Author: Vasilian Manouk

Le Nouvel Observateur
Semaine du Jeudi 21 avril 2005

La longue marche de la reconnaissance

Ursula Gauthier

Il a fallu près de soixante-dix ans aux Nations unies et au Parlement
européen pour reconnaître officiellement le génocide des Arméniens.
Et dix ans de plus à la Russie, à la Grèce et à la France…

Il aura fallu attendre 1998 pour qu~Run ouvrage consacré à la Première
Guerre mondiale ~V «les Oubliés de la Grande Guerre», d~RAnnette Becker
(Noésis) ~V fasse une place au génocide de 1915. «Aujourd~Rhui, le
génocide des Arméniens est considéré comme un épisode central de la
Grande Guerre. Mais il y a quinze ans, aucun d~Rentre nous ne s~Ry
intéressait, se souvient Annette Becker. Et c~Rest seulement vers 1995
que le terme de “génocide” a fini par s~Rimposer dans la profession.
Avec le recul, cela paraît incroyable!» Quelle est la cause d~Rune si
longue éclipse? «Les historiens de la Grande Guerre se sont longtemps
focalisés sur les soldats. Verdun, la Somme, les tranchées… Il a
fallu qu~Rils s~Rintéressent, dans les années 1980, au sort des civils
pris dans les horreurs de la guerre, explique l~Rhistorienne. Il a
fallu, enfin, qu~Rils se tournent vers le front oriental.» Un no man~Rs
land académique… L~Rirruption du génocide oublié a déclenché une
foule de travaux sur les thèmes du trauma, de la survie, du
consentement à la violence ou du déni.
Pour des raisons plus évidentes, les études turques ont elles aussi
souffert de la même cécité: «Longtemps elles ont été contaminées par
les positions politiques nationalistes de la Turquie», analyse
Hans-Lukas Kieser (1). Mais aujourd~Rhui la majorité des turcologues
ont admis la réalité du génocide. Comme le Néerlandais Erik Zurcher,
qui vient de l~Rintégrer à la dernière édition de son classique
«Turkey, a Modern History» (Tauris, 2004). L~Rhistorien turc Taner
Akçam (voir encadré) en fait même le c~ur de son ~uvre. Certains,
moins courageux, évitent le sujet: il est vrai que ceux qui
s~Récartent des thèses turques s~Rexposent ~V le cas d~ROrhan Pamuk vient
de le démontrer ~V à un véritable appel au lynchage.
Publicité

La revendication de la reconnaissance n~Rémerge paradoxalement que
dans les années 1960. «Le crime avait été abondamment médiatisé,
condamné par les vainqueurs, rappelle le politologue Michel Marian.
De grands historiens comme Arnold Toynbee ou André Mandelstam
l~Ravaient étudié. Il ne faisait pas problème, contrairement aux
territoires que les rescapés rêvaient de récupérer. Les leaders
politiques de la diaspora n~Ront donc cessé de presser la SDN de créer
l~REtat arménien promis par le traité de Sèvres.» Seule l~REglise
arménienne, qui crée la commémoration du 24 avril, entretient alors
la mémoire de ce qu~Ron appelle en arménien «Yeghern» (Grande
Destruction).
Le second conflit mondial et la guerre froide mettent un point final
aux chimères territoriales. D~Railleurs l~Rintégration est réussie et
la deuxième génération ne rêve plus de retour au pays. Animée par
l~Rexigence de justice, elle se lance dans la longue «bataille des
instances internationales»: la sous-commission des Droits de l~RHomme
de l~RONU, en 1983, et le Parlement européen, en 1987, finiront par
reconnaître officiellement le génocide arménien. Les Etats suivront
avec retard: Russie (1995), Grèce (1996), Belgique (1998), Suède
(2000), France (2001), puis Suisse, Argentine, Canada, Pays-Bas…
Ces reconnaissances s~Rappuient sur les premiers travaux réellement
crédibles publiés dans les années 1980 par des universitaires
respectés. Vahakn Dadrian écume les archives accessibles ~V à
l~Rexception de celles, en Turquie, qui restent fermées aux chercheurs
non grata. «J~Rai décidé de travailler exclusivement sur les sources
des Ottomans et de leurs alliés, explique le professeur. J~Rai écarté
toutes les autres sources, y compris des pays neutres, afin de ne
prêter le flanc à aucune contestation.» Malgré la destruction des
preuves prévue dès l~Rorigine du projet, Dadrian administre néanmoins
une saisissante démonstration de sa nature génocidaire (2). Son ~uvre
bouscule les «Holocaust and genocide studies». Le thème dominant de
l~R«unicité de la Shoah» ~V qui a longtemps perturbé l~Rapproche du
génocide arménien ~V perd du terrain sans entraîner la banalisation
tant redoutée. En 2000, 126 éminents spécialistes de l~RHolocauste
(dont Elie Wiesel, Yehuda Bauer, Israel Charny) affirment la réalité
historique incontestable du génocide arménien.
La masse des sources disponibles est désormais impressionnante.
Publiées en 1995 par Ankara pour faire pièce aux accusations
arméniennes, les archives ottomanes, bien que partielles et formulées
dans un langage codé, sont une mine épluchée par tous les historiens
du génocide. «Croisées avec les rapports des divers consuls, les
témoignages des civils étrangers et les récits des survivants
collectés à chaud, elles permettent de dresser un tableau
extraordinairement précis des faits», explique Raymond Kévorkian.
Un photographe français, Bardig Kouyoumdjian (3), petit-fils de
rescapé, arpente les déserts syriens à la recherche des traces
ultimes de l~Ranéantissement. Les photos qu~Ril en rapporte,
déchirantes, ont réussi à ébranler l~Rhistorien Yves Ternon, qui
travaille pourtant sur la question depuis quarante ans (4). «Nous
avons accumulé les preuves. Il est largement temps que la Turquie en
prenne acte, s~Rexclame-t-il. Au lieu de quoi le déni frise l~Rabsurde:
la campagne qui se déchaîne actuellement prétend montrer qu~Ron s~Rest
trompé de coupables, que ce sont les Arméniens qui ont commis un
génocide à l~Régard des Turcs…»

(1) «The Armenian Genocide and the Shoah», Chronos (2002).
(2) «Histoire du génocide arménien», Stock (1996).
(3) «Deir-es-Zor», Actes Sud (2005).
(4) «Du négationnisme», Desclée de Brouwer (1999).

–Boundary_(ID_pHpGcdNYsPC8QAot3zoL+Q)–

ARMENIAN CURRENCY RATE RAISES, BUT THE BUDGET HAS LOSSES

A1plus
| 17:30:15 | 02-05-2005 | Economy |

During 4 months the Armenian state budget has suffered a loss of 710
million drams. After that the Government has decided to introduce
changes in the RA Law on Confirmed fees of tobacco products. «If
the project is not adopted, in case of the Armenian currency rate
preserving for the coming months, the loss of the budet for every
month will be 450 drams», announced Finance and Economy Minister
Tigran Khacahtryan today.

The problem is that the fees for tobacco products are taken by drams,
and the Government offers to change the law and to calculate 500 drams
for $1. The Government does this to prevent possible over-profit.

Arthur Baghdasaryan asked Tigran Khacahtryan as a specialist how
long the unstable currency state will continue. Tigran Khachatryan
answered taht he cannot tell as it depends on the policy of the
American Government, the international prices of the goods imported
into Armenia, and National transferts. According to him, even the
international oranizations cannot foresee things.

–Boundary_(ID_cHZCZbdlSs+et8f+6z2jvQ)–

AZERI PEOPLE DOES NOT WANT WAR AGAINST ARMENIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 29. ARMINFO. “Azeri people does not want a war against
Armenia yet”, Head od conflict-science and migration department of
Baku Peace and Democracy Institution Arif Yunusov expressed such an
opinion in an interview to journalists in Yerevan. He participates at
“Caucasus 2004” International conference started today in Yerevan.

Yunusov noted that about 40% of Azeri people are the adherents and 30%
the opponents of the war, and the rest 30% are undecided. “When they
have their position, it will be clear whether the war is be or not. It
is most likely that we will have a Cyprus variant “neither war nor
peace”, he noted. At the same time, Yunusov did not excluded that some
political forces may use the Karabakh issue to achieve their own
purposes. He noted the activated from Feb 2005 skirmishes at
contact-line resulted to death of about 50 people of both sides.

“The main trouble of both Armenian and Azeri people is that every one
wants the “fair” peace but in its own good, which is, certainly does
not coincide with the other’s point of view. In fact, we have a choice
between bad and the worst peace, However, we have even not reached
it”, Yunusov noted. He also stressed the necessity to create the
atmosphere of confidence and to establish contacts between the
people. “Absence of contacts is a big shortcoming”, Yunusov
concluded. -r-

Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 28 2005

Turkish PM: ‘We Cannot Forget the American Support to Turkey’

* Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan: `Turkish people do not
forget the American support to Turkey’s EU membership, Turkey’s
struggle against terrorism. We cannot forget the American support’

* ”We should be alert against the efforts of various groups and
lobbies who are uneasy about the development of Turkish-US relations
and we shouldn’t permit them,” told Erdogan in AK Party meeting held
in the parliament.

Jan SOYKOK, ANKARA (JTW)

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said he cannot share the ideas
that Turkish people is anti-American. Turkish PM emphasized that
Turkish people cannot forget the American support from the area of
energy co-operation to combating against terrorism. Erdogan gave a
speech in Turkish Grand National Assembly yesterday.

`WE MUST ACT TOGETHER’

Tayyip Erdogan continued:

`Relations with the United States is one of the main axis of our
foreign policy. W e time to time face exceptional differences in
methodology in some cases. But these differences cannot remove the
ultimate common understanding and need to make co-operation.
Naturally, the reaching a long-lasting and just solution in Cyprus,
combating against PKK terrorism and Armenian allegations are part of
the agenda in our bilateral relations. If we can follow a policy
together, all sides will benefit from that and Turkish-American
relations will be strengthened. ‘We must be alert against the efforts
of various groups and lobbies who are uneasy about the development of
Turkish-US relations and we shouldn’t permit them” told Erdogan in
AK Party meeting held in the parliament.

DISSAPOINTMENTS

Erdogan said Turkey cannot forget the American supports:

`Turkish people cannot forget the support of the United States we
have been in co-operation from combating terrorism to international
energy routes. Turkish people is aware of that we need each other
today and tomorrow. Fulfillment the expectations of Turkish people by
not only the US but also by our all allies will reduce the degree of
disappointments in Turkish public opinion.

`NO RELUCTANCE IN EU PROCESS’

Speaking at the parliamentary group meeting of the AK Party, Prime
Minister Erdogan said, ”the progress made by our government in
relations with the EU are evident. Even our opponents cannot deny
that we have reached the furthest point in our relations the EU.
Currently, European countries have begun considering Turkey a
‘partner’ or a ‘future-member’ instead of a ‘party’. Therefore, I
cannot understand those who claim that we slowed down in our EU
membership process. Our government will never give up its goal of
increasing political, economic and social standards of Turkish
people… There are many people in the EU who well-analyze Turkey’s
future contributions to the Union in its efforts to become a more
influential international actor’.

Erdogan argued he could not understand the claims of that Turkey
slowed down in EU process:

`After the decision of 17 December Summit there has been no slowing
down or any reluctance in Turkey’s EU progress… Turkey expects the
same sincerity, goodwill and consistency it showed from the EU.
Sometimes the EU says `we are aware of the injustice, yet we cannot
do anything’, and this kind of explanations damage the credibility of
the EU. We have warned them for the years, however they could not
show the similar foresight.’

`THIS IS NOT A EUROPEAN ATTITUDE’

Erdogan said the official EU circles sound the irrelevant issues to
prevent Turkey’s EU process. Stressing that Turkey had been
fulfilling its commitments with good-will and coherence, Prime
Minister Erdogan said that they expect the EU to display the same
thing.

`Turkey as promised will sign the Protocol. And it is our right to
expect from the EU to approve the financial aid and changes in direct
trade with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as the EU
promised to do so. In parallel with progress of Turkey’s EU bid, the
some unofficial groups in Europe sounds some issues which irrelevant
with Turkey’s EU membership. Now these irrelevant issues are sounded
by the some official EU circles. This is not a right attitude. This
is not the attitude we expect from the EU. This is not a European
attitude.’

”Turkey is a source of confidence and stability for both its region
and Europe. Turkey has been trying to contribute to efforts of
finding lasting solutions to problems in world. It is clear that
Turkey would make many contributions to the EU,” Tayip Erdogan
added.

JTW
28 April 2005

Civil Georgia
April 28 2005

Saakashvili Pledges Jobs to Locals in Akhalkalaki after Base Pullout

28/04/2005 20:36

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on April 28 while meeting
with visiting Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Artur Bagdasarian
that Tbilisi plans to implement new social rehabilitation program for
those ethnic Armenians, who face unemployment after the pullout of
Russian military base from Akhalkalaki, a town in Georgia’s
south-western region of Samtskhe-Javakheti.

`We do not intend to open a new military unit there [instead of
Russian military base]; though those [residents of Akhalkalaki, who
are currently employed in the Russian military base] who wish can be
employed at other Georgian military bases. For others, who do not
wish to stay in the army, we will develop a separate employment
programs, business-oriented projects,’ Saakashvili said.

In March, residents of Akhalkalaki, which is predominately populated
by ethnic Armenians, held a protest rally twice and spoke against
withdrawal of Russian military base stationed there.

Age, Australia
April 28 2005

Turkey’s wilful forgetting
April 29, 2005

If Turkey wants to be part of the EU it must be prepared to face up
to its history.

‘Who remembers today the Armenians?” Adolf Hitler is reputed to have
said as he prepared to invade Poland. Ninety years after the killing
of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I
many people do still remember – most of all the descendants of those
who were murdered. In April 1915 Turkish soldiers arrested hundreds
of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople,
then tortured and executed them. The Ottoman authorities then ordered
the mass expulsion of Armenians from eastern Anatolia, where they
were suspected of working with Russia to create a separate state. The
slaughter of Armenians continued over the next several years.
Terrible atrocities were carried out, even against children. This has
become known as the first genocide of the 20th century. What has kept
bitterness alive is Turkey’s insistence that no genocide ever took
place, although it admits many thousands of people died as a result
of “civil strife”.

Advertisement
AdvertisementNow the Armenians are seeking international recognition
that their people were victims of a deliberate campaign of
extermination. One thing gives hope they might achieve this: Turkey’s
desire to become part of the European Union. France, which is one of
15 countries to recognise the Armenian genocide, has called on Turkey
to set the record straight before it can join the EU. The Turkish
Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has recently proposed a joint
Turkish and Armenian commission to investigate the genocide claims.
The proposal is welcome, even though its critics say most of the
incriminating evidence has been expunged from the Turkish archives.

Turkey has been guilty of wilful amnesia. Germany has managed to
reinstate itself as a responsible international citizen because of
its recognition of, and contrition for, its Nazi past. Japan is
belatedly realising the importance of properly apologising for its
wartime atrocities. Turkey wants to be seen as moderate and
progressive, fit to be part of Europe, and to that end it has
instituted significant social and human rights reforms. But if it is
to be permitted to join the EU it must be prepared to own up to its
past. As history shows, victims do not forget, and forgiveness is not
possible before an acknowledgement of the wrongs committed.

Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Press Scan:

MEETING WITH ARNIE TO BE RECONSIDERED

MILLIYET- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was planning to
meet Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, during his
scheduled meeting to the United States in June. However, Erdogan
decided to reconsider the meeting after Schwarzenegger declared April
24th as the day of commemorating so-called Armenian genocide.

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian Prelacy of Canada

Contact
Name: Dania Ohanian
Phone: (514) 856-1200
3401 Olivar Asselin
Montreal, Qc H4J 1L5
E-mail: [email protected]

Monument Dedicated to Armenian Genocide of 1915
Erected at Armenian Prelacy of Canada

Montreal, Qc_ Under the Auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag
Hagopian, Prelate, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a divine wake was held at the Sourp
Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral for the 1.5 million victims of the
Genocide, on the evening of April 22.

Among the clergy present for the service were, Very Reverend Father, Georges
Zabarian, Vicar General of the Armenian Catholic Church of the United States
and Canada, Reverend Mher Khatchigian and Reverend Movses Jimbachian of the
Armenian Evangelical Church, as well as, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Armen
Ishkhanian, Rev Fr. Karnig Koyounian and Rev. Fr. Hraïr Nicolian.

The Sourp Hagop Vartkes & Astghik Sarafian Elementary School choir also
performed during mass, after which, a candle-lit procession followed the
clergy to Prelacy grounds for the official opening ceremony of the monument
dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The monument, a “douf” cross on a grey granite slab, was carved by Varaztad
Hampartsoumian, a “khatchkar” artist from Yerevan, Armenia, and donated by
Levon Sargsian and Levon Varjabedian of Armenia.

The monument was bestowed to the Armenian community from Sarkis and Seta
Tabakian on behalf of their daughter Nanor. Special thanks are also extended
to Hagop Amirian and Sossi Dayian Arabiab, without whose efforts, this
project would never have been realized.

The event was also marked by a special acknowledgment given to laval
resident, Manoug Khatchadourian, a 103-year old Genocide survivor.

Other events

Under the Auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate, a
memorial service was held at the Sourp Hagop Armenian Apostolic Cathedral on
the morning of April 23, as well as on the morning of April 24, at the
genocide memorial monument at Parc Marcelin Wilson in Montreal.

His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate, also joined the Armenian
community of Canada in Ottawa for the protest in front of Turkish embassy on
the same day, and in the evening, attended the 90th anniversary
commemoration event, which took place in the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic
Church in Toronto, organized by Church’s Pastor, Very Reverend Fr. Meghrig
Parikian.

Among the clergy present at the commemoration event in Toronto were, the
Minister Harris Athanasiadis of St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, Father
Michel Rouhana of Our Lady of Lebanon, Archpriest Oleg Kirilov, Rector of
the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Christ the Saviour, Protopriest Marcos
Marcos of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church, Very Reverend Father Mikhael
Armanios of St. George & St. Rueiss Coptic Orthodox Church, Very Reverend
Father Yousif Mansoor of St. Joseph Syriac Catholic Church, Very Reverend
Father Elie Kirejian of St. Gregory’s Armenian Catholic Church, Very
Reverend Father Estephanos Issa of St. Mar Baraumo Syrian Orthodox Church,
Archbishop Mathias Desta of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of Canada, the
Right Reverend Bishop Yurij of Toronto and Eastern Eparch of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of Canada, Father Kouroesh Barani of Toronto Iranian Gospel
Church, Reverend Father Ohanes Sarmazian of Cambridge Evangelical Church and
Der Gomidas Panossian of Sourp Nishan Armenian Apostolic Church in
Cambridge.

The clergy took turns delivering their message to the church attendants and
they almost all reiterated that if the Armenian Genocide had been recognized
in due time, then the subsequent genocides of the 20th and 21st Century
would not have taken place.

-30-

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS PLACES THE “PARTSRAPERT” GOSPEL IN THE DER-ZOR GENOCIDE MUSEUM

Antelias, Lebanon – His Holiness Aram I, who has embarked on a pilgrimage to
Der-Zor on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
placed a newly produced version of the “Partsrapert” Gospel in the Genocide
museum in Der-Zor.

His Holiness had taken the gospel with him to Der-Zor from Antelias.

“One of the masterpieces of Cilician miniature, this Gospel is a silent
witness which has escaped the Turkish sword and passed through the Der-Zor
desert. Those who saved this miniature from destruction before they saved
their lives, no longer exist today. But the remains of thousands of our
victims, whom the Gospel accompanied through this desert, rest here,” His
Holiness said.

As a preparation for next day’s events, hesgoum was held in the evening,
when many pilgrims visited the chapel and prayed for the victims of the
Armenian Genocide.

His Holiness praised the Armenians’ will for resurrection and explained the
symbolic significance of the chapel, which has become a pilgrimage site for
the whole Armenian nation.

“The Chapel in Der-Zor has a different significance from all the churches of
the world; it’s a haven for our victims. A nation that doesn’t have martyrs
is poor. Our martyrs walked through this desert. They died, but gave us life
through their faith and sacrifice,” he said.

The Museum in Der-Zor contains all the publications, whether in Armenian or
other languages that pertain to the Armenian Genocide and describe it as the
most heinous crime of the 20th century.

His Holiness arrived in Aleppo on night of April 22 and visited Der-Zor the
next day. Bishop Shahan Sarkisian, primate of the Diocese of Aleppo as well
as representatives from the diocese greeted His Holiness at the Syrian
border.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

AZG Armenian Daily #074, 26/04/2005

Cinema

INTERVIEW WITH FIPRESCI ARMENIAN DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT

– The International Festival of Rotterdam is one of the most important
European cinema forums. As a FIPRESCI jury member at the 34th Rotterdam
contest what would you point out first of all?

– I was glad to see Armenians participating in competitive and
non-competitive programs. There were competitions of short-length films as
well in Rotterdam along with full-length ones. The short-length films
comprised works by students. The 9-minute-long film “The Donkey” by Areg
Azatian was among 32 films to be screened by 23 countries. The film shot by
Areg’s own script dealt with human-nature relations.

– And?

– It is, of course, a promising start for an armature film director whose
work was elected for such a great festival. This is the case when
participation itself is important.

– Was Areg the only Armenian participant of the contest?

– Yes, he was, but the premier of “On the Sidewalk”, a new film by his
parents, Arsen Azatian and Narine Mkrtchian, took place out of the frames of
the contest. The 18-minute-long movie was a serious reflection over Karabakh
issue. It was important that this theme was raised within the framework of
Rotterdam Festival.

Both Arsen Azatian and Narine Mkrtchian are well-known in Rotterdam as the
their studio “Today plus Filmmaking” was the first independent studio in
Armenia that established relations with Rotterdam Festival in late 1980s and
received overseas support to shoot “Radio – Yerevan” and “Bobo”. Sadly these
relations froze by the time but luckily we are getting over again. Arsen
Azatian and Narine Mkrtchian know how to relate to organizers of film
festivals and different funds and this is vital for Armenian film directors
for showing our films out of Armenia’s borders.

– Were there Diaspora Armenians among the participants? Our overseas
compatriots are rather active in the sphere of cinematography.

– The presence of Arsine Khanjian conditioned by young Canadian film
director Ruba Nadda’s “Sabah” film was somewhat the continuation of the
Armenian theme. “Sabah” is a love story where the female hero, originating
from the Middle East like the director herself, comes from another
background and is the bearer of Islamic culture and the male hero is a
typical westerner. Relations of the heroes come to prove that the honest
feeling unites people in today’s open world erasing differences.