Egypt has announced that it will not renew a Suez Canal transit-trade agreement with Turkey

April 4, 2015 By administrator

cargo ships sail through the Suez Canal

By İBRAHİM TÜRKMEN

As the Egyptian administration, which draws constant criticism from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has announced that it will not renew a transit-trade agreement with Turkey which expires at the end of this month, Turkish exporters are looking for a way out, with the Suez Canal looking like the only alternative for transportation of goods to countries on the Arabian Peninsula despite the high cost.

When Turkish trucks had to abandon the transportation route via Syria to Jordan and countries on the Arabian Peninsula due to the civil war in Syria, Turkey signed in April of 2012 a memorandum of understanding with Egypt for the establishment of a transit transportation route connected by the Ro-Ro ships.

The Ro Ro agreement, which became active at the end of April 2012 between the two countries, allowed Turkish exporters to bypass the Suez Canal and keep the increase in their transportation costs in exports to the region at a reasonable level, with an increase of $1,000 per truck as compared to the Syrian route. The agreement expires on April 24.

Although Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekçi continues to say there are ongoing negotiations to ensure the renewal of the agreement with Egyptian officials, it does not seem likely that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is constantly attacked by Erdoğan for being a coup perpetrator, will take any steps in Turkey’s favor. This situation leaves exporters and transporters in the country’s south in particular in a tough situation.

Around 8,000 to 10,000 trucks on average transport Turkish goods, in particular fresh fruits and textiles, to Gulf countries over this route every year. In line with the present agreement, Turkish trucks go to Egypt’s Port Said on ships from where they cover a 240-kilometer road until the Port of Adabiya, which is located at the end of the Suez Canal. From Adabiya, they board ships again to go to Saudi Arabia’s Dhiba Port and then to their customers in Gulf countries.

In October 2009, when Turkey enjoyed friendly relationships with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an agreement was signed between the two countries ending visa requirements. This agreement led to great commercial mobilization in the Turkish provinces that have borders with Syria.

With the increasing tourism activities in the region, businessmen in the country’s Southeast began to make new investments and increased their production capacity. When civil war broke out in Syria and relations between Syria and Turkey worsened, commercial activities in the region came to a halt. Following this, the Turkish government found a new, alternative route for the trucks over Egypt.

When the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) administration, which was strongly supported by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, was toppled by Sisi in Egypt, Turkey adopted a very harsh stance against Sisi and bilateral relations became strained. Sisi’s response was also harsh. This is the main reason behind the transit-trade agreement not being renewed.

The amount of exports that is transported via the route in Egypt is around $500 million. Turkey’s failure to ensure the renewal of the transit-trade agreement with Egypt does not mean that it will lose the entire $500 million. There are some alternative routes, but each of them is costly.

Ro-Ro line was a life ring

Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) President Hikmet Çinçin said the transit-trade agreement with Egypt served as a life ring for exporters at a time when access to Middle Eastern and Gulf countries over Syria became impossible due to the civil war in the country. He said the unilateral cancellation of the transit-trade agreement by Egypt will affect the regional economy and also Turkish exports. Yet, he avoids mentioning the cost that will arise with the cancellation of this agreement.

Çinçin said ATSO has made a study on the alternative routes and come to the conclusion that reaching Saudi Arabia via the Suez Canal is the most reasonable alternative. This route will bring in an extra cost of $1,000 to $1,500 per truck. Although reaching the region from Israel is another alternative, it seems unlikely due to the diplomatic crisis Turkey has with Israel. Iran is another alternative, but since the route would be longer from there with additional costs, it is not preferable. Iraq and Syria are not even considered as alternatives due to the turmoil in these countries.

Hatay Ro-Ro executive board president İbrahim Güler has said they made their decision to use the Suez Canal as of April 24 for their commercial activities. According to Güler, this will lead to an additional cost for carriers. Businessmen who are involved in commercial activities in the Gulf and Arab countries say they will not give up exporting goods to these regions no matter what happens.

Source: ZAMAN

Sales of Kurdish oil point to beneficiaries close to Erdoğan

April 4, 2015 By administrator

By DOĞAN ERTUĞRUL / ISTANBUL

Kurdistan, Turkish Cash Cow (photo gagrule)

People close to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are the beneficiaries of a lucrative oil deal signed between Ankara and Arbil that has laid the framework for the transfer of Kurdish oil, as the company granted the exclusive right to the transfer through Turkey is run by a former deputy candidate from the ruling party and an ex-official from Çalık Group, a company known to have ties with the ruling party.

Furthermore, according to a book written by the Hürriyet daily’s Washington correspondent, Tolga Tanış, Powertrans, the company that was given the exclusive license to carry and trade Kurdish oil by the cabinet shortly after its foundation in 2011, is run by Berat Albayrak, who is married to Erdoğan’s daughter, Esra Albayrak.

Who are the people behind Powertrans? Well, Turkey has sought an answer to this question since the establishment of the company. According to trade registry data, the general manager of the company is a former deputy candidate from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ahmet Sadi Güngör, who also previously worked in the Petroleum Trade Coordination department of Çalık Group. For this reason it is claimed that the company’s secret partner is Çalık group.

Players making profit from oil deal between Arbil and Baghdad not known.

On Dec. 29, 2013, a new relationship between Turkey and Kurdistan began. On that day, Ankara and Arbil signed a series of agreements that had been in development for some time. The agreements, valid for 50 years, regulate the delivery of Kurdish oil and gas to the Ceyhan district of Adana, products which will then be sold on the international market.

As expected, Baghdad fiercely opposed the deal, accusing Arbil of “being in pursuit of independence.” The Maliki government also accused Turkey of “interfering in the sovereignty rights of Iraq,” but by then the genie was out of the bottle, and Ankara added new agreements to the deal in March 2014.

Access to Kurdish oil was indeed a great opportunity for Turkey and the region. But things did not go well. A transparent oversight mechanism open to international monitoring announced by Energy Minister Taner Yıldız was never established. Today it is unknown who buys Kurdish oil and who then sells it to whom at what prices, or how Turkey gains from the trade. It was only after Baghdad’s appeal to an international court of arbitration that people learned the names of the local and foreign companies selling Kurdish oil on international markets.

Due to the failure to establish a transparent mechanism to oversee the sales of oil extracted in northern Iraq, little is known about the buyers and sellers of the oil, extracted by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the price at which it is sold, or what Turkey gains as a gateway country for the Kurdish oil to be sold on international markets. The oil extraction capacity of the Kurdish region rose to 400,000 barrels per day as of January, while 150,000 of those barrels are sold on the domestic market.

The rest is flown to the Ceyhan pipeline in line with the agreement signed with Baghdad, while a portion of this oil is given to some oil extraction companies in order to pay off Kurdistan’s prior debts. According to information given by the Vice President of Arbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mele Mecid, the foreign companies and the Turkish companies extracting oil take 30 percent of all extracted oil in order to cover debts Arbil is unable to pay in cash. Oil companies then sell 30 percent of the oil they extracted on international markets at prices they determine.

On the other hand, no transparency has been achieved on the identity of the bank where these petro-dollars will be deposited, an issue which Ankara, Arbil and Baghdad have been negotiating. It had been announced that the parties had agreed on state-run Turkish bank Halkbank. Yıldız even announced in October 2014 that $700 million had been deposited in Halkbank. However, it is still a mystery how much revenue has been made by the sale of Kurdish oil today.

Due to regional circumstances, there is no mechanism in the KRG to monitor and oversee oil sales. The only functioning supervising authority is the Committee on Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Parliament. The committee obtains information from Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami periodically.

In an interview with Sunday’s Zaman, committee head Sherko Cevdet provided information about the official data and the process regarding oil sales.

“Kurdish oil is sold at low prices due the economic crisis in the Kurdish region. As of January, 34 million barrels of oil were sold, which is equal to $2.5 billion,” he said. “Oil companies and some intermediaries are making big money. No one wants them to be disclosed,” he continues.

Cevdet added there are some 30 companies from 19 countries operating in the Kurdish region and it is difficult to make oil sales transparent and place the sales under supervision.

According to him, in order to make the sales of Kurdish oil more transparent, the disagreement between Baghdad and Arbil should be overcome. But there is little hope for a resolution of the crisis in the near future.

When asked, Arbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Mele Mecid said, “What is the role of Ankara in the sale of Kurdish oil?” He said Turkey has a vital role in the sale of Kurdish oil after the energy agreement between the KRG and Turkey, which fundamentally changed the oil trade.

“There used to be tankers which shipped oil through land and a railway until the deal was made with Turkey. After the agreement, a limitation was placed on the trade made through tankers because Kurdish oil now flows directly to Ceyhan,” he says.

“The sale of Kurdish oil is under the control of the Turkish Energy Ministry. The ministry knows how much oil was sold, who bought it and how much money was deposited because the agreement stipulates so. On the subject of private companies, well, every government can grant some privileges. Turkey could have given privileges to some companies as well,” he added.

Delay in money transfers with Halkbank

“It is true that there is a bank account of Kurdistan in Halkbank. All the petrodollars used to be deposited there. But now not all the money is accumulated in Halkbank. Two new accounts were opened in the US and Germany as money transfers was not convenient with Halkbank. Money is now being transferred more rapidly. Halkbank was transferring money slowly due to a shortage of cash. Because of that, new accounts have been opened,” says Cevdet.

Even Kurdish Parliament does not know the fate of the money deposited in Halkbank. “We don’t know how much was withdrawn from the money accumulated in Halkbank. We don’t know how much interest rate the money yielded as well,” Cevdet said.

Iraq possesses 8.7 percent of oil reserves in the world, which is equal to 143 billion barrels. Around 30 percent of Iraqi oil reserves are located in the Kurdish region.

A total of 550,000 barrels of oil a day flow into Ceyhan from the Kurdish region and Kirkuk.

Powertrans: Mysterious company granted privilege in Kurdish oil

Return to the biggest question regarding Kurdish oil: Which Turkish firms are participating in the sale of oil from northern Iraq? Is Powertrans, which was founded by businessmen close to President Erdoğan, selling Kurdish oil from Ceyhan to international markets as claimed?

The knowledge of Kurdish authorities and the businessmen involved in the oil business in the region regarding those who are selling the oil is limited. This is due to the fact that the procedure on the sale of oil was not institutionalized at Kurdish administrative level.

In addition to Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami and Prime Minister Nachirvan Barzani, only a few have thorough knowledge on the subject. Furthermore, the Kurdish authorities are not interested in those who sell oil in Ceyhan because of the terms of the agreement.

Nonetheless, the officials Sunday’s Zaman spoke to say the answer to the question is in the deal signed on November of 2013.

Interestingly, before Kurdish oil flowed into Ceyhan, debates on who would sell the oil had come onto the agenda of Parliament.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Aytun Çıray in a parliamentary inquiry had asked the energy minister what the agreement with Arbil featured, who was granted the license and privilege to transport Kurdish oil and, if it was true as claimed, according to which criteria Powertrans was given the privilege. However, no answer provided, as expected.

In response to a parliamentary question posed by CHP deputy Mevlüt Dudu on May of 2013, the ministry acknowledged that Powertrans had been given license to ship Kurdish oil from the Mediterranean to world markets.

But the questions asking which companies besides Powertrans had applied to transport the oil and according to which criteria the selection had been made were left unanswered, though it constituted an outright breach of the Constitution and Parliament bylaw.

Today no one, including Parliament, knows the terms of the agreement made with Arbil. Why? Because the KRG is not a sovereign state and thus the agreement made with it is not considered similar to agreements signed between states. It is qualified as an agreement based on terms of private law.

It also means the agreement did not require Parliament’s approval. The monitoring of an agreement worth billions of dollars was thus circumvented on a technical legal pretext.

On the other hand, Powertrans’ inclusion in the agreement is shrouded in mystery. According to data obtained by Sunday’s Zaman from KRG officials, Turkey founded an off-shore company to extract and sell Kurdish oil. The agreement with the KRG on the production of oil was made via this company.

The partners of the company that will operate in the six fields in the KRG include the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and the Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPIC) — nothing wrong here. But according to claims, the company also has domestic and foreign partners that are subjected to private law terms. Could these partners include Powertrans? It’s highly likely. What is certain is that Powertrans has the privilege to buy and sell Kurdish oil flowing to Ceyhan.

Powertrans not responding to allegations

Though Powertrans has been at the center of debates for some time, no official explanation has been provided by company officials. Our request for a meeting was not accepted by officials staying at a plaza in Maslak.

The officials of the company, who left our questions unanswered, said “According to our business contract, even a general manager might be fired if he provides information about the company,” and upon our insistence, said if we sent questions via e-mail, they would notify the headquarters in Singapore and we would then be contacted by the headquarters.

But two weeks have passed and no response has been provided by Powertrans to the below questions:

-Does Powertrans export northern Iraq oil? In which other regions and countries does the firm have a presence?

-Is Powertrans the only firm entitled to export Kurdistan’s oil flowing to the Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline?

-How much of the sales of 34 million barrels of oil since June of 2014 was done by Powertrans?

-What is the duration of the privilege granted by the Customs and Trade Ministry to Powertrans to sell oil?

-Is the money obtained by Powertrans after oil sales deposited in the Halkbank account of the KRG?

-Does your company have a partnership with the Çalık Group?

My questions may solve the mystery in the sales of Kurdish oil in Ceyhan to a certain extent. But the claims of illegality and fraud about the oil trade have not been satisfactorily explained because the answers should be provided by the Energy Ministry and the government that should monitor and provide transparency on the agreement.

Source: TodayZaman

Turkey: No Day or week go by without Journalist receives jail sentence for “Erdoğan insult”

April 4, 2015 By administrator

GAZİANTEP – Doğan News Agency

journalist Yaşar Elma (L) and his lawyer, Dilber Demirel (R). DHA photo

A journalist from a local daily in southeastern Turkey has received a suspended prison sentence for “liking” a remark criticising President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Facebook, which the court deemed as an “insult.”

The 19th Criminal Court of First Instance in the Gaziantep province convicted Yaşar Elma on charges of “insulting a public servant” in the second hearing of the trial on April 4, in which Erdoğan’s lawyer also attended.

The court originally ruled to send Elma to prison for 28 months, but decreased the sentence to 23 months before suspending it.

“I had just used the ‘like’ feature of Facebook when I saw a comment on Mr. President one day. I deleted it after half an hour, but the police came up and the court convicted me in the second hearing of the trial,” Elma said in an interview to the Doğan News Agency, noting that he “did not know that liking a comment was a crime.”

His lawyer, Dilber Demirel, stressed that they would appeal the ruling, while stressing that the conviction stems from a single word that the court deemed an insult, without specifying it.

“We think that the ruling is against the law. Because several rulings in the past had stressed that political personalities should tolerate such harsh criticism,” she said.

Demirel also noted that the ruling could be marking a milestone, as it criminalizes the “resharing” of an offensive message shared on social media.

The crime of “insult” is normally punished by three months in prison according to Turkish law. However, if the complainant is a public servant, the prison term is extended to one year. If the “insult” is conveyed “publicly,” such as via a media outlet, the law stipulates an extra one-sixth increase in the prison term.

More than 70 people in Turkey have been prosecuted for “insulting” Erdoğan since he was elected president in August 2014. There were hundreds of similar cases during his term as Turkey’s Prime Minister.

In March 2014, while dogged by accusations of corruption soon before crucial local elections, Erdoğan had threatened to shut down Facebook and YouTube “if necessary” via a controversial law, vowing that he “would not sacrifice the Turkish people” to the two websites.

Most recently, two prominent cartoonists from the popular weekly magazine Penguen received 11-month prison sentences over a satirical piece on free speech which they were convicted of including a hidden gesture “insulting” Erdoğan.

The Vienna-based International Press Institute’s (IPI) Turkish National Committee announced in February that it will start a campaign against the increasing number of defamation lawsuits targeting journalists in Turkey.

The IPI’s special report on Turkey released March 27 concluded that defamation suits and arrests targeting journalists threaten Turkey’s democracy.

Turkish Radikal newspaper columnist “Although the Armenians forgive us, God will not forgive us” #ARMENIANGENOCIDE

April 4, 2015 By administrator

Turkish columnist Redvan Shahin in an article in the columns of Radical Turkish newspaper writes about the genocide of the Armenians that “even if the Armenians forgive us, God will not forgive us.” The reporter continued, “when it comes April 2, my heart sank, my conscience hurts me, I am ashamed to be a human … when it comes to April 2 in front of me parading women fell on the road, dead children from starvation, forced mothers to leave their house (…) April 2 in Van is celebrated every year the liberation of the city.

He is 97 years old were promised paradise to those who killed at least 7 Armenians. Part of Van Armenians were deported and another part attaching one behind the other, it was pulled them trying to kill several at a ball. Savagely they were killed (…) to make disappear the traces of Armenians, we even invented false stories. “R. Shahin continues “Hey, Muslims, how long will you continue to tell these false stories, this denial? Let the grandchildren of the Young Turks defend the errors of their grandparents, do not be complicit in these sins (…) yes, a certain number of Armenians helped the enemy.

A number of Armenians resorted to banditry, but the role of the state is to catch and punish the perpetrators of the facts and not to drive their land routes to the death of thousands of children, adolescents and innocent elderly. “And Radikal columnist concluded” Today we must study the truth and make efforts to retrieve and strong proclaim this truth. “Addressing the Armenians he wrote” Forgive us our grandparents could not defend your grandparents. We apologize. “

Krikor Amirzayan

Vatican: Exceptional liturgy on the occasion of the proclamation of St. Gregory of Nareg as Doctor of the Universal Church

April 4, 2015 By administrator

There are a few weeks, the Vatican announced that St Gregory of Nareg was proclaimed “Doctor of the Church.” His liturgical service has announced the date for the following statement: “A few days before the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, April 12, 2015, Second Sunday of Easter, at 9 am in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father Francis will celebrate Mass for the Armenian Rite faithful, during which will be proclaimed “Doctor of the Church” St. Gregory of Nareg. “

His Beatitude Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX, Primate of the Armenian Catholic Church, will concelebrate the Mass alongside the Pope.

Both Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II SS, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will be present, as well as the President of Armenia.

Monk of the 10th century, St. Gregory of Nareg lived in the monastery of Nareg on the south shore of Lake Van. This holy monk was a teacher and has composed many odes celebrating the Mother of God, hymns (charagan) and panegyrics. Towards the end of his life, this great mystic wrote a poem called the “Wailing Book”, a masterpiece of medieval Armenian poetry. It is recognized by all Armenians as a great mystic. The text of his book is as Nareg has indeed entitled, real “conversations with God came from the depths of the heart.”

By this PhD Gregory of Nareg is offered to the faithful of the Universal Church.

Saturday, April 4, 2015,
Stéphane © armenews.com

#ArmenianGenocide exhibition opens in Nicosia

April 4, 2015 By administrator

An exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide opened in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, on April 3, reports the Armenian National Assembly’s press service.

Opening speeches at the event were delivered by President of the National Assembly Galust Sahalyan and Chairman of the House of Representatives of Nicosia Yanakis Omiru.

The Armenian parliament speaker said that the commemoration events, organized worldwide upon the Genocide Centennial Commission’s initiative, have united different nations under the slogan “I Remember and Demand”, a universal address aimed to condemn the big tragedy and all the other crimes of genocides committed ever.

“The display of these exclusive photos, featuring the tragedy of the callously committed displacement and extermination against the Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians. has a mission to keep the icon-light of memory burning and raise the society’s and especially the younger generation’s awareness of the gruesome atrocities committed in the Ottoman Empire at the last century’s beginning. Tormenting though the recollection of the tragic events may be, equally obliging is to transmit the precept ‘Never Again’ from one generation to generation. This exhibition bears witness, as it is, to our determination to remember and demand, because atrocities committed against humanity have no limitation period,” Sahakyan said.

He further thanked Mr Omiru for organizing the exhibition, as all as to those who assisted in the initiative.

In his speech, the Cypriot parliament speaker said, “The heinous crimes committed against humanity have not left the civilized world indifferent. The world press criticized that conduct of Turkey back in the 19th century. And the reports on display at this exhibition of French, Italian, British, American, Russian and Cyprus papers testify to that. Foreign officials serving in the Ottoman Empire reported their governments on the events, and many of them extended their complaint to the Turkish authorities. Those people’s testimonies and the photos portraying the horrendous scenes were later published in papers or memoirs; they are now valuable archive records and fair evidence of the awesome Turkish barbarities.”

The photos and records showcased at the exhibition were provided by the Armenian Genocide Museum- Institute.

Genocide 100: Musicians plan concerts under ‘I Remember and Demand’ slogan

April 4, 2015 By administrator

By Gayane Mkrtchyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

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Cellist Alexander Chaushian will hold a concert with the slogan “I Remember and Demand” today in the Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Alexander Spendiarian with the participation of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO) and Alain Altinoglu, a conductor of Armenian descent.

Alain Altinoglu, a regular guest at the world’s leading opera houses (the Metropolitan Opera New York, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Staatsoper Wien, Opernhaus Zürich, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and all three opera houses in Paris) is in Armenia for the first time. In April he will conduct the Requiem Mass by Mozart in the concert devoted to the Centennial of the Genocide.

The ANPO artistic director and head conductor Eduard Topchjan introduced Alain Altinoglu to the reporters saying that he was surprised by Alain’s fluent Armenian.

“When I called him he said “Hello, I am Alain Altinoglu.” I was astonished,” said Topchjan, who was not previously acquainted with the young conductor.

Forty-year-old Alain Altinoglu of Armenian decent was born in France. He said he speaks Armenian to his son at home, his wife is French, understands Armenian but does not speak it. As for his surname he said, “It also has its story. Our surname is Altunian, and in 1934 when the Turks made Armenians change their surnames, we also had to change to Altinoglu. This does not mean anything, I know that I am an Armenian, I am Armenian in my heart.”

In regards to the cooperation with the ANPO he said that they already held one rehearsal and he is pleasantly surprised by the professionalism of the Armenian musicians.

“Eduard Topchjan has his big role in all this. It is a mere pleasure to work with him,” he said.

Cellist Alexander Chaushian was born in Yerevan in a family with rich musical traditions. Currently he is the artistic director of the Paros Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus and Yerevan International Music Festival.

The ANPO main mission and direction of actions for this year is publicizing the Armenian question, remembrance of the Armenian Genocide in the whole world.

The Orchestra will hold concerts through April 10-15 in three Scandinavian countries within the Centennial of the Genocide under the slogan “I remember and I demand” with Eduard Topchyan’s leadership; on April 11 – in the homonymic concert hall in Tampere (Finland), on April 12 – in the Danish Radio Concert Hall in Copenhagen (Denmark), on April 13 – in Myuzikens House Olborg (Denmark), and on April 14 – in the Cathedral in Oslo (Norway).

Concerts will take place with the support of the Ministry of Culture, as well as with the support of the Armenian Embassies to Denmark and Norway. On April 9 the Philharmonic will present to the Armenian audience parts of the concert to be held in Norway with the participation of famous pianist Marianna Shirinyan, performing parts from the Spartacus ballet by Aram Khachaturian, the Piano Concerto by Edvard Grieg and Symphony No. 6 by Tchaikovsky.

Lebanese Leaders to Attend April 24 Commemorations in Yerevan

April 4, 2015 By administrator

Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gebran Bassil

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Lebanon will be represented at commemoration ceremonies in Yerevan marking the centennial anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, the Beirut-based Aztag Daily’s Editor-in-Chief Shahan Kandaharian has told Armenpress.

“On April 24, a four-member delegation of the Lebanese Government, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Industry, will visit Yerevan. Besides the executive body, a parliamentary delegation will visit Armenia as well, including the Vice President of the National Assembly and deputies,” Kandaharian said.

Dutch MFA: Most scholars are unanimous on #ArmenianGenocide issue

April 4, 2015 By administrator

Is what happened to the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire genocide in legal terms? The Government of the Netherlands is not the addressee of this question.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Bert Koenders, responded in the aforesaid manner to a question posed by Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt.

The FM’s responses are posted on the official website of the Government of the Netherlands.

Omtzigt, in his queries, noted that the vast majority of the world’s scholars, including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, recognize the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

And to the question on the Dutch government’s view with respect to the genocide of Armenians and other Christian nations in the Ottoman Empire, Koenders responded: “Most scholars are unanimous on this issue. [But] one way or another, the [Dutch] government’s opinion on the acceptance of this term will not impact, at this time, the need to choose their future and bring meaning to it by the two countries [i.e. Armenia and Turkey].”

Hawaii State Senate Recognizes #ArmenianGenocide

April 4, 2015 By administrator

Hawaii State Senator Will Espero (left) and Artur Artenyan with a signed resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide

HONOLULU, Hawaii—Hawaii’s State Senate last week unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and declaring April 24 as a day of remembrance and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

“The Senate joins the House of Representatives, Hawaii’s Armenian-American community, and all Armenians worldwide in recognizing and honoring those who were killed and persecuted during the Armenian genocide, and urging people throughout the world to never forget these horrific crimes against humanity,” the resolution reads.

Hawaii State Senators who introduced the bill, including Suzanne Chun Oakland, Donovan Dela Cruz, Will Espero, Breene Harimoto, Les Ihara Jr., Lorraine Inouye, and Russel Ruderman, were present with Armenian American community member Artur Artenyan at the signing of the resolution into law. The full text of the resolution is below.

* * *

S.R. NO. 33 THE SENATE STATE OF HAWAII TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 MAR 1 0 2015
SENATE RESOLUTION DECLARING APRIL 24 AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IN RECOGNITION AND COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915.

WHEREAS, during the chaos of World War I between the years 1915 and 1923, approximately 1,500,000 Armenian men, women, and children living within the Ottoman Empire’s borders were killed in a brutal genocide; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of Armenians were forced to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their possessions, national identities, and homeland; and

WHEREAS, documented as the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century, the Armenian genocide remains unacknowledged by the Republic of Turkey to this day; and WHEREAS, even though over 90 years have passed since these mass killings took place, present-day atrocities continue to resonate throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, it is every person’s responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many innocent individuals, remember their suffering, and vow to help prevent future occurrences of genocide; and

WHEREAS, each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished in the first genocide of the twentieth century, and the world community should join in recognizing and commemorating the Armenian genocide to ensure that this inhumanity is never forgotten; and

WHEREAS, with H.R. No. 192, H.D. 1, the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii declared April 24 as a day of remembrance in recognition and commemoration of the Armenian genocide during the Regular Session of 2009; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that this body declares April 24 as a day of remembrance in recognition and commemoration of the Armenian genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate joins the House of Representatives, Hawaii’s Armenian-American community, and all Armenians worldwide in recognizing and honoring those who were killed and persecuted during the Armenian genocide, and urging people throughout the world to never forget these horrific crimes against humanity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region.