Turkey turns down editor’s appeal

BBC
586.stm
Last Updated: Monday, 1 May 2006, 22:10 GMT 23:10 UK

A Turkish court has rejected an appeal by a prominent journalist
against a ruling that found him guilty of insulting Turkishness.

Hrant Dink, an Armenian living in Turkey, was given a six-month
suspended sentence last October.

He had written a newspaper article which addressed the mass killings
of Ottoman Armenians nine decades ago.

This case is one of several monitored closely by EU officials concerned
about limits on free speech in Turkey.

In February, the chief prosecutor’s office at the Appeals Court
considered Mr Dink’s case and recommended that the remarks were in
no way insulting.

But now, in a surprise development, the court itself has chosen to
ignore that interpretation and ruled that the substance of the charge
still stands.

‘Extremely distressed’

It is a blow for the defence team.

The high-profile newspaper editor, whose publication Agos appears in
Turkish and Armenian, was first found guilty of insulting Turkishness
last year when a court ruled that one of his articles described
Turkish blood as dirty.

Hrant Dink always denied his words meant any such thing and argued
his column was in fact aimed at improving the difficult relationship
between Turks and Armenians.

The case will now go back to the local court that first heard it,
and Mr Dink could face a retrial.

He told the BBC he was extremely distressed at the news.

He has always said he would have to leave the country if the courts
here could not clear his name for good.

European Union officials have expressed serious concern about the
article of law that was used against Hrant Dink and several dozen
other writers here in Turkey.

Despite a series of reforms linked to Turkey’s bid for membership
of the EU, it is still illegal to insult the Turkish identity, the
military and the judiciary and the line between criticism and insult
is often blurred.

The controversial issue of the fate of the Ottoman Armenians is
frequently the spark for court cases.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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:

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF RELIGIONS IN DOHA

The law studies and Islamic research departments of the University of
Qatar organized the fourth international conference for the dialogue
of religions in Doha on April 25-27. The conference was held under the
high sponsorship of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al-Tani.

More than 135 representatives of the Christian, Muslim and Moses’
religions from the Arab World, the Middle East, Europe, the United
States and the Far East participated in the conference entitled
“the role of religion in the formation of man and society.”

The Catholicosate of Cilicia was represented in the conference by
Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian, Primate of the Diocese of Tehran and
member of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee of the Middle
East Council of Churches (MECC). Archbishop Sarkisian conveyed the
greetings of the Armenian Catholicos to the Emir and the organizers
of the conference.

The conference’s sessions included discussions on globalization,
religious freedom, education within the family, religious diversity
and mutual respect, the preservation of nature, human rights and
recent scientific achievements.

Archbishop Sarkisian delivered a lecture on “religion and human rights”
highlighting the God-given status of human rights and the role of
the Armenian Church in this field. He also spoke about the Armenian
Genocide and called on Turkey to have the courage to recognize it as
a historical fact.

The Archbishop also met with the Armenian community of Qatar and
delivered a lecture on the Armenian Genocide on April 27. At the end
of the lecture, the Archbishop answered questions related to the role
of the Cilician Holy See.

##

View photos here: tm

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Ecumenical activities 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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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 MEETS WITH THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF MECC

His Holiness Aram I held a long meeting with the general secretary
of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Dr. Georges Saleh
on April 28. His Holiness and Dr. Saleh discussed two main issues:
the recent developments in Christian-Muslim relations in Egypt and
issues related to MECC.

During the last two weeks Coptic churches were burnt down
in Alexandria, leading to skirmishes between Muslims and
Christians. Dr. Saleh thanked the Armenian Catholicos on behalf of
Patriarch Shnouda III for his support of the Coptic Church at times
like this. He also passed the views of the Patriarch on the matter to
His Holiness. The Pontiff stressed the importance of strengthening the
basis of Christian-Muslim coexistence in order to avoid the recurrence
of such sad events.

Dr. Saleh then informed His Holiness of the main concerns of MECC,
asking His Holiness for his views and advice. His Holiness advised
that the committee’s current structure should be narrowed down both
in terms of number of staff and administrative divisions and should
focus more on service directed towards the churches.

In this context, His Holiness considered it important to introduce
basic changes in the MECC’s priorities and working method. He added
that while reorganizing MECC’s regional and international relations,
priority should also be given to local relations “as the church
expresses itself locally and in the lives of people,” he said.

##

View photo here: tm#2

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and 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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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 ARAM I RECEIVES GENOCIDE SCHOLAR DR. DONALD BLOKSAM

His Holiness Aram I received Genocide scholar Donald Bloksam in his
office on April 26. A professor of Genocide at the University of
Edinburgh Dr. Bloksam has been invited to Lebanon by the Armenian
Heritage Club of the American University of Beirut (AUB) to give
lectures on the Armenian Genocide.

The committee of the Armenian Heritage club accompanied Dr. Bloksam
during the meeting. The Catholicos praised the Armenian students for
their smart idea of inviting a prominent and foreign scholar to Lebanon
to talk about the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness also praised the
lecturer for having given special attention to the Armenian Genocide
both in his research and public and scholarly lectures.

The Armenian Pontiff then expressed his views concerning research
on the Armenian Genocide, its introduction to and recognition by the
international community. In this context, His Holiness stressed the
importance of giving special attention to the fact that the Armenian
Genocide remains unpunished, to the dictates of international law
regarding this issue.

He also spoke about the importance of reassessing the issue of the
Genocide’ s recognition according to the possibilities granted by
the international tribunals in Rome and Brussels so the process can
periodically be expanded to include the issue of compensation.

Dr. Bloksam shared the Pontiff’s approaches and in his turn stressed
the importance referring to those countries that can be considered
accomplices to the Armenian Genocide because of their silence.

Dr. Bloksam is the author of many books and articles, among them “The
Great Game of Genocide – Imperialism, Nationalism, and the Destruction
of the Ottoman Armenians”, a publication about the Armenian Genocide.

##

View photo here: tm

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and 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.

HAND BOOK DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE ISSUED IN FRANCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.05.2006 23:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 28 a traditional soiree in commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide victims was held in the Paris municipality. Some
1500 political figures, representatives of the clergy, the Armenian
community and media took part in the event. Mayor of Paris Bertrand
Delanoe and Armenian Ambassador to France Eduard Nalbandian delivered
speeches. Events dedicated to the memory of the Genocide victims were
also organized in some outskirts of Paris. It was also decided to issue
500 000 handbooks dedicated to the Genocide issue and distribute them
among schools and lycees.

TWO BOOKS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PUBLISHED

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.05.2006 23:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two recently published books “The Armenian
Massacres in Ottoman Turkey: A Disputed Genocide” by Guenter Lewy
and “The Great Game of Genocide: Imperialism, Nationalism, and
the Destruction of the Ottoman Armenians” by Donald Bloxham attempt
tackle the complex subject: The Armenian Massacres in Ottoman Turkey:
a Disputed Genocide strives to demonstrate how elusive history can
be when scrutinized closely; The Great Game of Genocide explores
the causes and legacies of the 1915 massacres in an international
context. Guenter Lewy, professor emeritus of political science at
the University of Massachusetts-Amherst asserts that scholars on
both sides of the debate have used data selectively. It should be
noted that similar accusations have been leveled at him: in 2005 Lewy
published articles summarizing his Armenian massacre findings in the
Middle East Quarterly and in the journal Commentary – findings for
which he was taken to task by the eminent Armenian genocide scholar
Vahakn Dadrian. Dadrian accused Lewy, who does not speak Turkish or
Armenian, or read Ottoman Turkish, of being out of his depth; Lewy
riposted; and the scholarly “chewing” goes on.

Lewy’s digressions help color in that turbulent period: [p.57]
“If the Turkish authorities were unable or unwilling to provide
adequate clothing, decent hygienic conditions, and appropriate
medical attention for their Muslim soldiers, why should one expect
them to be concerned about the fate of the Armenian deportees, whom
they regarded as a fifth column?” And: [p.61] “…A government as
callous about the suffering of its own population as was the Young
Turk regime could hardly be expected to be very concerned about the
terrible human misery that would rise from deporting its Armenian
population, rightly or wrongly suspected of treason.”

In The Great Game of Genocide, Donald Bloxham (a lecturer in 20th
century history at the University of Edinburgh) shows how the
“clean sweep” of 1915 was, in a sense, the culmination of a series
of tragic events.

Bloxham points to the fact that Ottoman Turks massacred masses of
Armenians not once but several times: throughout the empire in 1894-96,
and in Cilicia in 1909. By this time, 19th century Armenian communities
had gained exposure to western education and philosophical trends
– such as nationalism – and had grown increasingly restive under
Ottoman rule. Nor was 1915 the end to violence: Turks and Armenians
continued to commit atrocities against each other for the next few
years, with no group enjoying a monopoly on suffering. The Great
Game of Genocide examines the international context of the Armenian
tragedy, and the response (or non-response) by other countries
to what was looming as an ethnic disaster of unprecedented scale:
[P.5] “…Great power involvement in Ottoman internal affairs was
a key element in exacerbating the Ottoman-Armenian dynamic towards
genocide while Turkish sensitivity about external intervention on
behalf of the Armenians – whether directed towards reforms before
1914 or independence after 1918 – was a vital contributory factor to
the emergence of denial,” reported Eurasianet.

BLUE BOOK TURKISH PUBLISHERS TO STAND TRIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2006 00:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of the Republican Party of Turkey, Turkish MP
Sukur Elekdar brought a suit against the authors of the Turkish version
of the Blue Book, the collection of documents of the annihilation of
Armenians in Turkey. Elekdar asserts the introduction slanders him. The
MP demands to amend the “moral damage” with $15 thousand. Besides,
Elekdar raises a claim to author of the opening address Taner Akcam,
over the article published in Bikirim Turkish magazine last year.

In the article Elekdar was criticized as one of the authors of the
letter addressed to the British parliamentarians with a demand to
refute the data published in the book. The authors of the Turkish
version of the book – Umit Erdoglu, Taner Akcam and translator
Ahmet Guner will stand trial May 30, 2006, reported IA Regnum with
a reference to Bianet.

To note the Blue Book, formally knows as “Treatment of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1919” is a report heard by the British
parliament in 1916. The document proves that the Armenian Genocide
was planned.

Turkish MPs requested the House of Commons to “clarify the issue with
the Blue Book”. The UK Foreign Ministry in the person of Ambassador
Peter Westmacott stated it refuses to discuss the address, since the
“materials the book contains were not refuted and the authority of
its authors cannot be doubted.”

RECOGNIZING FACT OF GENOCIDE SHOULD BE BY-PRODUCT OF HISTORIAN’S WORK

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2006 00:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the books “The Armenian Massacres in Ottoman
Turkey: A Disputed Genocide” by Guenter Lewy and “The Great Game of
Genocide: Imperialism, Nationalism, and the Destruction of the Ottoman
Armenians” by Donald Bloxham, the authors pay special attention to
the term “genocide”. Both Bloxham and Lewy dwell at length on genocide
denial, and the appropriateness of genocide as a term. “Genocide,” says
Bloxham, is a 1940s word being applied as a “retrospective projection”
upon historical events of decades before: [p.95] “…the killing
did constitute a genocide – every aspect of the United Nations’
definition of the crime is applicable – but recognizing that fact
should be a by-product of the historian’s work, not its ultimate aim
or underpinning.” The sticking point is the perpetrator’s intent:
without intent there cannot be genocide. But intent need not be a
clear-cut, one time manifestation: it can develop, grow, and feed
upon itself and events. Hence, says Bloxham: “[p.96]…Pinpointing
the precise time within that period of radicalization at which a
state framework that is demonstrably permissive of murder and atrocity
becomes explicitly genocidal is extremely difficult and unlikely ever
to be achieved definitively.”

Meanwhile, Lewy finds little tangible evidence of premeditated mass
homicide (i.e. genocide), of Armenians. Perhaps this evidence will
be found, he allows, but it is not there yet. Apparently, crucial
archival documents have gone missing, or have been destroyed, or have
not been made available by Turkish authorities (even now, possibly
due to archival disorganization). In addition, documentation might
have been deemed spurious to begin with, or was used selectively for
political purposes (e.g. to deflect blame for Armenian massacres,
or, on the other hand, to build a case for creating an Armenian
state in eastern Anatolia, or for keeping land and property out
of Armenian hands after the collapse of the Ottoman empire). Lewy
concludes that there is plenty of testimony and documentation that
atrocities and massacres occurred, but, he cautions, premeditation
has yet be ascertained.

Lewy analyzes what he calls the “politicization of history” regarding
Ottomans and Armenians, and believes both sides are stuck in a semantic
bind. He says that the legalistic definition of “genocide” has been
conflated with the common use of the word as a term of opprobrium,
and proposes that separating these two meanings just might provide
the basis for more productive discussions between Turks and Armenians
today. This is a point worth pondering, while not forgetting that the
1948 UN definition of genocide was based on writings by jurist Raphael
Lemkin – who had precisely the Armenian, and other, massacres in mind.

ARMENIAN PM URGES GEORGIA TO IMPROVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF JAVAKHETI

Armenpress
May 1 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 1, ARMENPRESS: In an interview posted on the official
website of his Republican party Armenian prime minister Andranik
Margarian said authorities of neighboring Georgia should exercise great
efforts to improve social and economic conditions in Samtskhe-Javakheti
region to prevent out-migration of its ethnic Armenian population.

According to Margarian, hard social conditions are typical of all
Georgia. He said Armenia has repeatedly expressed its willingness to
join Georgian authorities in improving the hard conditions experienced
by Armenians in Javakheti, but he said the Georgian side did nothing
so far, except giving promises.

Margarian said though the government of Georgia has earmarked a
substantial portion of extra aid it has received from the USA’s
Millennium Challenges Account for repair of roads in Javakheti, it
is not enough. He said new economic infrastructures must be built
in the region to give people jobs. According to him, creation of new
jobs becomes especially vital because of the pullout of the Russian
military base from the region that gives jobs to many locals.

PARIS MUNICIPALITY MARKS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY

Armenpress
May 1 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 1, ARMENPRESS: Some 1,500 government officials, diplomats,
religious leaders, members of the Armenian community and journalists
were present at an April 28 reception organized by the municipality
of Paris to commemorate the victims of the Armenian genocide.

The municipality has been holding this reception for six years
now. Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe and Armenian ambassador to France,
Edward Nalbandian, addressed the present. The solidarity of the French
people with Armenia, reflected particularly, in France’s official
recognition of the Armenian genocide, was highlighted.

Special events to honor the genocide victims were also held in many
towns of the Paris region. The authorities of Iles de France, that
embraces Paris with all its suburbs, have decided to print 500,000
copies of a booklet educating the Armenian genocide and distribute
it to schools.