House resolution goes beyond Genocide recognition seeking truth and justice
In a welcome move, four members of the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a resolution that advocates a new approach for the pursuit of Armenian rights in Congress, going beyond genocide recognition.
This new bipartisan initiative, introduced by Congressmen David Valadao (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Grimm (R-NY), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), is appropriately titled: “Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Act.”
It is well-known that the U.S. government has recognized the Armenian Genocide on several occasions, starting in 1951 by the submission of an official document to the International Court of Justice (World Court), followed by Pres. Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Proclamation of April 22, 1981, and through two House resolutions in 1975 and 1984.
The proposed measure calls upon Pres. Obama “to work toward equitable, constructive, and durable Armenian-Turkish relations based upon the Republic of Turkey’s full acknowledgement of the facts and ongoing consequences of the Armenian Genocide, and a fair, just, and comprehensive international resolution of this crime against humanity,” the Armenian National Committee of America reported.
It is high time that Armenian-Americans support congressional efforts that go beyond the mere repetition of the acknowledged facts of Armenian Genocide, and seek the more meaningful goal of justice, which entails the restitution and recovery of the substantial losses suffered as a consequence of the Genocide, including personal and community properties, and the occupied territories of Western Armenia. It is hardly conceivable that anyone would dare to oppose the universally-accepted concept of justice, not even Rejep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, who heads the ruling ‘Justice and Development Party.’
It is understandable that for many years, it was necessary to seek genocide recognition as most of the world was unaware of the Armenian Genocide. However, as a result of the relentless efforts by the Armenian Diaspora and the Republic of Armenia, there is no longer a need to continue pursuing recognition — having largely prevailed over persistent Turkish denialism. By declaring victory and moving forward to reclaim their just demands, Armenians would avoid falling in the Turkish trap of trying to reconfirm the facts of the Genocide ad nauseam! Meanwhile, the Turkish government would continue its shameful refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide or might engage in the deceptive game of issuing partial and meaningless apologies in order to mislead the international community on the eve of the Genocide’s Centennial.
The new House resolution also seeks to shift the U.S. government’s efforts away from the ill-fated Armenia-Turkey Protocols and refocus the Obama Administration’s attention on Armenia’s just demands from Turkey. The congressional resolution reminds Pres. Obama of his April 24, 2012 statement in which he advocated that “a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Moving forward with the future cannot be done without reckoning with the facts of the past.”
The resolution points out that the Republic of Turkey, rather than “reckoning with the facts of the past,” has “escalated its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, maintained its blockade of Armenia, and increased its pressure on the small but growing Turkish civil society movement acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and seeking justice from this systematic campaign of destruction of millions of Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, Pontian, Syriac, and other Christians upon their biblical-era homelands.”
The Congressional resolution further declares that U.S. “national interests in the establishment of equitable, constructive, stable, and durable relations between Armenians and Turks cannot be meaningfully advanced by circumventing or otherwise seeking to avoid materially addressing the central political, legal, security, and moral issue between these two nations: Turkey’s denial of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide.”
The newly-introduced resolution makes it clear that Armenians, rather than being satisfied by merely regurgitating the well-known facts of the Genocide, demand a just resolution through full and comprehensive restitution.
Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Iran’s Saeed Jalili warns West over Syria
With international pressure increasing on efforts to end the two-year-long conflict, Iran – which maintains strong connections with President Bashar-al Assad’s regime – has come out strongly, warning the West against arming the rebels.
The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili reiterated his government’s standpoint to euronews:
“The price is not only being paid by Syrian people. Rather it is also being paid by the people of Europe. Insisting on this wrongful behaviour they have given opportunities to terrorists to come thousands of kilometres from Afghanistan to the borders of Europe. I think that this is something that the people in Europe need to be worried about this.”
Saeed Jalili is currently leading Iran’s negotiations on the country’s nuclear dispute with major world powers. The UN’s nuclear agency and Europe want Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment to reassure everyone it is not seeking nuclear weapons.
“We have provided the Agency with the widest level of cooperation that is possible. I would go so far as to say that our cooperation with the Agency is unprecedented,” said Jalili.
Jalili’s comments will come as a surprise to the US and Europe, however his last minute entry into Iran’s forthcoming presidential elections may indicate Tehran is ready for dialogue on major world issues.
“As an active member of the Non-Proliferation treaty we are ready to co-operate with the IAEA, as always, to keep the closest eye on Iran’s nuclear activities,” he said.
Jalili insisted Iran would enrich its own nuclear isotopes, whoever becomes the new president in June, and that it did not fear any enemy.
“The Islamic Republic’s military capabilities are so strong that no enemy could hope to pull off an attack of any kind. The Zionist state is at its lowest ebb; it has been defeated in much smaller wars that it started itself.”
Source: Panorama.am
Armenian-British relations have great development potential – FM Nalbandian
May 21, 2013 | 11:12
YEREVAN. – Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s official visit to the United Kingdom has kicked off.
On Monday, Nalbandian visited the Westminster Abbey, where he paid tribute to the memorial of the unknown soldier, and he also paid a visit to the tomb of the friend of the Armenian nation, British former PM William Gladstone.
In London, Armenia’s FM met with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, the Armenian MFA press service informs. Hague said there is progress in bilateral relations and this sets good preconditions for further expansion of cooperation.
They discussed the avenues toward stimulating political discourse, interaction within international organizations, and enhancing business ties between the two countries. In this context, Nalbandian said Armenian-British relations have a great potential for development, and he underscored the need to enhance collaboration.
Separately, William Hague welcomed the progress that is achieved in strengthening the Armenia-European Union cooperation.
Edward Nalbandian and William Hague also exchanged views on the developments concerning Syria and Iran.
In addition, Armenia’s FM presented the joint efforts by Armenia and the international community toward a pacific settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In his turn, the British Foreign Secretary expressed his country’s support for the efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to find a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
At the British House of Lords, Edward Nalbandian had a working dinner with the Government spokesperson, Lord William Wallace, during which they discussed European agenda topics, Armenian-British relations, and several regional and international matters.
Saudi Arabia detains 10 more in Iran-linked spying case
May 21, 2013 – 17:13 AMT
Saudi Arabia has detained 10 more people in a spying case it announced in March that it said was linked to Iran, state television reported 
on Tuesday, May 21, according to Reuters.
“Initial investigation carried out by the authorities led to the detention of 10 others for involvement in spying activities,” state television news channel al-Ekhbariya reported, citing the Interior Ministry.
It said the new group includes eight Saudis, a Lebanese and a Turk. In March Turki said Saudi security forces had arrested 18 people, including 16 Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese. In his statement, Turki said the Lebanese man held in March had now been released.
All of the Saudis arrested in March were members of the kingdom’s Shi’ite Muslim minority, leaders of that community said.
Scout Tufankjian tells about Armenain Diaspora, Genocide recognation and years of work with Obama,
KRAKOW, Poland: Nalbandian, Mammadyarov Meet,
KRAKOW, Poland—The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijanand international mediators met again on Friday to discuss ways of breaking the deadlock in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group said they discussed with Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov in the Polish city of Krakow “possible ways to advance the peace process.” “The Ministers exchanged views on the current situation and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace in the region,” they said in a joint statement.
“The Co-Chairs reiterated the need to avoid actions or rhetoric that could raise tensions or damage the peace process, and discussed with the Ministers a number of confidence building measures to help create an atmosphere conducive to reconciliation,” added the statement.
The mediators also announced that they will again tour the Karabakh conflict zone later this month “discuss these issues further with the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a virtually identical statement on the meeting.
Nalbandian said late last month that President Serzh Sarkisian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev could meet soon for the first time in more than a year. It is not clear whether the possibility of such a summit was discussed during the Krakow talks.
“Azerbaijan: cemetery of nations” film screens in Stepanakert (video)
PanARMENIAN.
Net – “Azerbaijan: cemetery of nations” documentary was screened in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh.
The film tells a story of the occupation of indigenous peoples’ historic lands by Azerbaijan. Similar fates of the nations enable to acknowledge the course of the historic developments and the peoples’ aspiration for statehood.
Unique archival materials are documented in the film.
Denmark wins Eurovision Song Contest, Dorians finish 18th
PanARMENIAN.Net – Denmark has triumphed at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, held in the Swedish city of Malmo.
Emmelie de Forest, 20, had been the overwhelming favorite among the 26 entries, with her song Only Teardrops. Azerbaijan finished second.
Ukraine came third and Greece was fourth with the rabble-rousing Alcohol Is Free, with Russia finishing 5th, foreign media reported.
Armenia’s Dorians rock band came 18th, with their song Lonely Planet written by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Lithuanian media expose Azeri fraud to buy Eurovision votes (video)
PanARMENIAN.Net – The journalists of the 15min.lt Lithuanian information agency exposed a fraud orchestrated by Azerbaijan to take a top spot in Eurovision Song Contest.
The agency videotaped a meeting with two Russian-speaking men offering money to Lithuanians for their votes in favor of a contestant. On Sunday, 
May 18 morning a group of students came to the agency’s editorial office. The students said they were approached by men who offered them 20 euro each to vote multiple times for a contestant.
To investigate the matter, the 15min.lt journalists met the recruites armed with hidden cameras and dictaphones. In a mere 10 minutes, the recruiters divulged the whole “operation.” As the journalists were told, the same scheme worked in other countries. The goal was to recruit groups of 10 people to vote for Azerbaijan. Those recruited were given SIM-cards to vote as many times as possible within 15 minutes.
The recruiters confessed to having found 8-10 groups. A supervisor was assigned to every group to check the results and give the payment. To prove the above, the recruiter pulled a wad of money from his pocket, noting he could make the payment in lits.
As the man noted, the same scheme works in 15 countries, with Azeri victory costing millions.
This was the way Azerbaijan got 12 points from Lithuania at Eurovision 2013.
The full conversation with the recruiters is featured in video below.
Beside Lithuania, Austria, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Montenegro and Russia gave Azerbaijan the highest points.