Reflections On Turkish FM Davutoglu's Failed Diplomatic Show In Yere

[Andres-Papazian]

REFLECTIONS ON TURKISH FM DAVUTOGLU'S FAILED DIPLOMATIC SHOW IN YEREVAN & THE LATEST ON THE GENOCIDAL STATE - 4

[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]

The German-Turkish Conspiracy Against the Diaspora

By MassisPost Updated: November 19, 2013

TURK-ALMAN ISCI ALIMI ANLASMASI'NIN 50. YILDONUMU

By Toros Sarian

The background and the effects of the German financed reconciliation
projects.

The decades of silence regarding the Armenian Genocide during the
Ottoman Empire was instantly broken as Gourgen Yanikian shot the
Turkish General Consul and his Employee in Santa Barbara in January
1973. Turkish hopes that this act of Genocide would remain forgotten
was transformed into an illusory wish. An elderly Armenian, living
in distant California, proved that the descendants of this Turkish
atrocity had not forgotten. In Santa Barbara the campaign had begun for
the international recognition of this Genocide. During the campaign
Armenians have informed the world public and have increased world
awareness of these atrocities committed within the Ottoman Empire. Many
Parliaments have passed resolutions recognizing the historical fact
of the Armenian genocide. Turkey has declared the Armenian Diaspora
to be a national enemy and took all possible measures to combat the
"Armenian Lobby" and to prevent the International recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.

It is widely accepted that Germany carries a joint responsibility for
the Genocide against the Armenians during the Ottoman Empire period.

This is clearly documented in the archive papers of the German Foreign
Ministry which were published by the German journalist and publisher
Wolfgang Gust in 2005. He persistently pointed out that only the
German Government could have prevented Turkey from carrying out the
Governments criminal plan of "solving the Armenian problem". The
German government under Emperor Wilhelm II failed to do so as their
Alliance with the Turkish Regime was more important than the lives
of the Christian Armenians.

The Berlin Government had been extremely silent regarding these
atrocities, whilst at the same time proclaiming their exemplary
conduct in addressing the atrocities committed against the European
Jews during the Second World War, even suggesting that Turkey should
take to heart their example. But when Germany is so courageous and
open to working out the crimes of their past why had the German
government remained silent till 2005 before beginning to evaluate
their part in the Armenian Genocide? Only at the start of 2005
did the present Chancellor, Angela Merkel, forward a motion to
parliament to commemorate the victims of the atrocities committed
against Armenians throughout the Ottoman Empire. In April a debate
took place on this theme in the German Parliament and in June an
all party formulated resolution was passed. This resolution read as
follows: "The German Bundestag honors and commemorates the victims of
violence, murder and expulsion among the Armenian people before and
during the First World War. The Bundestag deplores the deeds of the
Young Turkish government in the Ottoman Empire which have resulted
in the almost total annihilation of the Armenians in Anatolia. It
also deplores the inglorious role played by the German Reich which,
in spite of a wealth of information on the organized expulsion and
annihilation of Armenians, has made no attempt to intervene and stop
these atrocities." (Full text: www.armenian-genocide.org)

Although in the Resolution there was no explicit mention of an Armenian
genocide many Armenians outside Germany interpreted the Resolution as
being a recognition by the German Government of the Genocide against
the Armenians. On the website of the â~@~^Armenian National Institute"
it was stated that Germany was one of the nations which had recognized
the Genocide. However, the Organization of Armenians in Germany has
never viewed this Resolution from the German Parliament as recognition
of the Genocide.

The Central Committee of Armenians in Germany has made it clear on
many occasions that this parliamentary resolution does not meet the
expectations of the Armenians in Germany.

In a Press release on the 13th March 2010 the organization stated
that "The formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Germany
is unavoidable and well overdue", On the 6th April the organization
demanded again from the German Parliament the formal recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, according the
UN convention concerning Prevention and Punishment of Acts of genocide.

There are clearly different opinions regarding the assessment of
the German parliamentary Resolution of 2005. If the resolution
was such a clear recognition of the genocide, why did the Turkish
Government accept it so calmly and not react as it always did after
such resolutions? Germany has a large Turkish immigrant population
and the Turkish nationalists are well organized, but still there were
no protests or demonstrations. There were no demands for a boycott
of German products. Although the Turkish Government sent a formal
protest against the resolution, it was very mild in contrast to other
occasions when a state recognized the Genocide.

One comes to the conclusion that there must be other reasons why
the Turkish Government and Turkish Nationalists reacted so tamely to
the resolution. After the debate in April 2005 the German Chancellor
Schroder travelled to Turkey. One theme was surely the contents of the
all party formulated resolution. As time passed it was clear that the
German and Turkish Governments had agreed upon a common strategy in
dealing with the Genocide resolution. The old German-Turkish alliance
had made the Genocide in 1915 possible and now the two allies had
to find a way of preventing the demands of the Armenians for the
recognition of the genocide from being pushed into the political arena.

The key to answering this question lies in essence in the title
of the resolution Thus: "Germany must make her contribution to the
reconciliation between Turks and Armenians"

At first glance the demand for reconciliation seems something which
cannot be rejected or criticized. Reading from statements issued by
the German government since 2005, it is clear that the policy is not
reconciliation between Armenians and Turks, but between the Republic
of Armenia and Turkey. If the German government views the Genocide
question as an issue to be solved by the two states then it is clear
that the Armenian Diaspora has no role to play, according to the
German government. The descendants of the survivors of the genocide,
who have settled all over the world, would be accordingly ignored.

Although over the decades it has been these people who have campaigned
for the recognition of the atrocities. Demands of the German Parliament
for a Turkish-Armenian reconciliation have aroused no opposition from
the Turkish government: It is willing for reconciliation, but is not
prepared to recognize the atrocities of 1915 as genocide.

The Armenian Diaspora is viewed by the Turkish Government as an
"enemy", which they have not so far been able to muzzle. The only
possible way available for the Turkish Government to bypass the
"irreconcilable Armenian Diaspora" is to turn the Genocide Question
into a theme to be dealt with the Republic of Armenia. The Genocide
will become a question for negotiation between the two states, thus the
Diaspora will have no right or chance to engage in the process. The
weakened State of Armenia, already isolated by Turkey and Azerbaijan
can alone be put under even more pressure not only by Turkey but also
her allies, especially Germany. By putting the reconciliation of the
two nations, onto the political Agenda, the German Government has
done the Turkish government an immense favor.

Armenian organizations in Europe have neither been very attentive in
following the political developments since 2005. Nor have they been
able to recognize the ramification of the German contribution to the
Reconciliation process, let alone the political motives behind this
policy. However on evaluation of the information currently available
it becomes increasingly clear. Ulla Jelpke, Parliamentary member for
the Links Party (The Left Party) put forward a short written question
to the German government in August this year. Her aim was to ascertain
which academic projects were being financed by the German state with
the aim of critically evaluating the Genocide Question.

The Foreign Office Secretary of State, Cornelia Piper responded
giving details of great interest to Armenians. The detailed statement
included the following: "On the basis of the cited Resolution of
the German Parliament from June 2005, mentioned in your question,
the German Government´s representative at the Department for
Culture and Media has granted a sum of 410,000 euros to the Lepsius
House in Potsdam, for equipment and cultural development programs,
to establish the House as a center for German-Turkish Research and
Cultural Place of Exchange. The German Government is accompanying the
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process with support for cross-border
activities of NGO´s and German Political Foundations. In this spirit,
the German Foreign Office has provided funds to a total of 1,4 million
between 2009 and 2013 to the reconciliation project established by the
Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education
Association, (dvv international), under the title "Speaking to One
Another". The content of this project involves Student and scholar
exchanges between Armenia and Turkey, common critical historical
evaluation of the past events in the form of seminars, publications
and exhibitions." Apart from these two large sums 410,000 and 1,
4 million, the German Government has funded smaller activities to
the sum of 50,000 euros. In total, the sum of 1, 9 million has been
provided to support projects involved in the Reconciliation Process
between Armenia and Turkey.

The financial support by Lepsius House in the city of Potsdam is
widely known, and the work of Lepsius House is also known also by many
Armenians in Germany. But, the work carried out by "dvv international"
is largely unknown. On their website the organization's areas of
activity are described as follows: "The dvv supports a European and
worldwide exchange of information and expertise regarding adult
education and development, aids the establishment and expansion
of structures for youth and adult education in developing and
transformation countries and offers training consultation and medium
provision for global intellectual euro political learning." (For more
information see: www.dvv-international.de)

This institution which has been active in the Republic of Armenia since
2002 and according to their Website is "one of the most important
players in the field of Adult Education and LifeLong Learning", has
certainly established good contacts with the Government. The German
Foreign Office and the dvv-international, and the Armenian ministries
have presumably cooperated in organizing the Reconciliation projects
in Armenia. A similar close cooperation will have taken place with the
Turkish Government as the "dvv international" is also active in Turkey.

The Sarkisian government gladly embraced their role, thought out by
Germany, in the Reconciliation process and, not purely for political
reasons. They should have made it unmistakably clear right from the
start, that the Genocide Question was certainly not an issue solely
between Republic of Armenia and Turkey, but an issue which also
involved the Armenian Diaspora. The position of Yerevan on this issue
shows again that there is no clear agreement between the Sarkisian
Government and the Diaspora regarding the Genocide Question.

One of the Turkish government's policies is to drive a wedge
between the Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia. The signing of the
Turkish-Armenian Protocols in Zurich is in this connection was a great
success for this Turkish political strategy, even though the Protocols
were not ratified in the end. It may appear to be coincidental that
the dvv-international began their reconciliation projects in the
same year, 2009, as the Turkish-Armenian Protocol was being signed
in Zurich and it is not known when the â~@~^Secret-Diplomacy" began,
which led to the Zurich protocols.

If the Turkish-Armenian negotiations began after 2005 it could be an
indication that the negotiations had been initiated by the German
government. Due to Germany's involvement in the Genocide, Germany
had an interest in ensuring that this theme was at last taken off
the political Agenda.

As close ally to the Turkish government, Germany also had established
close contacts to the Armenian government. Germany had given
generous aid to the country and German investors are an important
investment factor in the region. Therefore the German government had
enough leverage to "convince" Yerevan as to the benefits of starting
negotiations. Perhaps, this leverage had to be used again to persuade
Yerevan to support their "Reconciliation Projects".

After Germany had pushed the "Recognition Question" onto the
"Reconciliation Track" the Diaspora was and still is confronted with
a new situation.

Should they give up their campaign for the recognition of the Genocide
and instead join the "Reconciliation Process" with Turkey?

The Armenian Diaspora must realize the German Government pursued
Reconciliation Policy serves Turkish political interests. Thanks
to Germany, the Turkish Government can now point out that these
"Reconciliation Projects" are being supported by the Armenian
Government and are prepared to "solve" the Genocide question in
cooperation with them. If the international community follows suit and
also views the Genocide Question as a matter between only the Republic
of Armenia and Turkey then the Armenian Diaspora with their demands
for recognition of the Genocide would find no support, as in the past.

The Sarkisian Government was heavily criticized for the Zurich
Protocol. But why is the Diaspora remaining silent when Germany
and Turkey together with the Republic of Armenia are cooperating
on reconciliation? The goal of the German financed "Reconciliation
Projects" is not to persuade Turkey to recognize the atrocities of
1915 as Genocide but to bring about reconciliation between Turkey
and the Republic of Armenia. If this policy succeeds, the Diaspora
campaign for Genocide Recognition which began with the shots in Santa
Barbara would be at an abrupt end.

Photo: Enver Pahsa (L) meeting with a German military officer in
Berlin. (photo AA)

http://massispost.com/archives/10078

###

The Myth of Turkish Secularism

by David Boyajian / December 16th, 2013

Turkey is a secular state. So claim its government and nearly all
mainstream Western media. They are mistaken.

In civilized, democratic countries, secularism means not only a
respectful separation between church and state but also freedom of
religion. As we shall demonstrate, Turkish policies have long been
the antithesis of secularism.

The Turkish government massively supports and funds Islam -
specifically Sunni Islam - inside the country. Turkey simultaneously
represses religions such as Alevism, and bullies and persecutes
indigenous Christians, most of whom it liquidated in 20th century
genocides. Moreover, it uses Islam to project Turkish political power
into Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Turkey's system is more properly
termed State Islam.

This article is not a criticism of Islam or its faithful. We respect
both. Turkey's secularism myth, nevertheless, cries out to be laid
bare.

State Islam

The Directorate of Religious Affairs - known as the Diyanet - is
the government body that represents and directs all of Sunni Islam
in Turkey. Created in 1924, a year after the Republic of Turkey
was formed, the Diyanet is enshrined in Article 136 of the Turkish
Constitution. The Diyanet is huge and powerful. Operating under
the Prime Minister, it employs about 100,000. All Sunni clergy are
salaried civil servants of the Diyanet.

The Diyanet's $2 billion annual outlay exceeds the combined budgets
of Turkey's Foreign, Energy, and Environmental Ministries. By law a
political party can be dissolved if it dares to advocate the Diyanet's
abolition.

Until recently, the Diyanet wrote all the sermons for its clergy,
but reportedly now sometimes allows them to write their own, though
their contents are controlled.

Would the U.S. - or any democratic Western country - be termed
"secular" if it funded a huge Christian government agency that employed
all Christian clergy and controlled their sermons? Obviously not.

Who owns Turkey's 80,000 mosques? It's not always clear.

Even many Turks wonder. For sure, however, the Diyanet controls
all mosques. (Shiite Muslims represent only about 3% of Turkey's 80
million people and are largely independent of the Diyanet.)

Two large mosques to be built on Istanbul's Camlica Hill and Taksim
Square are personal projects of Prime Minister Erdogan. The government
is apparently paying most of the costs, not something a secular state
would do.

The Diyanet operates not only in Turkey but worldwide. Turkish
foreign policy and the Diyanet are intertwined. The latter promotes
the country's political influence abroad.

Worldwide Reach

The Diyanet has a Foreign Affairs department that sends religious
consultants not only into Muslim countries, such as those in Central
Asia and Africa, but also into the United States, France, Germany,
Great Britain, Sweden, and other European countries.

Indeed, some Turkish embassies and consulates have a religious
affairs department and attachés that work with local Diyanet
representatives. Turkey is very active, for instance, in
the Netherlands where it reportedly pays the salaries of the
Diyanet-affiliated Dutch Islamic Foundation's staff.

In partnership with Turkey's Religious Foundation, the Diyanet
has in the last two decades constructed or renovated mosques in
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, northern Cyprus, Japan, Kazakhstan,
Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and elsewhere.

A $100 million, 15-acre Turkish American Culture and Civilization
Center (TACCC), which includes a large mosque, is being built in
Lanham, Maryland, 14 miles from Washington, D.C. It is "a project
of the government of Turkey" and the Turkish American Community
Center. The latter's older mosque is "related to the Republic of Turkey
and the Department of Religious Affairs [Diyanet]." Several months ago,
PM Erdogan placed a ceremonial stone at the TACCC construction site.

No truly secular state would do these things. Nor would it persecute
persons of other religions.

Religious Repression

Last year the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF), established by Congress, placed Turkey in its worst category,
a "Country of Particular Concern," alongside Burma, China, Pakistan,
and a dozen others.

Turkey, noted the USCIRF, "significantly restricts religious freedom,
especially for non-Muslim religious minority communities - including
the Greek, Armenian, and Syriac Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic
and Protestant Churches, and the Jewish community."

Restrictions that "deny non-Muslim communities the rights to train
clergy, offer religious education, and own and maintain places of
worship, have led to their decline, and in some cases their virtual
disappearance."

Such mistreatment of Christians, numbering only about 100,000, is
particularly reprehensible given that Turkey carried out genocide
from 1915 to 1923 against millions of indigenous Christian Armenians,
Greeks, and Syriacs, including many Catholics and Protestants.

The persecution of non-Muslims continued even after the Turkish
Republic came about in 1923. The infamous Capital Tax (Varlik Vergisi)
program during WW II, as but one example, deliberately taxed Christians
and Jews at extortionate rates that often exceeded their income. Men
were sent to labor camps in the interior when unable to pay. Families
were bankrupted. Only an international outcry stopped the program.

Thousands of Christian churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages,
cemeteries, and other community properties have been continually
seized by Turkey in the past several decades.

Though Turkey has recently returned some of these properties under
international pressure, the vast majority has not been, and probably
will not be, returned.

Countless ancient Armenian churches and monasteries, such as Saint
Mark's (Nshan) in Sivas, have been deliberately destroyed, sometimes
with explosives. Others serve as stables. Earlier this year in
the cities of Iznik and Trabzon, old Greek churches were converted
to mosques.

Alevism is a religion that has some 10 to 20 million adherents in
Turkey. Complex and somewhat mysterious, it contains elements of
Shia Islam, Sufism, paganism, and other spiritual and religious
traditions. Alevis worship in houses called cemevis, not mosques.

Alevis and cemevis are not recognized by the Turkish government.

Alevis complain bitterly, to little avail.

Alevis have long been the victims of discrimination and even violent
attacks, such as in Sivas in 1993 when 35 leading Alevis were murdered
by mobs, and most recently this year in Ankara, when police fired
tear-gas at protesting Alevis.

"Turkey may look like a secular state on paper," says Izzettin Dogan,
a leading Alevi, "but in terms of international law it is actually
a Sunni Islamic state." He is correct, but most of the outside world
is oblivious to voices such as his.

True Secularism

Some Turks feel that their country is secular because the Diyanet's
hegemony moderates Islam against extremist tendencies.

There may be some truth to that.

But as secularism must include a respectful distance between religion
and state, Turkey would still not qualify. Along with Turkey's domestic
religious repression, and employing the Diyanet in foreign policy,
the claim of secularism is simply fallacious.

The Turkish government is in full-blown denial about secularism and
religious freedom, as evidenced by PM Erdogan's preposterous claimtwo
years ago: "Turkey is a secular state where all religions are equal."

If Turkey is ever to be secular, it must allow the free exercise of all
religions - including Islam - and guarantee the rights of the faithful
to be free from harassment and compulsion. The Turkish government's
acknowledgement of its past and present wrongs, especially to the
non-Turkish and non-Muslim communities, and making genuine amends,
must be part of this process.

Until then - particularly in the West - mainstream media, governments,
religious leaders, academicians, and political analysts should cease
swallowing Turkey's fraudulent claim of secularism.

David Boyajian is a freelance journalist. Read other articles by David.

This article was posted on Monday, December 16th, 2013 at 6:39am and
is filed under Politics, Religion, Turkey.

http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/12/the-myth-of-turkish-secularism/

### Is the White House so Scared of Turkey That it Won't Even Hang
a Rug?

POSTED BY J. DANA STUSTER [091022_meta_block.gif] THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
21, 2013

[ghazirrug.jpg]

In 1926, Vartoohi Galezian -- a 15-year-old refugee from the genocide
in Armenia -- arrived at the White House to pay a visit to President
Calvin Coolidge. She had come to view the rug she and 1,400 other
orphans living in Ghazir -- then part of mandate Syria, now in
Lebanon -- had woven as a gift to the United States in thanks for
the humanitarian assistance provided to the refugees of the ethnic
cleansing of Armenians during World War I. In June 1995, the Ghazir
rug, a huge, beautiful work exemplary of the Middle East's legendary
weaving traditions, was shown once more to Galezian and her family,
but it's now been more than 17 years since the White House has
displayed what has come to be known as the Armenian orphan rug. Now
it is unclear when the rug will ever be shown again.

That rug, seen in the photo above, is now caught in a tug-of-war
with historians and Armenian advocates on one side pulling for the
rug to be displayed and the White House on the other, which seems
reticent to release the rug for an exhibit. Many suspect the White
House of kowtowing to Turkey, which refuses to describe the deaths
of 1.5 million Armenians as a genocide and objects to the display of
Armenian artifacts -- and the implicit acknowledgement of Turkey's
responsibility in the 20th century's first large-scale ethnic
cleansing. But the rug has powerful supporters, who are now pushing
a White House loathe to antagonise Turkey to put the rug on display.

As strange as it sounds, the memory of a nearly century-old genocide
is now being litigated over the future fate of a rug.

For a time, it looked like the rug would be shown next month at a book
launch event for a book about the rug's history, but the White House
declined to exhibit it. "We regret that it was not possible to loan it
out for this event," Laura Lucas Magnuson, assistant press secretary
for the National Security Council, told Foreign Policy. "Displaying the
rug for only half a day in connection with a private book launch event,
as proposed, would have been an inappropriate use of U.S. government
property, would have required the White House to undertake the risk of
transporting the rug for limited public exposure, and was not viewed
as commensurate with the rug's historical significance."

But some suspect the decision was motivated by political expediency
as much as concerns about finding the right setting for the rug. The
rug is a symbol of the expulsion of the collapsing Ottoman Empire's
Armenian population in 1915, which left 1.5 million dead and hundreds
of thousands displaced -- an event that most historians consider
the first genocide of the modern era. The devastating effects of the
deaths and displacement prompted the first concerted effort at U.S.

international humanitarianism with the establishment of Near East
Relief, an early precursor to USAID. But Turkey adamantly denies that
the ethnic cleansing meets the legal definition of genocide, which
requires that the effort to wipe out a population be "deliberate
and systematic," claiming instead that the Armenians were victims
of widespread upheaval in a country in turmoil. The use of the term
"genocide" -- and anything that draws attention to the deportations,
massacres, and death marches -- is a loaded political issue in
relations with Turkey.

"It is very hard to believe that politics doesn't have anything to
do with the White House's abrupt refusal to loan the carpet to the
Smithsonian" for the book launch, said Keith Watenpaugh, a professor
at the University of California, Davis, who has written extensively
about U.S. humanitarianism among Armenian survivors. "This explanation
strikes me as after the fact -- and not terribly persuasive. Artifacts
from official collections are brought out for special occasions all
the time. It is not unusual for meaningful pieces of art or special
documents to be displayed for short periods." Watenpaugh has started
a petition asking for the White House to reconsider displaying the rug.

In a separate effort, 31 members of Congress have sent a letter to
the White House urging it to "release this American treasure for
exhibition" but have not received a response. "If the White House
doesn't release the rug to be shown at the Smithsonian, it's my
intention to put together an event on the Hill at which the rug could
be shown," Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and a co-author
of the letter, told FP by phone Thursday. That event, which Schiff
said could be held as soon as January, would focus on U.S.

humanitarian efforts and the "circumstances that led to the making
of the rug." As to whether he thought the White House's refusal to
show the rug was motivated by concerns over Turkish sensitivities,
Schiff noted that it would be evident if the White House changes its
policy for future events. "We'll see soon enough," he said.

Regardless of the terminology involved, the rug has a fascinating
history. It was woven by a girls' orphanage in the town of Ghazir,
about 20 miles north of Beirut, that housed 1,400 girls and was
funded through the sale of woven rugs and contributions from Near
East Relief, a U.S. development charity that provided support to
Armenian refugees. The sprawling rug -- 11 by 18 feet -- contains
4,404,206 knots and is intricately patterned with animals, plants,
and arabesques. It was presented to President Coolidge on December 4,
1925, in advance of a Near East Relief donation drive. The rug stayed
in the White House until Coolidge left office, at which point it went
with him to Northampton, Mass. It was passed down through the family
and given back to the White House collection in 1982.

"The Ghazir rug is a reminder of the close relationship between
the peoples of Armenia and the United States," Lucas Magnuson wrote
by email. It is also "a symbol of the immense generosity that the
American people once demonstrated to the children of the Middle East,"
Watenpaugh told FP. "It is a superb work of art and a poignant reminder
of a time when the relationship between America and the Middle East
was much different from today and built around education, humanitarian
relief, and cooperation. Today, as millions more children are suffering
because of the war in Syria, we have the right to remember that
history and an obligation to rekindle our tradition of compassion."

But, for now, that history will stay locked away.

Armenian Cultural Foundation

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/11/21/is_the_white_house_so_scared_
of_turkey_it_wont_even_hang_a_rug?wp_login_redirec t=0

###

WHITE HOUSE REFUSES TO DISPLAY 88-YEAR-OLD RUG MADE BY ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE ORPHANS, PROBABLY BECAUSE TURKEY MIGHT GET MAD

Matt Welch|Nov. 21, 2013 4:33 pm

Over there is the underground warehouse we will store it in 70 years
from now on the odd chance that Turkey joins NATO and we need to fly
over their air space in order to maintain military hegemony over the
Middle East and North Africa. ||| Whether in refusing to call a coup a
"coup," or declining to call a genocide a "genocide" (despitemultiple
promises to the contrary) the willingness of the American government
to torture the English language and evade basic truths in order to
lessen some short-term diplomatic hassle is indicative of a deeper and
more consequential moral rot, one that enables questionable foreign
policy while invariably screwing over the little guy.

Or, if the White House's largely Democratic critics are to be believed,
the little orphan. Or more accurately still, the great-grandchildren
of genocide-orphans. I wish I was kidding.

Here's Foreign Policy:

In 1926, Vartoohi Galezian -- a 15-year-old refugee from the genocide
in Armenia -- arrived at the White House to pay a visit to President
Calvin Coolidge. She had come to view the rug she and 1,400 other
orphans living in Ghazir -- then part of mandate Syria, now in
Lebanon -- had woven as a gift to the United States in thanks for
the humanitarian assistance provided to the refugees of the ethnic
cleansing of Armenians during World War I. In June 1995, the Ghazir
rug, a huge, beautiful work exemplary of the Middle East's legendary
weaving traditions, was shown once more to Galezian and her family,
but it's now been more than 17 years since the White House has
displayed what has come to be known as the Armenian orphan rug. Now
it is unclear when the rug will ever be shown again.

The rug is now caught in a tug-of-war with historians and Armenian
advocates on one side pulling for the rug to be displayed and the
White House on the other, which seems reticent to release the rug
for an exhibit. [...]

We regret to inform you that whatever we said about "the problem
from hell" was just a way to get back into power, PSYCH! ||| "We
regret that it was not possible to loan it out for this event," Laura
Lucas Magnuson, assistant press secretary for the National Security
Council, told Foreign Policy. "Displaying the rug for only half a
day in connection with a private book launch event, as proposed,
would have been an inappropriate use of U.S.

government property, would have required the White House to undertake
the risk of transporting the rug for limited public exposure, and
was not viewed as commensurate with the rug's historical significance."

Huh. So what was this not-appropriate-enough exhibit? A Dec. 16 event
at the nearby Smithsonian to mark the release of A BOOK ABOUT THE RUG
IN THE QUESTION. Swear to God. It is called President Calvin Coolidge
and the Armenian Orphan Rug, by Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian, who the
L.A. Times describes as "a 91-year-old Massachusetts dentist." And
yes, the same administration that is blocking this utterly sensical
request is one that originally came to power by making pious promises
like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yNt7XsV-Dg

More from the L.A. Times after the jump:

You should see all the stuff swept under it! ||| Rep. Adam Schiff
(D-Burbank), who helped gather the signatures of 30 other lawmakers
on a letter to the White House, called the White House decision
"as inexplicable as it is hurtful to the Armenian community."

"It is difficult to express in words how deeply troubling it is that
a historical and cultural treasure accepted by President Coolidge on
behalf of the people of the United States may be being kept behind
closed doors because of Turkish desire to keep discussion of certain
historical facts out of the public discussion," Rep. Frank Pallone
Jr. (D-N.J), co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, wrote the White House in a separate letter.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) also wrote the White House urging
that the rug be put on permanent display at the Smithsonian: "We
must acknowledge and learn from the tragic crimes against humanity
that orphaned the weavers of this rug to ensure that they are never
repeated."

The White House's first public statement in response to this criticism
was as dismissive as it was terse:

The Ghazir rug is a reminder of the close relationship between the
peoples of Armenia and the United States. We regret that it is not
possible to loan it out at this time.

I am sure the historically significant artifact is safely being
studied by Top Men.

http://reason.com/blog/2013/11/21/white-house-refuses-to-display-88-year-o

### Australian politicians raise voice against genocide denier

Australian politicians raise voice against genocide denier November
21, 2013 - 15:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - John Alexander, the Liberal Member for Bennelong,
and Michelle Rowland, the Labor Member for Greenway, have both risen
in Australia's Federal Parliament to speak against visiting Armenian
Genocide denier, Professor Justin McCarthy.

McCarthy, who is a well funded denier of the Armenian Genocide,
earlier this week had two planned events in Sydney and Melbourne
cancelled on the grounds of his unwelcome denialist views.

McCarthy spoke in a room at Parliament House on Thursday, Nov 21,
at an event attended by reportedly only "two or three politicians"
after the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia)
wrote to all Members of Parliament and Senators about McCarthy's
denialist views. Among the attending politicians were Laurie Ferguson
and Mehmet Tillem, who had helped organize the event.

While this event took place, on the same day, MPs Alexander and
Rowland made addresses in the national Parliament, unequivocally
confirming the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide to a far
greater audience of politicians, media and members of the public.

Alexander said: "... revisionist Justin McCarthy has used parliamentary
facilities to promote his well-documented views questioning the
systematic slaughter of Armenians, Assyrians and Pontian Greeks from
1915 to 1923."

"The International Association of Genocide Scholars has discredited
McCarthy's work as selective and grossly distorting history.

ANZAC soldiers verify the Genocide as an irrefutable historical fact
through their eyewitness accounts. Denial of this Genocide is an attack
on those who perished, those who survived, and their descendants."

He added: "This institution should never again be used to express doubt
over the scope of suffering experienced by the victims of a historical
atrocity nor to justify these actions as merely part of a civil war."

Rowland, adding her voice, said: "I can also understand the heightened
frustration that many Australian-Armenians feel on this matter because
of the venue at which this event is scheduled to take place."

"My views on this are well known. I have joined in the past with
members of parliament and community leaders from all sides of the
political spectrum including the members for Berowra and Bennelong,
and the New South Wales Liberal Minister Gladys Berejiklian, to
recognize the Armenian Genocide..."

"Australian POWs recorded the marches, the massacres and the complete
destruction of Armenian churches, villages and city quarters. ANZAC
servicemen also rescued survivors across the Middle East. Today I
acknowledge the tragic events of 1915 and affirm my commitment to
never forget what happened to the Armenian people who were effectively
eliminated from the homeland they had occupied for nearly 3,000 years."

She added: "This week I noted a humanitarian plea to assist people in
the Philippines who were the victims of natural disaster, and I want to
end this speech by noting that Australia's first major international
humanitarian relief effort was in fact to help Armenian orphans from
the genocide."

ANC Australia extended their appreciation to Alexander and Rowland
for bringing to light that Armenian Genocide denial, like Holocaust
denial, is unacceptable.

Executive Director Vache Kahramanian said: "Mr Alexander and Ms Rowland
are champions of human rights and champions of just recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. We once again appreciate their support."

Meanwhile, to ensure the support against Armenian Genocide denialism
is truly bi-partisan, Greens spokesman on multiculturalism Richard
Di Natale told the Sydney Morning Herald that the event should not
have been held in Parliament.

"Justin McCarthy is a rallying point for those who deny the Armenian
Genocide," the Senator said. "The Australian Parliament should not be
providing Professor McCarthy with a platform because that just lends
legitimacy those views. To deny the fact that genocide occurred is
to disrespect those people who lost their lives and to cause further
pain for those who lost loved ones."

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/172951/

###

Not everyone who wants can become Armenian - Istanbul Provincial Hall

Not everyone who wants can become Armenian - Istanbul Provincial Hall
December 14, 2013 | 08:08

A family in Turkey, which had returned to their Armenian roots and
wished to enroll their child in an Armenian school in Istanbul,
recently filed a respective petition with the court.

In turn, the Istanbul Provincial Hall sent a ridiculous defense
statement to the court.

In the statement, Istanbul Provincial Hall justified why it had not
permitted the child to attend an Armenian school, Radikal daily of
Turkey reports.

The statement noted that solely national minorities can be enrolled in
national minority schools in Turkey, there is no information on the
Armenian roots of the plaintiff, whereas the Armenian church paper,
according to which the child is Armenian, is not enough.

The statement also noted that the Interior Ministry special code for
the Armenians was not applied for the given family, and, according to
Istanbul Provincial Hall, not everyone who wants can become Armenian.

To note, however, the court did not take the given Istanbul Provincial
Hall statement into consideration and instructed the provincial hall
to allow the child to attend an Armenian school. The court stressed
that the use of ethnic codes to determine the ethnic identity of a
person runs contrary to human rights.

http://news.am/eng/news/185295.html

### Turks to use salt mines of historical Armenian land for medical
tourism

Turks to use salt mines of historical Armenian land for medical
tourism December 13, 2013 | 00:04

Osman Engindeniz, Chief of Culture and Tourism Department of
Igdir Province of Turkey, announced that they plan to use the
840-million-ton-capacity salt mines of Tuzluca city [i.e., the
historical Armenian Koghb city] in IgdirProvince for the development of
medical tourism in the region, Bursadabugun website of Turkey reports.

He noted that even though the salt mine--which is located on the
Armenian-Turkish border--will satisfy Turkey's domestic demand for
400 years, they also wish that it also be used in order to develop
medical tourism.

"The air in the salt mine caves is very helpful for the treatment
of a variety of illnesses. We [also] will acquaint the tourists,
who will be arriving for treatment, with the region," Engindeniz said.

To note, the said salt mines belonged to Armenia until 1920; but as
a result of the Treaty of Kars in 1921, they were annexed to Turkey.

http://news.am/eng/news/185139.html

###

Turkish-Armenian writer sentenced to 4 years

17:42 â~@¢ 13.12.13

[g_image.php?id=374433&tmb=3]

Sevan Nishanyan, an Istanbul-based Armenian writer, linguist and
journalist, has been sentenced to four years in prison.

According to the Turkish website Demokrathaber, he has been found
guilty of building an illegal construction. After the ruling was made
public, Nishanyan tweeted that he would be jailed later this week.

He said that he would serve time over charges of building an house
in the town of Iliastep.

Nishanyan earlier faced criminal charges over "insulting the nation's
religious values."

The lawsuit was filed by 15 Turkish citizens who claimed the writer
had insulted them in his personal blog.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/12/13/nishanyan/

###

Istanbul-Armenian writer to spend 4 years in prison

Istanbul-Armenian writer to spend 4 years in prison December 13,
2013 | 13:52

Well-known Istanbul-Armenian writer, linguist, journalist and columnist
Sevan Nisanyan will be imprisoned next week.

The Turkish Court of Appeals has upheld a civil court ruling that was
made in 2008 against Nisanyan, Demokrathaber website of Turkey reports.

Pursuant to the ruling, he will spend four years in prison for an
illegal construction.

Reflecting on the ruling made against him, Nisanyan said he was tried
for building a small storage room in a building which he owns.

"Several [Turkish] MPs were recently released from prison; it seems
an empty space has opened up [in the prison]," he noted.

To note, Sevan Nisanyan has constantly raised the Armenian Genocide
issue and stood out by his fearless manners in Turkey.

http://news.am/eng/news/185263.html

###

SEVAN NIÅ~_ANYAN: "SADLY, THE TURKISH AUTHORITIES HAVE FINALLY SCORED
A GOAL"

Sako Arian

[31422.jpg] 20:59, December 16, 2013

The Istanbul based Armenian writer, journalist, and linguist Sevan
NiÅ~_anyan has again run afoul of the Turkish legal system.

On December 20, NiÅ~_anyan starts a two year jail sentence
for "illegally" constructing a small cabin on his property in
Å~^irince. The trial began some ten years ago. This is not the first
time NiÅ~_anyan will see the inside of a Turkish prison for his
outspoken stance on a number of sensitive issues in Turkey.

The author of "The Wrong Republic, or 51 Questions about Kemalism
and Ataturk", in addition to scores of other books, the Human Rights
Association of Turkey awarded NiÅ~_anyan the "AyÅ~_e Zarakolu Freedom
of Thought" prize in 2004.In 1995, he founded the NiÅ~_anyan House
Hotel in the district of Å~^irince, just south of Izmir, as a way to
spur ethnic tourism in the area. This is where the alleged illegal
construction took place.

He's become well-known in Turkey as a champion for citizen and
minority rights. What follows is a short interview I conducted with
NiÅ~_anyan. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to conduct a more extensive
one with him soon.

In the past week, the Armenian press has reported that you have been
sentenced to four years imprisonment. Later, the news was that the
court sentenced you to two. What's the reality?

I should say that there are several ongoing court cases against me.

Yes, the two year sentence has been handed down, but I believe that I
can get sentenced for another two years very soon. Another ten month
sentence might soon follow.

So, the two year sentence is going into effect?

Yes, they will jail me on December 20.

As far as we know, this sentence is linked to the construction of a
small hut that was found to be illegal. Is this true?

First, let me say that there have been another twenty suits filed
against me. I built a tourist complex in the Å~^irince district
of Izmir. I operate the NiÅ~_anyan House Hotel there. The Turkish
authorities, in a desire to find even the smallest infraction, took me
to court. It's a fairly large operation that I run, and, naturally,
the authorities found a pretext to sue me. To date, there has been
no political persecution or depth to the entire court process. They
simply came through another window and took me to court. I should
also confess that I was expecting to get a twenty year sentence,
since I thought it a lynch mob was after me and that I was being
assaulted from all sides. But, in the end, I received a much lighter
sentence than I expected.

Some say, you are being punished for what you wrote about the Prophet
Mohammed. Do you agree?

I have written much on religious matters in recent years. I generally
write about religion, especially Islam, and I try to state things that
fall outside the confines of ideas either perceived or accepted by
the people. This is why they want to lynch me, and why the trouble
started. I have become the target of many, even those close to
Erdogan. In addition, I've received thousands of Tweets and letters
against me, even death threats. I am being sued in seven Turkish
cities.

I should add that people here are not used to Armenians speaking
clearly and openly. People expect Armenians to be docile and
subservient, not to raise their voices, or go poking their noses
around. Armenians who act according to the rules not have problems.

But if an Armenian starts to openly discuss issues of public import,
then a wave of enmity rises up against them.

We've also learnt from the press, that an online signature petition
in Turkey has been launched in your defense.

There are thousands who follow my writings and pronouncements
in Turkey. The signature campaign should be viewed against this
backdrop. Naturally, there are those who are signing on that support
me, but whom I do not know personally. But I don't believe this
campaign will change anything, because the jail verdict has already
been declared. I have to serve my time. There's no option.

On Friday, December 20, you'll be behind bars in some Turkish
prison. What's your emotional state right now?

Everything is normal. I'm calm and collected, I hope that I've always
done the right thing and have spoken up in the name of justice. To
be honest, two or three years behind bars won't really do me much harm.

Do you know what prison they're taking you to?

No, it's still not clear.

The Armenian press periodically writes about you. Do you have
expectations from the press?

It's enough that my Armenian compatriots know about my situation
and that they stand by me. It means a great deal to me. I have
nothing to tell the Armenian press. But I am fearful of being
forgotten. Hopefully, when all this is over, I'll have the chance
to visit Armenia. I have many friends and acquaintances there via
correspondence.

On a closing note, what would you like to say to our readers?

I have been enmeshed in this struggle for the past fifteen years.

Now, it's like losing a small battle in a big war. Sadly, after all
these years, the Turkish authorities have finally scored a 'goal'.

http://hetq.am/eng/news/31422/sevan-ni%C5%9Fanyan-%E2%80%9Csadly-the-turkish
-authorities-have-finally-scored-a-goal%E2%80%9D.html

###

Turkey's actions concerning Armenia are linked to 2015 - turkologist

Turkey's actions concerning Armenia are linked to 2015 - turkologist
November 21, 2013 | 12:30

YEREVAN. - Turkey is attempting to revive the initiative to normalize
relations with Armenia, and this is linked to the current unfavorable
regional conditions for Turkey and, primarily, to the approaching
2015, when the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be
commemorated.

Turkologist Andranik Ispiryan noted the aforementioned at a press
conference on Thursday.

In Ispiryan's words, information was recently disseminated in the
Turkish media about the need for an initiative to normalize relations
with Armenia, and this information was followed by the statements of
Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu.

As per the turkologist, however, there is nothing new in Davutoglu's
statements in connection with normalizing relations with Armenia. What
is more, according to Andranik Ispiryan, Davutoglu again posits the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement as a precondition for normalizing
relations, and this implies that the normalization process is at
an impasse.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

http://news.am/eng/news/181839.html

###

Turkish FM adds history commission to preconditions before Armenia

Turkish FM adds history commission to preconditions before Armenia
November 21, 2013 | 17:20

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has made a new change in his
statements concerning the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

At the Turkish parliamentary budget committee session, Davutoglu
made another statement in connection with Armenian-Turkish relations,
Anadolu news agency of Turkey reports.

The Turkish FM stated that he attaches great importance to Armenia's
speedy return of the "occupied lands" of "brotherly" Azerbaijan,
and stressed that, in parallel with this process, the steps, which
are envisioned by the protocols signed with Armenia, will be taken,
and a joint history commission also will be included in these steps.

http://news.am/eng/news/181931.html

###

Turkologist: Turkey starts paying its own way

by David Stepanyan Thursday, November 21, 15:47

[tureck_flag1.jpg]

Turkey has started paying its own way because of conducting the policy
of adventurism at the Middle East, in particular, regarding Syria,
Director of Oriental Studies Institute under Armenian National Academy
of Science, Ruben Safrastyan, told journalists today.

"From the very beginning of the Syrian conflict, Ankara has been
doing everything for its instigation and stirring up, in particular,
it outlawed president of Syria Bashar Assad. Today, when the groups
formed with a help and direct support of the Turks fighting in Syria,
find themselves under the influence of Al-Qaeda, and about half a
million of refugees were backed up at the Syrian-Turkish border, Ankara
has started reaping the harvest of its inadequate policy", - he said.

He also added that at present as a result of such actions, at its
southern border Turkey has a Kurdish autonomy at the north of Syria.

This means that Ankara has started losing control over the situation
at its southern border. The expert added that nevertheless, despite
availability of such factors, Turkey is not going to give up the
policy of adventurism, and its intention to go on conducting the
policy of rebirth of Turkey as an empire is evidence of it.

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=132B7FF0-52AB-11E3-B95A0EB7C0D21663
###

Parliament of Turkey assesses Davutoglu "0" for relations with Armenia

[741182.jpg] 11:59, 23 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu at the course his speech on the discussion of
the budget of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in the Turkish Parliament
confessed the failures in the foreign policy and noted that they
failed to provide progress especially in the issues related to the
three immediate neighbors, Armenia, Cyprus and Syria.

As reports "Armenpress", the Turkish "Vatan" newspaper informs that
the deputies of the main opposition Republican People's Party,
in particular, strongly criticized the policy "zero problems with
neighbors" sated by Davutoglu.

They introduced a scoreboard of assessment of the activity of the
Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkey in the hall of the parliament
on which they marked their assessment upon the policy carried out by
Davutoglu towards different countries. For the relations with Armenia,
Egypt and Libya in particular, the Republican People's Party gave"0"
mark, "1" for the relations with Iraq and the European Union, "2"
for Iran, Algeria and Tunisia, "4" for Azerbaijan. "5" mark was given
to Syria.

[01.jpg]

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/741182/parliament-of-turkey-assesses-davuto%C4
%9Flu-%E2%80%9C0%E2%80%9D-for-relations-with-armenia.html

###

Turkey got zero friends instead of zero problems: Turkish expert

[741082.jpg] 13:54, 22 November, 2013

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS: During the last week the Foreign
Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu stated to the Turkish media that the
normalization of the Armenia-Turkish relations is on the agenda of the
Turkish foreign policy. On December 12 the 29th session of the Council
of Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
will be held in Yerevan, to which Davutoglu is also invited. Armenpress
presents the viewpoints and evaluation of the Turkish expert Hakob
Zakryan about the Armenian-Turkish relations and Davutoglu's visit.

- Mr. Zakryan, is the issue of the normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations on the agenda of the Turkish foreign policy,
like five years ago, when the "football diplomacy" started?

- The Armenian-Turkish relations are not a prior issue for Turkey.

The situation in the region is tensed. Because of the Syrian crisis,
Turkey worsened its relations with the neighbors - Syria, Iran and
Iraq. Davutoglu's policy to zero the problems with the neighbors
brought to a situation, when Turkey has got zero friends.

The situation in the region is not suitable for the activation of
the Armenian-Turkish relations.

- In this case how would you evaluate the statements of Davutoglu
that the Armenian-Turkish relations are on the agenda of the Turkish
foreign policy?

- These are just statements. Before the signing of the
Armenian-Turkish protocols Davutoglu stated that Turkey would not
open the Armenian-Turkish border. Two days after the signing he stated
that by the New Year the Armenian-Turkish border will be open.

Thus, Davutoglu's statements should not be taken seriously.

- If the Foreign Minister of Turkey visits Yerevan on December 21 it
will be just an agenda visit to participate the 29th session of the
Council of Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation.

- Turkey is one of the founding members of the BSEC.

Davutoglu's visit to Yerevan would not mean that Turkey will try to
activate the Armenian-Turkish relations. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE
INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN) Interviewed by Hasmik Harutyunyan

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/741082/turkey-got-zero-friends-instead-of-zero
-problems-turkish-expert.html

###

Turkey's policy 'zero problems with neighbors' has failed - expert

16:39 25/11/2013 Â" Topic of the day

TURKEY'S POLICY 'ZERO PROBLEMS WITH NEIGHBORS' HAS FAILED - EXPERT

Turkey's attempts to revive Armenia-Turkey talks, the developments
concerning the Syrian crisis and the Kurdish problem suggest that
Turkey's policy 'zero problems with neighbors' has failed, Turkish
studies expert Anush Hovhannisyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

The expert referred to the statement of Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu that Turkey's foreign policy challenges are Armenia,
Cyprus and Syria, and they have not been resolved yet.

Referring to the Moscow meeting between Russian President Vladimir
Putin and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which, among
other issues, discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the expert noted
that the balance of forces in the region between Turkey and Russia
is violated in favor of Russia and despite the economic partnership
with Turkey, Moscow and Ankara remain serious rivals.

Regarding Armenian-Turkish relations, Mrs Hovhannisyan said that as
the Armenian Genocide centennial approaches, Turkey intensifies its
activity in this issue.

http://www.panorama.am/en/popular/2013/11/25/a-hovhannisyan/

### What Will The Armenian Genocide Centennial Accomplish?

[genocide-survivor.jpg]

Orobik Eminian, 98, who was the only member of her family to escape the
Armenian Genocide alive, joins in commemorating the 95th anniversary
of the genocide and in calling for its recognition in New York City,
April 25, 2010. (Photo: REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)

BY HRANT APOVIAN

"Reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of
past injustice."

-Nelson Mandela, December 16, 1995

The leader of the association of Turkish Jews in Israel, Zali de
Toledo, stated that "Turkey should take into account its interests
and should normalize relations with Israel or else the Israeli lobby
will likely stay neutral when 2015 comes." This proves that nothing
has changed. The world is oblivious to morality and the reality of the
Armenian Genocide is no more than a bargaining chip for some nations.

We are anxiously waiting, with the greatest dread and anticipation,
for the year 2015, marking one hundred years of the first genocide
of the twentieth century. Expectations are at an all time high. The
centennial is set to be commemorated in an unprecedented manner.

Finally after ten decades, will the world listen? Will Turkey buckle
under pressure? Will justice - delayed for so long- be finally served?

"I am not an optimist, but a great believer of hope" is a quote
from the great freedom fighter and former president of South Africa,
Nelson Mandela. Similar to Mr. Mandela, this writer is pessimistic
about what change- if any- the centennial will bring.

However, this writer is also hopeful that anticipating the obstacles
before us and being cognizant of certain realities, will help us
come out of our torpor and define new strategies to make an impact,
on the occasion of the commemoration of the horror that befell our
grandparents and that almost annihilated our people. Many areas of
concern come to mind.

***

1. Are we ready to shake public consciousness?

That which has taken many years of sacrifice and years of struggle,
has been successful in enlisting over twenty countries to officially
recognize the Armenian Genocide. A short-lived outburst of armed
aggression against Turkish interests and diplomats has been successful
in bringing the Genocide to the forefront. However, the mere fact
that it is the centennial of the Armenian Genocide will not in itself
bring the issue to a head and force nations to forgo their interests
and pursue what is morally right. How can we expect to elevate public
awareness when the world stood silent during other genocides that
occurred in the latter part of the twentieth century?

Bangladesh, Rwanda, Sudan all happened in our lifetime. We need to
elevate the level of our expectations: we need to invite world leaders
to publicly chastise Turkey for its conduct; the Vatican should erect
a memorial for the million and a half; the European Union should stop
talks for Turkey's admission to its ranks; and the halls of Congress
should reverberate with our demands.

2. Are we over-anticipating the potential accomplishments during
the centennial?

The results will be directly commensurate to the magnitude of our
efforts. The biggest risk and fear is falling short of making enough of
an impact to result in serious changes. We need to change our outlook
in how we approach this anniversary: no more speeches, no more marches,
no vigils, no church services, no demonstrations. We have been there,
done that. We need the Government in Armenia to take the lead,
Armenian political parties to stop their bickering and activate
their members, attorneys to go to high courts around the world,
and the United Nations to act. The time to commemorate has long passed.

3. Are we ready for the Turkish onslaught?

We have always underestimated those that committed the genocide. I
suspect that Turkey has its own counter offensive planned. All of its
"friends" around the world, and the millions spent on its arsenal
of public relation firms may overcome our meager preparations. We
may not be ready for what Turkey has in store to neutralize what our
various commemoration committees are planning. We need to be ready
to confront a heightened and more sophisticated level of denial.

4. Is it going to be a replay on a grander scale of a hundred years
of commemorative rites?

In this age of globalization, social media and communication advances,
it is my sincere hope that our commemoration committees will adopt
new methods of challenging Turkish interests worldwide. I urge that
they commit to adopting and preparing a propaganda blitz that will
expose Turkey for what it is: a failed state based on lies, including
a failed "zero problems" policy with its neighbors, a nation that
disregards human rights, harbors Al-Qaida affiliates on its soil
and that has committed genocide not only on Armenians, but Greeks,
Arabs, Poles and Kurds. Turkey's continued blockade of Armenia should
no longer be tolerated by its NATO allies. Our offensive should be
brutal. We have to enlist the help of all countries and organizations
that espouse human rights and will not succumb to Turkish threats.

5. Have we really passed the threshold from genocide recognition
attempts, to the legal challenges of seeking compensation and redress
from the Turkish Government?

As it stands, we have just begun to tackle legal challenges. We
have yet to do our homework on this and we need to raise the immense
financial resources that it would require. It is yet to be seen whether
the government in Armenia is ready to drop the medicine pill that it
was forced to swallow- the protocols- and to take the lead in bringing
our claims to world organizations, starting with the United Nations
and the European Union. Turkey has to face the fact that massacring
the inhabitants of the land does not absolve it from their descendants'
territorial claims.

6. Finally, what has changed in the equation after so many years
of struggle?

It is true that a lot has changed in ten decades. Hopefully,
Armenians are wiser and better equipped to wage war against a nation
that never seized to dream of its Pan-Turkic aspirations. Armenia is
a free country again. Most nations are aware that Turkey committed
the first genocide of the twentieth century. Even some intellectuals
within Turkey have begun to talk freely about that which was taboo
for decades. The many years of a struggle to bring down the wall of
silence have not been in vain. The next stage will require even more
vigilance from all of us.

***

One nation committed mass genocide. It has to come to terms with its
crime, pay its respects to the dead, return historic Armenian lands,
pay compensation and apologize to the civilized world.

One nation's survivors have truth on their side. They have a just
cause. Their sons and daughters must pull together and shake the world
with their demands. Time has run out for justice to be served. Let
the Jewish Lobby side with Turkey when 2015 comes.

This is our responsibility.

http://asbarez.com/117406/what-will-the-armenian-genocide-centennial-accompl
ish/

###

RAFFI SARKISSIAN

Denial is an assault on history

Raffi Sarkissian

Contributed to The Globe and Mail

Published Thursday, Nov. 21 2013, 7:00 AM EST

Last updated Thursday, Nov. 21 2013, 7:00 AM EST

In April, 1915, two events unfolded that redefined the limits of
man's inhumanity toward his fellow man.

On April 22, 1915, German forces at Ypres, Belgium, launched lethal
chlorine gas shells at the trenches of opposing French forces, thus
introducing humanity to the horror of chemical warfare.

Two days later, on April 24, 1915, the Young Turk government of the
Ottoman Empire ordered the arrest of Armenian community leaders in
Constantinople as a prelude to its campaign to rid the empire of its
indigenous Armenian population, thus introducing the world to the
spectre of industrial-scale genocide. The international response to
these two events has influenced future events in very different ways.

As we were tragically reminded by recent events in Syria, the world
has drawn a red line on the use of chemical weapons in conflict.

International condemnation of chemical weapons after the First World
War was so severe that the Second World War's combatants almost never
used them on the battlefield. And yet, the world's silence on the
Armenian genocide emboldened the Nazis as they planned to rid Europe
of its Jewish and Roma populations.

If the international community expects to make genocide as intolerable
as chemical warfare, it must collectively commemorate the events of
1915 to 1923 and condemn their denial by Turkey's government.

The Turkish Republic began executing its denial campaign at the time
of its founding in 1923. It reinvented Ottoman history and therefore
failed to learn and teach the lessons of genocide. Minorities continued
to be persecuted and their historical presence in Asia Minor erased.

Today, Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code is one of many mechanisms
of Turkey's denial. This law criminalizes insulting the "Turkish
Nation." Referring to the Armenian case as genocide qualifies. Turkish
intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, have been
punished under this law. In 2006, Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink was prosecuted and received a six-month suspended sentence. He
consequently became a target for extremists in Turkey, who assassinated
him a year later.

The Turkish government's denial is also an assault on Canada's
history. Canadians have been aware of the plight of Ottoman Armenians
since the late 19th century and have provided aid.

The Globe and Mail's predecessor, the Globe, led humanitarian aid
campaigns after the 1895-96 massacre of 300,000, the 1909 massacre
of 30,000 and the 1915-23 genocide of 1.5 million.

Public support for the Armenians inspired Canada's government to accept
a proposal that allowed some orphaned boys and girls to be brought to
Canada. Between 1923 and 1927, 109 young survivors of the genocide
were settled on a farm in Georgetown, Ont. By providing assistance
to non-British Commonwealth refugees, the Armenian Boys' Farm Home
was the first international humanitarian effort of its kind in Canada.

This shared history gave Canada the confidence to stand up to Turkish
pressure and recognize the Armenian genocide in 2006.

Nearly 100 years after the first use of poison gas on Europe's
battlefields, the world has made it clear that chemical weapons use
is unacceptable and will be punished. Unfortunately, the same cannot
be said about genocide and genocide denial. Combatting denial is the
first step to drawing a red line against genocide. Commemoration,
education and justice are crucial as we stand at the doorstep of the
100th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century.

Raffi Sarkissian is founder and chair of the Sara Corning Centre for
Genocide Education.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/denial-is-an-assault-on-history/
article15530249/

### UN discussions reflect on centennial commemoration of Armenian
Genocide

UN discussions reflect on centennial commemoration of Armenian Genocide
December 13, 2013 | 15:51

Discussions, which were devoted to the 65th anniversary of the adoption
of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide, were held on Monday and Thursday at the United Nations
(UN) Headquarters.

Addressing at the event, Armenia's Permanent Representative to UN,
Ambassador Garen Nazarian, highly appreciated lawyer Raphael Lemkin's
contribution to the preparation of the Convention and his indispensable
role in the legal definition of the crime of genocide.

Recalling to the audience that Lemkin's study of the Armenian Genocide
had become instrumental in his choosing of his profession, the Armenian
ambassador noted that Lemkin had devoted the rest of his life to the
exposure of the truth of the genocide and its prevention.

Ambassador Nazarian added that Armenia continues to take steps toward
the prevention and condemnation of the grave crimes against humanity,
and express its unconditional support to the UN offices' activities
toward genocide prevention.

The discussants and the speakers also reflected on the forthcoming
centennial commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

http://news.am/eng/news/185292.html




From: A. Papazian