabling young people to set up agricultural business. But most
young people do not have money for this, and they cannot expect
long-term loans without security. Housing is another major problem,
both in rural communities and in the capital. Often this problem
affects the rate of marriages.

"GOVERNMENT NEVER FORGETS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE YOUTH"

The participants of the conference met with the deputy prime minister
Ararat Danielian and the minister of education, culture and sport Kamo
Atayan. Ararat Danielian said there is progress in all the spheres of
life in the republic. He pointed to the policy of grants for NGOs and
youth organizations. He also said that the government is working out a
policy of support to young families and seeks for more flexible
mechanisms of stimulating the birth rate.

MEETINGS WILL BECOME REGULAR

The young people participating in the conference brought together the
proposals and opinions that were heard during these two days and made
a statement. The final proposals concerned the regions mainly. The
first was the proposal on "decentralization". The participants urged
the department of youth of the ministry of education, culture and
sport to hold more events in the regions. This will help to raise both
awareness and involvement. The youth organizations based in the
capital are also supposed to contribute to this goal. To be more
realistic, it was proposed to make the Internet available in the
regions. Another proposal was referred to including funding of youth
policies in the annual budget of the regional administrations. The
necessity of providing long-term loans to young people was another
important issue raised during the conference. Marianna Hakobian, the
head of the department of youth assured that these proposals will be
conveyed to the relevant agencies. She also commended the conference
and assured that the meetings will become regular.

National Assembly of Armenia
Oct 26 2006

Ambassador of Kingdom of Sweden at National Assembly

On October 25 the President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran
Torosyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of
Sweden in Armenia Mr. Hans Gunnar Adén. The honorable consul of the
Kingdom of Sweden in Armenia Edit Khachatryan also attended the
meeting.

Mr. Hans Gunnar informed the President of the National Assembly about
the redistribution of political forces as a result of the September
elections noting, that four parties have formed a coalition. The
President of the Swedish Parliament was also newly elected. The
Ambassador noted that his appointment proves the intention of Sweden
to develop relations with Armenia. He also stressed the importance of
including Armenia in the New Neighbourhood Programme of the European
Union and expressed a hope that the Action Plan to be signed in
November will be implemented most efficiently and will launch new
opportunities of development for Armenia, contribute to the
strengthening of democracy and economic progress. The Ambassador of
the Kingdom of Sweden also touched upon the forthcoming general
elections noting that the elections themselves, as well as the
pre-electoral period are going to be at the center of attention of
Europe, and it is expected that Armenia will show political will in
order to provide elections complying with democratic standards. Mr.
Hans Gunnar Adén considers as the purpose of his mission the
deepening of Swedish-Armenian cooperation and the development of
inter-parliamentary relations.

The President of the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan noted that
there are certain relations between the two countries, but the
inter-parliamentary relations are not sufficiently developed and are
still being established within the framework of cooperation through
international organizations. The two parties also stressed the
importance of the development of inter-party relations, which will in
its turn contribute to the strengthening of relations between the two
countries. Highlighting the importance of the success of the European
integration policy adopted by Armenia, the President of the National
Assembly informed the Ambassador about the ongoing parliamentary
debates on the Electoral Code. He noted that in elaborating the draft
of amendments to the Electoral Code, the National Assembly closely
cooperates with the experts of CE and OSCE, and that there are all
the bases for adopting the Electoral Code till the end of the year,
and thus creating good legislative grounds for holding the elections.
Anyway, only the law is not enough for holding the elections in
compliance with democratic standards, and the political forces have
to create a favorable atmosphere in the country in order to succeed.
Both parties stressed the importance of the observers’ participation
in the elections and the objectivity and impartiality of their
evaluations.

During the meeting the parties also touched upon the works of
complying the legislation with the Basic law after the constitutional
amendments, which comprise the human rights protection, judicial and
self-government systems. The President of the National Assembly
highlighted the importance of these legislative reforms from the view
of political, social and economic development and noted that during
the last 5-6 years Armenia has reached good indices of economic
development, and that the social and political changes of the coming
3-4 years have to target the strengthening of democracy, and thus to
contribute to the further economic development.

During the meeting other issues of mutual importance were also
discussed.

Azerbaijan lays claim to Armenian lands

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 17:32

Up to now not only Armenians but also the rest of the world was
confident that Garni, Geghard and Haghartsin are Armenian
cultural-historical monuments.

However, this year in the international book fair in Frankfurt
Azerbaijan informed that the above-mentioned are Azerbaijani
monuments, President of the ` Antares’ Holding Armen Martirosyan
declared today. Part of the Azerbaijani books presented at the
exhibition were dedicated to Armenian places of interest.

The map of Armenia was depicted on the second page of the book. The
imagination of Azeris was not restricted to his. They published and
presented another book titled `Karabakh,’ which pictured not only
Nagorno Karabakh and its cultural monuments, but also the liberated
territories.

Le Point
26 octobre 2006

Eloge du politiquement correct. Pourquoi pas une loi sur le génocide
arménien ? La Turquie doit attendre. Le Lawrence des frères Poivre
d’Arvor. La haine de l’Occident est une vieille idée des fascistes.;
Le bloc-notes de Bernard-Henri Lévy

par Bernard-Henri Lévy

Conférence à Milan, dans la « Aula Magna » de l’Université, là même
où, il y a trente ans, je venais expliquer à une jeunesse tentée par
l’extraparlementarisme que le terrorisme était un fascisme. Le sujet,
ce matin, c’est le « politiquement correct ». Et je surprends en
disant que d’accord la liberté de parole sans limite ; d’accord le
ridicule des campus américains où l’on censure Blanche-Neige par
respect pour les nains ; d’accord encore, cent fois d’accord, sur la
folie de ces féministes réécrivant la Bible en remplaçant « Dieu le
père » par « Dieu le père-mère » ; mais, en même temps… ; est-ce
qu’elle est si folle que cela, en même temps, l’idée que c’est dans
la langue que se sédimente l’archive du malheur ? est-ce que, dans le
sud des Etats-Unis par exemple, l’assimilation du parler raciste à un
délit n’a pas changé les choses ? est-ce qu’une dose de politiquement
correct n’est pas, autrement dit, la bienvenue sur les deux ou trois
fronts – racisme donc, antisémitisme, reconnaissance des génocides –
où se noue et joue le lien social ?

Y compris les Arméniens ? Je veux dire : y compris s’agissant de ce
génocide arménien dont un récent projet de loi, adopté en première
lecture, propose de criminaliser la négation ? Eh bien oui, après
tout. Je ne vois pas au nom de quoi l’on traiterait, sur ce point au
moins, différemment les génocides. Et le grand argument en faveur de
la loi Gayssot, l’argument développé par Claude Lanzmann par exemple
dans un éditorial récent des Temps modernes, l’argument qui, en gros,
rappelle que, dans le cas de la Shoah, la négation était dans le
crime, qu’elle en faisait partie intégrante et que c’est dans le même
geste que l’on tuait et que l’on effaçait la trace de la tuerie, cet
argument-là, je ne vois pas comment l’on refuserait de l’opposer à un
négationnisme dont le principe est, hélas, strictement identique. La
liberté de l’historien est une chose, la loi en est une autre. Jamais
la loi Gayssot n’a empêché un historien de travailler – une loi sur
le génocide de 1915 réduirait au silence les braillards turcs
néofascistes, elle ne gênerait nullement le libre travail de la
recherche.

Je n’ai rien, je l’ai souvent dit, contre le principe de l’adhésion
de la Turquie aux traités européens. Mais quant aux faits… Comment,
quand on s’en tient aux faits et que l’on voit l’état de fureur où
cette affaire de génocide continue de mettre les élites turques,
comment, quand on voit leur colère à l’annonce de l’attribution du
Nobel à un compatriote, Orhan Pamuk, dont le crime est de « croire »
au génocide en question, comment, face à la montée de l’islamisme
radical dans le pays qui fut celui de Mustafa Kemal, comment, face au
néoantisémitisme qui se répand, au mensonge d’Etat qui fait loi sur
les questions kurde et chypriote, comment, face aux violations des
droits de l’homme dans les prisons d’Ankara, envisager la chose à
court ou même moyen terme ? Les critères économiques d’adhésion sont
une chose : on peut y arriver assez vite. Les critères moraux en sont
une autre : elle suppose évolution profonde, conversion, révolution
des mes et des coeurs – tout le contraire du « vous voulez un mot
sur les Arméniens ? une déclaration de conformité ? les voici » dont
les Turcs sont capables mais qui ne seront jamais que l’oblique
génuflexion du dévot pressé d’entrer dans la maison commune et qui,
donc, ne vaudraient rien.

Turquie toujours. Sur la route de Milan à Rome – où l’on présente une
version film d’« American Vertigo » – le hasard des lectures me fait
tomber sur « Disparaître », le roman d’Olivier et Patrick Poivre
d’Arvor (Gallimard). C’est le pari, qui m’a toujours passionné, de
reconstituer les dernières pensées d’un grand esprit réduit au
silence (Lawrence, dans le petit hôpital du Dorset après son accident
de moto). C’est, entre confidences chuchotées, récits imaginés, faux
documents, articles apocryphes, tout le mystère de l’auteur des «
Sept piliers de la sagesse », que revisitent les deux frères
(particulièrement réussi, le personnage de Lowell Thomas, l’inventeur
de la légende dont on voit se mettre en place l’aigre, la folle, la
presque comique haine de son objet). Mais c’est aussi, par la force
des choses et du décor, une plongée dans cette scène du début du
dernier siècle (Levant, révolte contre les Turcs, fin des empires,
naissance des nationalismes arabe et juif) où nous sommes, à
l’évidence, plus que jamais.

Autre lecture qui n’a rien à voir – encore que… « L’occidentalisme
» de Ian Buruma et Avishai Margalit, chez Flammarion. Sous-titre : «
Une brève histoire de la guerre contre l’Occident ». Et, sous ces
titre et sous-titre, une thèse – que dis-je ? une démonstration –
dont je n’ai pas besoin de souligner, non plus, la brûlante actualité
: cette guerre contre l’Occident, cette haine de l’Europe et de
l’Amérique en passe de devenir religion planétaire, le relativisme
culturel, l’idée que l’universalisation des valeurs de démocratie et
de droits de l’homme ne sera jamais qu’un abus de pouvoir des peuples
riches contre les peuples prolétaires, l’anti-impérialisme pavlovisé
sur fond de prétendu respect des identités, bref, tout cela, toute
cette soupe idéologique qui est l’ordinaire du progressisme
contemporain, a une généalogie qui n’est autre – mais oui ! – que
celle des fascismes européens

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN ACCUSES GEORGIA
By Osman KECECI (JTW)

Journal of Turkish Daily
Oct 26 2006

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Georgian leaders of
seeking to resolve their country’s territorial disputes by force. Mr
Putin told Russian TV viewers that in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia
region "people are very concerned about the militarisation of
Georgia". Georgian authorities said Abkhazian separatist forces fired
rockets at Georgian-controlled territory Wednesday while Georgia’s
interior minister was in the vicinity, but injured no one. According
to the Georgian sources, Russian military backs almost all separatist
movement in Georgia. Russia frequently involve in the regional ethnic
and other problems. Armenian forces were supported by Russian Military
against Azerbaijan during the Karabakh War. Russia has ‘solved’
its territorial disputes in Chechenya by force.

Russia has deported hundreds of Georgians amid a bitter diplomatic
row. One of the deportees died last week from an asthma attack at a
Moscow airport while waiting to be deported from Russia. The Georgian
embassy says Tengiz Togonidze, 58, was denied medical attention during
five days of detention despite his requests to see a doctor.

Mr Putin was speaking in a live TV phone-in with Russians nationwide.

The pro-Russian separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
want independence from Georgia, but Tbilisi has vowed to reimpose
its rule in the rebel regions.

Mr Putin warned that it would be a big mistake for Georgia to resort
to force. "We cannot allow bloodshed in this region," he said, though
Russia is being accused by using only military force in Chechnya.

Mr. Putin argued that Russia did not have territorial ambitions in
the Caucasus. Russia has military bases in Georgia and Armenia and
refuses to withdraw its armies from Georgia.

"We’re not trying to increase our territory. We have enough territory,"
Mr. Putin said.

Russian-Georgian relations worsened last month after Tbilisi detained
four Russians whom it said were spies.

Russia responded by cutting transport and postal links with Georgia
and expelled hundreds of Georgians alleged to be living in Russia
illegally. Police also cracked down on Georgian businesses in Moscow.

KOSOVA ISSUE

Russia though support Abkhazian and Ossetian independence in Caucasus,
it is against Kosova’s independence in the Balkans. Mr.

Putin said Russia would be closely watching developments in Kosovo, the
mainly ethnic Albanian province which de facto broke away from Serbia.

Kosovo – still officially part of Serbia – is run by a UN
administration, but a final settlement is being negotiated. Many
observers expect Kosovo to get some form of independence, which might
be an imposed solution.

TURKISH BUSINESS WORLD’S REACTION TO FRANCE

Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006

ISTANBUL – "Adoption of the bill making a crime (in France) the denial
of so-called Armenian genocide will affect both Turkish-French and
EU-Turkey relations negatively," Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO)
Chairman Murat Yalcintas told A.A on Thursday.

"I would like to remind my French friends that a handful French
parliamentarians cannot make a decision about Turkish history. French
Parliament is not authorized to judge Turkey," he said.

"ITO will hold meetings with all French companies in Turkey, as well as
executives of French-Turkish partnerships. We will also have meetings
with officials of all French educational institutions in Turkey,"
Yalcintas said.

On the other hand, Independent Industrialists & Businessmen’s
Association (MUSIAD) Chairman Omer Bolat called on Turkish people to
boycott French products.

Noting that it is necessary to make a long-term and collective
economic boycott against France, Bolat called on members of MUSIAD
to stop their commercial relations with French companies.

On the other hand, International Investors Association of Turkey
(YASED) Chairman Saban Erdikler said that Turkey should not boycott
companies which were established with French capital in Turkey and
invested in Turkey. Erdikler told A.A that now Turkish government
has important responsibilities, adding that the government should
act with cold blood and take initiatives in ECHR and EU on legal basis.

Noting that the trade balance (between Turkey and France) is against
Turkey, Erdikler said that Turkey imports more from France than it
exports to that country. "Thus, France will be affected negatively
of the decision" he said.

Economic Development Foundation (IKV) condemned the decision of French
national assembly, noting that such decisions which restrain freedom
of expression overshadows the reliability of a country which claims
to be the cradle of democracy.

DEBATE NEEDED; WHAT HAPPENED IN ARMENIA?
By Tulin Daloglu, Special To The Washington Times

The Washington Times
October 17, 2006 Tuesday

A few months ago, I came across an article in the Middle East Quarterly
entitled "Armenian Massacres: New Records Undercut Old Blame." Its
author, Edward J. Erickson, a retired U.S. Army officer, categorically
dismissed the claims of genocide perpetrated against the Armenians
by the Ottomans during World War I. "In bitter internecine fighting,
many civilian Turks, Armenians, and other ethnic groups were massacred
indiscriminately," Mr. Erickson wrote.

The claim of Armenian genocide is an incredibly emotional subject,
fraught with political and violent undertones. Only a small number of
scholars dare to question the notion that what happened was genocide.

When Stanford Shaw, a pioneer scholar and former UCLA professor,
disputed it in 1977, a bomb exploded in front of his house.

Recently, two researchers have debated the nature of World War I
Armenian massacres, Dr. Erickson wrote. The first, Vahakn Dadrian, is
director of genocide research at the Zoryan Institute for Contemporary
Armenian Research and Documentation. Mr. Dadrian wrote that Stange
(a Prussian artillery officer known in records only by his last name)
was the "highest-ranking German guerrilla commander operating in the
Turko-Russian border" area and the Ottoman government ordered him to
deport Armenians. Stange and his soldiers became principals in the
Armenian massacres, Mr. Dadrian found.

But last year, Guenter Lewy, a professor emeritus of political science
at the University of Massachusetts, challenged Mr. Dadrian’s claim,
concluding that Stange’s unit did not even operate in the area. "Tribal
Kurds or Circassians may have deported the Armenians in the spring
of 1915," Mr. Erickson wrote.

The debate over the historical record goes on, and Turkey has finally
begun to allow its citizens to engage in controversial debates. This
makes one wonder what the members of the French Parliament were
thinking last week when they made it a crime to question the claim
of Armenian genocide. The lower house decided that the punishment
for denying the genocide would be one year in prison and a fine of
45,000 Euros. It would only take effect if it passed the upper house
and was agreed to by French President Jacques Chirac. According to
Turkish media reports, Mr. Chirac called Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and said he would do his best to keep the legislation
from becoming law.

Making it a crime to dispute the idea of an Armenian genocide is so
outrageous that senior European Union officials sided with Turkey.

"This is not the best way to contribute to something we think is
important," said Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European
Commission. Oli Rehn, the EU commissioner for enlargement, agreed,
saying, "We don’t achieve real dialogue and real reconciliation by
ultimatums, but by dialogue. Therefore this law is counterproductive."

Indeed it is. This law displays the aggressive tactics of the Armenian
diaspora to prevent any objective re-examination of history.

They demand that Turkey accept that what happened was genocide. But
is the goal to find the truth, or to make political arguments? Mr.

Erdogan offered to open the Turkish archives to study the matter,
and called for Armenians to do the same. They denied his request. The
other side can’t stand the idea of questioning whether what happened
was genocide.

Turks have done a poor job in dealing with the claims. They let one
narrative dominate the world’s understanding of the incident. They
did not write about the Armenian attacks on Muslim villages. But now
Turks are paying attention. They are angry. But they are not hateful
like the Armenians who killed almost four dozen Turkish diplomats over
"history."

I sat down with Turkish Ambassador Nabi Sensoy in Washington,
and asked him whether the French Parliament’s vote will make it
more difficult for him to deal with the resolutions likely to be
presented this year in the U.S. Congress, calling for recognition of
Armenian genocide. Sixteen countries have already passed legislation or
resolutions to recognize the Armenian genocide, he said. "The Congress
has never been affected by the decisions of the foreign parliaments,"
he said. "The U.S. knows to think independently in its own democracy,
and they know their own responsibilities."

The French Parliament’s law is even more absurd than the section of
the Turkish penal code that calls for Turkish citizens to be punished
if they insult "Turkishness" by accepting the genocide claims, for
example. Orhan Pamuk, this year’s Nobel Prize winner for literature,
was charged under that law. The charges were dropped, and no one has
been punished.

But even the existence of such a law is embarrassing to a country
wrestling with how to deal with freedom of expression. What Mr. Pamuk
said about the Armenian genocide claims is irrelevant. What’s important
is that he should feel free to say whatever he thinks. But historians
should have the definitive say on the issue and they haven’t written
the final chapter yet.

Tulin Daloglu is a free-lance writer.