CR: Armenian Genocide – Rep. Baca

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

______

HON. JOE BACA

of california

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the genocide of
Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Starting in 1915, the
Ottoman Empire tortured and murdered up to one and a half million
Armenians. More than half a million were forced to leave and went into
exile. The Armenians settled across the world lending energy and
strength to their adoptive communities. It is important to recognize
the historical atrocities perpetrated against the Armenians. We must
teach our children about the fear, torture, mass graves, and
expulsions of the Armenian people. Through education and
commemoration, our children can grow up to be better citizens and
better Americans. By recognizing genocide for what it is, the world
can wake up to the obscene nature that sometimes grips nations and
work to prevent the mass killing that devastated the Armenian people.
With this year’s commemoration of the Armenian genocide, I urge all
Americans to be vigilant and watchful. We must prevent hatred and
bigotry. We must do all we can to prevent genocide. By commemorating
the past, we can make the future a better place to live.

BAKU: Azerbaijan, Russia: coop of DMs discussed

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
April 30 2004

AZERBAIJAN, RUSSIA: COOPERATION OF DEFENSE MINISTRIES DISCUSSED
[April 30, 2004, 23:30:50]

Defense minister of Azerbaijan Republic colonel-general Safar Abiyev
met with the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Azerbaijan
Nikolay Ryabov and military attaché, counter-admiral Vladimir
Lomakin, 30 April.

Ambassador N. Ryabov presented the newly appointed military attaché
of Russia in Azerbaijan V. Lomakin and the former attaché Yuri
Kurshakov.

Colonel-general Safar Abiyev noted that the Russian-Azerbaijan
relations base on historical traditions and we always try to preserve
these ties. National leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev always highly
assessed these relations and today President Ilham Aliyev
successfully continues this line. Traditional links between the
defense departments are also high level. Functioning of the Russian
Federation military attaché in Azerbaijan is evidence to that. WE
shall also open our military attaché in Russia shortly.

Touching upon the unsolved Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict, the Minister said that Russia has great opportunity for
settlement of the problem and Azerbaijan expects efficient efforts
from Russia as one of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair.

We want the conflict to be solved in the frame of international legal
norms shortly and satisfy both sides, Ambassador Nikolay Ryabov
stated.

Then, he informed on the arrangements on the occasion of 59th
anniversary of victory over the German fascism in the Great Patriotic
War in 1941-1945s.

Parties had comprehensive exchange of views on development prospects
of cooperation between the defense ministers and Azerbaijan and
Russia, as well as on the military-political situation in the South
Caucasus.

Russia can play special role in settling Armenian-Azeri conflict

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 29, 2004 Thursday

Russia can play special role in settling Armenian-Azeri conflict

By Yuri Ulyanovsky

STRASBOURG

The co-chairmen of the Minsk group of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for Nagorno-Karabakh, that is
Russia, United States and France, are called upon to play “their
specific role”, Azeri President Ilkham Aliyev said on Thursday. He
spoke at a news conference in the Palace of Europe after addressing
the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe. “We hope that they all will step up their activities in this
direction”, he said.

Russia plays a special role in the framework of the Minsk group,
Aliyev said. This is determined not only by Russia’s geographic
position. Russia has good relations both with Azerbaijan and Armenia,
and Moscow is familiar with the role of a mediator in settling
conflicts.

President Aliyev also counts on the assistance of the PACE and the
Council of Europe in settling the conflict. He said the Political
Commission of the PACE works presently on the report on the
Armenian-Azeri conflict that will documentedly prove Armenia’s status
as a country occupying part of Azeri territory. As a result of the
occupation of part of Azeri territory, which, Aliyev said, is a gross
violation of the norms of international law, the number of refugees
and displaced persons among Azerbaijan’s population of eight million
reached one million which burdens the country’s economy.

CR: Observing the Armenian Genocide – Rep. Holt

OBSERVING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

______

HON. RUSH D. HOLT

of new jersey

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, April 24, 2004 marked the 89th anniversary of
one of the most harrowing events in modern day history–the beginning
of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian community is too familiar with
the details of this tragedy. They know well the accounts of Armenian
leaders, writers and professionals in Constantinople that were rounded
up, deported and killed; the accounts of men, women and children were
driven into the desert between Terablus and Derzor to die of
starvation, disease and exposure; and the accounts of families that
were burned alive in wooden houses or chained together and drowned in
Lake Van.
Unfortunately, few outside of the Armenian community know of the
Armenian Genocide–

[[Page E701]]

one of the most awful events in modern history. Many are not aware that
Ottoman officials expelled millions of Armenians from the homelands
they had inhabited for over 2,500 years. They are not aware that
Ottoman officials attempted to exterminate the Armenian race and the
precedent this event set for the genocides that followed. It is
distressing that horrors of this magnitude have largely been forgotten.
Even more disturbing are the governments, institutions, scholars, and
individuals who deny the enormity of these crimes against humanity. It
is inconceivable that individuals and governments continue to ignore
the substantial evidence–including numerous survivor accounts,
photodocumentaries, and official documents in the archives of the
United States, Britain, France, Austria, and the Vatican–that prove
these atrocities took place. It is also frustrating that some
rationalize these crimes or refuse to recognize this premeditated
ethnic cleansing as genocide.
The international community must deal honestly with this senseless
genocide. World leaders must rise above indifference and the political
considerations that they have cowered behind. They must unequivocally
acknowledge the murders of one and a half million Armenians that began
in 1915 for what it is–genocide. They must use their position to
reveal the truth and bring attention to this tragedy that has been
overlooked and brushed aside for too long.
We all want to forget these horrific tragedies in our history and
bury them in the past. However, understanding the immeasurable wrongs
the Armenian people endured–and the mass scale on which they
occurred–is vital to grasping the impact these events continue to have
on the stability of the region. It is only through the painful process
of acknowledging and discussing these horrific events that we can
prevent similar iniquity in the future.
We owe full recognition and acceptance of these crimes to the one and
half million victims of the Armenian Genocide. Anything less is an
insult to their memory.

CR: Remembering the Armenian Genocide – Rep. Sherman

REMEMBERING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

______

HON. BRAD SHERMAN

of california

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues tonight in somber
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. Early in the 20th Century, during
World War I and its aftermath, the Ottoman Empire attempted the
complete liquidation of the Armenian population of Eastern Anatolia.
We must come down to the House floor tonight not only to remember
this tragic event, but we must also proclaim that the Armenian Genocide
is an historical fact. There are many who deny that this first genocide
of the 20th Century actually took place.
The American ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in 1919 was an
eyewitness. In his memoirs, he said, “When the Turkish authorities
gave the order for these deportations they were merely giving the death
warrant to an entire race. They understood this well and in their
conversations with me made no particular attempt to conceal this
fact.”
He went on to describe what he saw at the Euphrates River. He said,
as our eyes and ears in the Ottoman Empire, “I have by no means told
the most terrible details, for a complete narration of the sadistic
orgies of which they, the Armenian men and women, are victims can never
be printed in an American publication. Whatever crimes the most
perverted instincts of the human mind can devise, whatever refinements
of persecution and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive,
became the daily misfortune of the Armenian people.”
We can never forget that 8 days before he invaded Poland, Adolf
Hitler turned to his inner circle and said, “Who today remembers the
extermination of the Armenians?” The impunity with which the Turkish
government acted in annihilating the Armenian people emboldened Adolf
Hitler and his inner circle to carry out the Holocaust of the Jewish
people.
It is time for Turkey to acknowledge this genocide, because only in
that way can the Turkish government and its people rise above it. The
German government has been quite forthcoming in acknowledging the
Holocaust, and in doing so it has at least been respected by the
peoples of the world for its honesty. Turkey should follow that example
rather than trying to deny history.
It is also time–indeed it is far overdue–for our Congress to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Speaker, I again call on my colleagues to recognize the Armenian
Genocide and to urge my fellow Americans to remember this tragic event.

Food-for-oil claims shake UN

The Australian, Australia
April 24 2004

Food-for-oil claims shake UN
>From The Times

SIMULTANEOUS investigations of the former United Nations oil-for-food
program aim to expose how Saddam Hussein used Iraq’s oil wealth to
buy political influence around the world.

The US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, the US Congress and an
independent panel established by the UN have started investigating
claims the Hussein regime used oil to bribe politicians, political
parties, journalists and a leading UN official.

The inquiries are examining Iraq’s system of kickbacks, which Baghdad
used to break sanctions, fund his military and sustain his regime.

The scale of the alleged corruption is huge. The investigative arm of
the US Congress estimates Saddam earned $US4.4 billion ($5.7 billion)
in illegal surcharges and after-sale service fees on contracts
overseen by the UN. Individual bribes allegedly ran into millions of
dollars.

The claims have created an atmosphere of dread at the UN, which ran
the oil-for-food scheme, at a time when the world organisation is
being urged to play a larger role in the political transition in
Iraq.

The allegations have also sent shockwaves around the world, because
hundreds of prominent figures in two dozen countries are accused of
involvement in the oil deals.

The overthrow of Saddam has made available hundreds of documents that
contain some of Iraq’s most closely guarded secrets. Few have been
made public, but coalition officials have secured the evidence they
need.

The UN oil-for-food scheme was the largest UN humanitarian program in
the organisation’s history, handling a total of $US64 billion worth
of Iraqi crude from December 1996 until it was wound up last year.

The program was established after the first Gulf War to mitigate the
effects of the economic embargo imposed on Iraq after the 1990
invasion of Kuwait. Britain and the US played a leading role in its
creation because they did not want to be accused of starving the
Iraqi people.

At times both powers bent to pressure from other countries to turn a
blind eye to corruption and mismanagement so that Iraq continued to
co-operate with the scheme.

The UN exercised oversight through its control of Iraqi oil revenues.
Money generated from approved Iraqi oil sales was deposited in a UN
holding account. The UN then released funds to pay for approved
imports of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies.

The price was set by a panel of UN oil overseers, and all contracts
had to approved by the UN Security Council’s 15-member sanctions
committee, operating by consensus so any single member could block a
decision.

But Iraq found ways to circumvent the monitoring, enabling it to
demand billions of dollars in kickbacks.

The first weakness of the UN system was the mechanism to set the oil
price.

Although there were originally three oil overseers, retirements and
resignations reduced this to one — a relatively young former Russian
insurance executive. And for more than a year, Russia blocked the
appointment of new overseers to replace those who had left.

Until late 2000, the UN’s price for Iraqi oil was set at the start of
each month. That allowed Iraq to time its sales under the program to
exploit the ups and downs of the world oil market. A higher world
price meant a higher margin over the price set by the UN, allowing
Iraq a greater profit, which it could then demand be paid over to
Baghdad.

Congressional investigators estimate Iraq levied an illegal surcharge
of US10c to US35c a barrel on crude oil shipped under the UN program,
providing millions to cash-strapped Baghdad

Iraq also made money by demanding kickbacks on contracts to supply
Baghdad with humanitarian goods under the UN scheme.

US officials say the customary kickback was 10 per cent. A vendor
selling Iraq $US100 of goods would notify the UN that the shipment
was worth $US110 and give the $US10 to Iraq. The money generated was
deposited in front companies, bank accounts or Iraqi embassies abroad
and transported back to Iraq as cash. But some was also used to
rebuild Iraq’s military and buy prohibited equipment abroad.

Charles Duelfer, the former UN inspector who is leading the CIA
search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, told Congress last
month that Iraq funnelled oil-for-food money to its Military
Industrialisation Commission, which worked with the Iraqi
intelligence services to set up front companies overseas to procure
arms.

The commission budget increased nearly 100-fold from 1996 to 2003,
totalling $US500million in 2003.

Iraq’s demands for kickbacks were long known to British and US
officials, who tried to fix the UN system to counter them.

Eventually, Russia allowed the replacement of the departed oil
overseers and the UN sanctions committee changed to “retroactive
pricing” to cut Iraq’s possible margin on the program’s oil sales.

But what really ignited the issue was the publication by Iraq’s
Al-Mada newspaper in January of a list of 270 politicians,
journalists, businessmen, and even a UN official, who were allegedly
given vouchers to buy Iraq oil.

There are some doubts about the veracity of the list, but it
nevertheless includes powerful figures in key UN powers, such as
Russia and France, as well as a range of Middle Eastern countries.

Among the alleged recipients are the Russian Peace and Unity Party of
President Vladimir Putin, as well as the Russian Communist Party and
companies linked to the party of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a Russian
nationalist.

Charles Pasqua, the former French interior minister, and a former
French ambassador to the UN are on the Al-Mada list. Also named by
the paper was Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is said
to have received 1 million barrels of oil as the daughter of
President Sukarno, and 1 million barrels as herself.

Recipients of the vouchers did not have to trade the oil themselves.
They could sell the vouchers to oil traders for US10c-US30c a barrel.

An example of how the system was used to peddle influence is the case
of Shakir Khafaji, one of two Iraqi-American businessmen on the list.
Khafaji told the London Financial Times last week he had been awarded
oil allocations by the Saddam regime and sold them to an Italian firm
on his family’s behalf.

Khafaji provided $US400,000 to fund an anti-sanctions documentary by
former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter that was shown around the
world.

The UN’s investigation, led by former US Federal Reserve chairman
Paul Volcker, is initially focusing on allegations against Benon
Sevan, the Cypriot Armenian UN official who ran the oil-for-food
program. A “Mr Sevan” named on the Al-Mada list was allegedly
allocated 14.3 million barrels of crude. The UN official has denied
the claims.

US television network ABC reported this week, citing US and European
intelligence services, that three unnamed UN officials had taken
bribes from Saddam. “The UN oil-for-food program provided Saddam
Hussein and his corrupt and evil regime with a convenient vehicle
through which he bought support internationally by bribing political
parties, companies, journalists and other individuals of influence,”
a British consultant for the Iraqi Governing Council, Claude
Hankes-Drielsma, told the US Congress this week.

HH Karekin II Commends Canadian Parliament for Genocide Recognition

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

His Holiness Karekin II Commends Canadian Parliament for Genocide
Recognition

On April 22, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, sent a letter to the Honorable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the
House of Commons of Canada. In the letter, His Holiness expresses the
gratitude and appreciation of all Armenians throughout the world for
yesterday’s decision, whereby the Canadian Parliament officially recognized
and condemned the Armenian Genocide.

Addressing the members of the House of Commons, His Holiness states in part,
“We are grateful that following the brutal years of 1915 through 1923, the
Armenian people found shelter and acceptance in the blessed country of
Canada, as in many other countries throughout the world. The children of
the first genocide of the twentieth century not only survived in their new
homes, but they thrived, becoming contributing, loyal and worthy citizens.

“However, as we approach the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in
2005, the important issue of genocide remains before the whole of mankind.
Genocide can never be the solution to the religious, social and political
conflicts of our times. The way to prevent genocide is to recognize it.
The only way to find justice for its victims, both living and dead, is to
condemn it. Genocide is not a crime against one nation, but rather it is
against man and against God. It is the gravest crime against humanity. God
‘s primary grace is the gift of life. The defense of life has been
entrusted to governments, and each life protected is a gift we offer to God.
All should be made aware that any action directed against the life of man,
shall be condemned from its inception. Human suffering can be stopped,
through the actions of brave men and women such as you, which help justice
to prevail.”

The Pontiff of All Armenians, offering his prayers and blessings from the
spiritual center of the worldwide Armenian Church, commended the members of
the House of Commons for their “consideration of this issue (Genocide
recognition), and readiness to champion its resonance to greater awareness”.

##

ANKARA: Turkey Harshly Condemns Motion Of Canadian House Of Commons

Anadolu Agency
April 22 2004

Turkey Harshly Condemns Motion Of Canadian House Of Commons
Recognizing So-called Armenian Genocide

ANKARA – Turkey on Thursday harshly condemned attitude of Canadian
House of Commons recognizing so-called Armenian genocide.

Foreign Ministry issued a statement and said Canadian House of
Commons adopted a decision on Wednesday and defined several tragic
incidents occurred between Turks and Armenians in 1915 as
“genocide“.

The statement said Canadian authorities had many times been conveyed
the drawbacks which such a possible decision would lead to and noted
that, “we condemned decision of Canadian Parliament which was
adopted despite all Turkey`s initiatives.“ The statement said
Canadian authorities were blindly following those with marginal
views.

The statement said it was not up to the parliaments to reach
conclusions over controversial periods in history, stating that,
“Some narrow minded Canadian politicians were not able to understand
that such decisions based on prejudiced information, will awaken
feelings of hatred among people of different ethnic roots and disturb
social harmony.“

Pointing out that people were going through a sensitive period
requiring international cooperation and solidarity against violence
and hatred, and consolidation of tolerance among people having
different beliefs and ethnical roots, the statement said decision of
Canadian Parliament contradicted its responsibilities.

Foreign Ministry said this decision would neither be beneficial to
the Armenians living in Canada nor to the Armenia. It said,
“Canadian politicians will be responsible for all the negativities
that would be brought forth by this decision.“

Since 1965, the Armenians have been accusing the Turks of an alleged
genocide. These intrigues at last have reached its peak by blaming
the entire Turkish nation with a so-called genocide.

The so-called Armenian genocide allegations caused assassinations of
many Turkish officials. Between 1973 and 1985, Armenian terrorist
organization of ASALA staged several act of terrorism against Turkish
diplomats abroad. 34 people lost their lives in these heinous acts in
19 separate countries.

CANADIAN AMBASSADOR LEIR SUMMONED TO TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY

Michael Leir, Canadian Ambassador in Ankara, was summoned to Turkish
Foreign Ministry on Thursday regarding the motion of Canadian House
of Commons recognizing so-called Armenian genocide.

Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Sensoy conveyed Leir
Ankara`s sensitivity on the issue and the concern it felt over the
motion.

Canadian House of Commons adopted a decision on Wednesday and defined
several tragic incidents occurred between Turks and Armenians in 1915
as “genocide“.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Ministry issued a statement and said
Canadian authorities had many times been conveyed the drawbacks which
such a possible decision would lead to and noted that, “we condemned
decision of Canadian Parliament which was adopted despite Turkey`s
all initiatives.“

New OSCE co-chair: Armenian journalists NK resolution in US interest

New OSCE co-chair tells Armenian journalists Karabakh resolution in US
interest

Arminfo
19 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The new US cochairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, intends to
represent the US national interests in his post. This was announced by
him at a press conference in Yerevan today [19 April].

“The US government has clearly stated that it is in the American
national interest to work for a peaceful resolution of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group,” Mann said. He said he
intends to work purposefully and honestly in this direction.

He also said he was glad to be back in Armenia and recalled that he
was the first American diplomat to lead the US embassy which opened in
Armenia in 1992. He said he was satisfied with the talks he had today
with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

As for the content of the “Prague meeting” of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers, and co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Mann said that “useful discussions took place” but wished to
keep diplomatic confidentiality.

Responding to a question about the dates for his visit to Nagornyy
Karabakh, Mann said that he will visit it but could not give a
specific date. “There isn’t much time during this visit,” he
said. Mann will receive the foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic, Ashot Gulyan, this evening.

Speaking about the reasons for his appointment, Mann said that in
taking the decision they took into consideration the fact that Mann
knows the region well and has worked over the past 25 years in the
Caucasus and in the former Soviet Union.

>From Yerevan, the new co-chairman will leave for Tbilisi, and then
Baku.

BAKU: WAN concerned over attack on journalists

Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network
(CASCFEN), Azerbaijan
April 21 2004

WAN concerned over attack on journalists

CASCFEN – In a joint letter of protest sent on April 19, 2004 to the
President Robert Kocharian of Armenia Seok Hyun Hong, President of
the World Association of Newspapers and Gloria Brown Anderson,
President of the World Editors Forum based in Paris have expressed
concern by the attack on journalists. Following is the text of the
letter:

“We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and
the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100
countries, to express our serious concern at an attack on four
journalists.

According to reports, on 13 April Avetis Babajanian and Ayk
Gevorgian, reporters with the opposition daily Aykakan Zhamanak,
Levon Grigorian, a cameraman with the Russian television channel ORT,
and Mher Ghalechian, a journalist with the opposition weekly Chorrord
Ishkhanutyun, were beaten while covering an opposition rally in
Yerevan. Mr Grigorian was knocked unconscious during the attack and
Mr Ghalechian was taken to a police station after photographing
security officers outside the ransacked office of the opposition
Hanrapetutyun party.

The protest rally began on the evening of 12 April when about 15,000
demonstrators marched towards the presidential residence calling for
a referendum on presidential rule. In the early hours of 13 April,
violence erupted and police used batons, stun grenades and water jets
to disperse the crowd.

This is the second assault on journalists covering an opposition
rally this month. On 5 April police reportedly stood by while some
two dozen assailants smashed journalists’ cameras, assaulted
reporters and destroyed film footage of the events.

We respectfully remind you that it is the duty of the state to
provide an environment in which journalists are able to carry out
their professional duties without fear of intimidation. Such
incidents foster a climate of fear that inhibits journalistic
investigation and can promote self-censorship.

We respectfully call on you to ensure that a thorough investigation
into the attack is conducted and that those responsible are swiftly
brought to justice. We urge you to do everything possible to provide
an environment in which journalists are able to carry out their
profession without fear of violence.”