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Only a democratic Turkey can recognize Armenian Genocide: MP

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Without facing the Armenian Genocide, Turkey can neither settle the Kurdish issue nor can it establish democracy, Turkish-Armenian lawmaker Garo Paylan said at the 6th Armenia-Diaspora conference in Yerevan on Tuesday, September 19.

According to him, the Turkish state was, unfortunately, founded without acknowledging the Genocide, Aysor.am reports.

Paylan said the use of the term Genocide in the Turkish parliament is considered a crime.

“The West is turning a blind eye to human rights violations in Turkey the same way it did when the Genocide was being perpetrated,” the lawmaker said.

The fight for democracy is a rather difficult process, Paylan said, as Turkey has been turning into a nationalist country in the past two years.

“Only a democratic Turkey can recognize the Genocide and open the borders with Armenia,” Paylan said, adding that “we don’t have the right to leave the issue of Genocide to the next generation.”

Related links:

Aysor.am. Առանց առերեսվելու Ցեղասպանության հետ՝ Թուրքիայում ո՛չ քրդական հարցը կարող է լուծվել, ո՛չ էլ կարող է ժողովրդավարություն հաստատվել. Գարո Փայլան

27 more U.S. Representatives co-sponsor Armenian Genocide motion

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Twenty-seven U.S. Representatives—from more than a dozen states—have recently joined H.Res.220 as cosponsors in a new wave of bipartisan backing for genocide prevention legislation that seeks to apply the lessons of the Armenian Genocide in preventing renewed atrocities across the Middle East, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

These most recent additions come in large part as a result of the leadership of Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Jackie Speier and in the wake of more than 80 Congressional meetings—held in district offices across America this past summer—organized by the ANCA Eastern and Western regional offices, dozens of local ANCA chapters, and hundreds of community activists.

“We would like to thank Congresswoman Jackie Speier for her exceptional outreach to her Congressional colleagues in support of H.Res.220, and, of course, to recognize the remarkable work of local ANCA chapters and activists this summer to educate their legislators about this bipartisan genocide prevention legislation,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We would like, as well, to express our special appreciation to the measure’s lead authors, Representatives David Trott and Adam Schiff, and all those—both on and off Capitol Hill—working to ensure that the lessons of the U.S. response to the Armenian Genocide inform and improve our present-day U.S. genocide prevention policy.”

1.5 million perished during the mass killings and death marches masterminded and perpetrates at the hands of the Young Turk government in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.

Some three dozen states, hundreds of local government bodies and international organizations have so far recognized the Armenian Genocide. Turkey denies to this day.

Four narratives of Turkey’s denial of Armenian Genocide

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Uzay Bulut is a Turkish journalist and political analyst formerly based in Ankara.

Turkish journalist and political analyst Uzay Bulut has revealed an article about the four main narratives that Turkey uses to deny the Armenian Genocide.

The feature on The Armenian Weekly reads:

Narrative One: We Did Not Slaughter Armenians; Armenians Slaughtered Us

Accusing Armenians of being mass murderers and the actual perpetrators of genocide is a popular myth in Turkey. This narrative is what is now taught to Turkish schoolchildren in middle and high schools.

Professor Taner Akçam wrote a comprehensive article for the Armenian Weekly about how the 1915 genocide is depicted in Turkish history textbooks used during the 2014 and 2015 school years. Those books are either prepared by the Ministry of National Education or approved by the Ministry’s Instruction and Education Board.

Narrative Two: Yes, We Did Slaughter Armenians. If They Do Not Behave, We Will Slaughter Them Again

This narrative is similar to the first one but takes it to a new and even more shameless level: to something to be proud of, and additional threats against the Armenian victims and other minorities. This sentiment is also openly and frequently expressed across Turkey.

This narrative proudly accepts that Turks slaughtered Armenians, but they have an excuse: “Yes, we did exterminate Armenians. But ask us why. Because they misbehaved and became traitors. And, if required, we will do it all over again. One cannot get even an inch of territory from Turkey,” an Aşkale mayor said.

“We will do it all over again,” in fact, seems to indirectly target Kurds, declaring to Kurds that if they don’t behave well and accept Turkish superiority, Turks will exterminate them, too.

Narrative Three: A Tragedy Happened During World War I. Armenians Slaughtered Us, and We Slaughtered Them. It Was Civil War. Let’s Forget About It…

This is the narrative Turkey uses for international observers. On April 24, 2015, for example, a message was sent by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the religious ceremony held in the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul on the 100th anniversary of the Genocide.

In essence, what this message declares is this: “What happened in 1915 was never genocide. People kill each other in all wars. But we are such noble people we still remember all of the dead with love, so let’s forget about it and move on already.”

This third narrative, which is more “moderate” compared with the first and second ones, is just for show, intended for the outside world and particularly for the West: “Look, Turkey is changing for the better and taking steps to face its history. And this proves that we are a worthwhile NATO member an EU candidate.”

Narrative 4: Yes, Turkey Committed Genocide

This rhetoric is never directly stated by the Turkish government, but it is, at times, tolerated when presented by some intellectuals in the country.

Since 2010, rights activists in Turkey led by the Human Rights Association (IHD) have commemorated the 1915 genocide in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Diyarbakir. The government has not prevented the commemoration events, nor has it arrested the organizers. For the government seems to use these events as a public relations stunt for the world. International media do cover these events, so it is easy marketing for Turkish “democracy.”

Related links:

The Armenian Weekly. Turkey’s Genocide Denial: Four Narratives

World Without Genocide honors Turkish scholar Taner Akcam

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Clark University history professor Taner Akcam who is among the Turkish intellectuals who recognize the Armenian Genocide will be honored with the 2018 Outstanding Upstander Award from the World Without Genocide organization for his work promoting justice and the rule of law.

He will formally receive the award at the organization’s annual gala in May of 2018 in Minneapolis.

Akcam is one of the first Turkish intellectuals to openly discuss the Armenian Genocide, he holds the only endowed chair dedicated to research and teaching on this subject.

Akcam is an outspoken advocate of democracy and free expression since his student days at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, he is an internationally recognized human rights activist.

Previous recipients of the World Without Genocide award include Eli Rosenbaum, Director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice; Claudia Paz y Paz, former Attorney General of Guatemala; and Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo, a former prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia.

Related links:

«Աշխարհն առանց ցեղասպանության» կազմակերպությունը մրցանակ է շնորհել թուրք պատմաբանին.Ermenihaber.am
Agos: Taner Akçam’a ‘Soykırımsız Dünya’ Örgütü’nden ödül
Go Local Worcester. Clark Professor Akçam Receives ‘Upstander’ Award From World Without Genocide

Armenian Genocide workshop slated for Sept. 14-17 in Germany

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A workshop on the Armenian Genocide will be held at the University of Potsdam in Germany on September 14-17.

Four institutions – the University of Michigan (the United States), Lepsiushaus Potsdam (Potsdam, Germany), the USC Institute of Armenian Studies (Los Angeles, U.S.) and the Sabancı University (Istanbul, Turkey) – will participate in the 4-day event.

Titled “Workshop on Turkish-Armenian Scholarships (WATS) 2017 – European Approaches to the Armenian Genocide”, the event seeks to shed light on the murder of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire between 1915-1923.

Some three dozen countries, hundreds of regional government bodies and international organizations have so far recognized the Armenian Genocide. Turkey denies to this day.

The Promise director to be honored at ANCA-WR banquet

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The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region will award Terry George, the award-winning film director and writer of “The Promise”, with the prestigious ANCA-WR Arts and Letters Award at the 2017 Annual Gala Banquet on Sunday, October 8 at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, Asbarez reports.

“By taking on such a monumental project of portraying the human story surrounding the Armenian Genocide on the big screen with the groundbreaking film, The Promise, Terry George and his team opened a door which has been closed to filmmakers for decades and set the groundwork enabling future films to tackle this tragic chapter of modern times head-on. As Armenians, we were so proud and so emotional to finally see our story in mainstream theaters screening to wider audiences. This would not have been accomplished without Kirk Kerkorian’s sense of duty and generosity, the vision and talent of Terry George, and the long-term commitment and dedication of Eric Esrailian and his entire team. For this, we are so grateful, and the ANCA-WR Board of Directors wanted to recognize this accomplishment by honoring Terry George at our Annual Gala Banquet not only for his work on The Promise, but overall for his steadfast voice as a defender of human rights,” remarked ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian.

Terry George is a passionate director who fulfilled the vision of Kirk Kerkorian by creating a film which educated the public about the perseverance of the Armenian nation. As stated by Kerkorian’s longtime attorney, “The Promise will be a film celebrating the Armenian people and, in the context of a wonderful love story, will open the door to awareness and the championing of human rights.”

As the filming progressed, George and Survival Pictures were faced with multiple hardships, including state-sponsored Turkish efforts to sabotage its performance. In the end, however, they overcame these obstacles and ensured the movie’s successful release. The film went on to screen in the Vatican and the United States Capitol, as well as at various venues worldwide.

Terry George masterfully depicts historical sagas, whether it be the Genocide of the Armenians at the turn of the 20th Century or the Rwandan Genocide which began in the Spring of 1994. “The Promise” is a true testament to George’s commitment to truth and justice. Through the tragic love story of Michael and Anna, the film demonstrates the horrid reality of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. “The Promise” reveals the atrocities carried out against the Armenians, while showcasing the unsung heroes – from Ambassador Morgenthau to the Near East Relief missionaries- who jeopardized their safety to save what was left of a People at risk of obliteration.

For his tireless efforts and commitment to increasing consciousness of historically significant topics of interest to the Armenian people, Terry George is unequivocally deserving of this award. He has done everything in his power to help educate the world on sensitive Armenian issues through his passion for film production.

The 2016 ANCA-WR Annual Gala Banquet will be held on Sunday, October 8, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California. The main event will begin at 4:30p.m. with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. A three-course dinner will follow at 6:00 p.m. accompanied by a powerful program and presentation of awards.

Burbank Film Festival to feature Armenian Genocide documentary

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“Crow’s of the Desert: A Hero’s Journey Through the Armenian Genocide,” a 2016 film by director Marta Houske telling the story of the destruction of 1,5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire will screen as part of the Burbank International Film Festival.

The festival on Monday, August 28 announced official program selections for the 9th Annual edition of the festival set for September 6 through September 10.

The documentary is based on the “Memoirs of Levon Yotnakhparian”, a true story of one man’s brave adventures to stay alive, and help save his people from near extinction.

More than 180 feature and short films representing 60 countries will be presented during the five-day event, along with artist tributes, panels, and festivities.

‘Every Armenian is a proof’: Turkish journalist probes into exclusive archive on Genocide survivors

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An editor for CNN Turk, who earlier published an exclusive record on Genocide survivors, has continued his searches to find the Zarmanyan family’s descendants after the news story appeared in the headlines of Tert.am.

Serdar Korucu, who conducts probes into Armenian archives to collect Armenian language telegrams, recently received an email from an Armenian family in Marseiile informing him of their connection to Archbishop Grigor Zarmanyan (the man mentioned in the records).

According to document bearing the Armenian Patriarchate’s stamp, Zarmanyan, who was the community’s religious leader at the time, died in the vicinities of Mosul, Iraq in 1916 after facing exile upon the Turkish authorities’ demand.

In a French language document reporting Zarmanyan’s death, the patriarch mentioned his wife and two daughters’ names, adding that all the three were still alive.

“To be frank, I don’t even know if there is any document the Turkish authorities can unconditionally adopt and not reject given that certain people in Europe are still able to find explanations denying the Holocaust committed at the heart of Europe just 25 years after the Armenian Genocide. The important thing for me, however, was to follow [assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist] Hrant Dink’s principle saying that ‘every Armenian is a proof’. This particular family[’s story] stands as such an example. What happened to them, and where did they go after the Genocide, and how was their life arranged later? Now I am hopeful that by establishing connections with this family, I will be able to bring more details to light,” he said in comments to Tert.am.

Armenian Genocide doc “Intent To Destroy” to screen in Sydney

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Sydney audiences will have a unique opportunity to see “Intent To Destroy” – the Armenian Genocide documentary filmed during the production of “The Promise” – as part of Hamazkaine Shant Chapter’s Armenian Film Festival, which begins this Friday, August 18, reports the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

The “Intent to Destroy” screening, which is being co-hosted by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), will close the Armenian Film Festival on Sunday, August 27. All films are being screened at Event Cinemas in Top Ryde.

Filmed on the set of Armenian Genocide epic, “The Promise”, this documentary by Joe Berlinger looks at the difficulties experienced by the producers, cast and crew of the film starring Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac and Charlotte Le Bon.

Here is a summary of the film from the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival which premiered “Intent to Destroy” in Australia earlier this year:

“Legendary documentarian Berlinger’s (Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Tony Robbins: I am Not Your Guru, Crude) thirteenth feature film, captures the cinematic and political challenges of producing a historically meaningful, big-budget film in an environment rife with political suppression.”

“In 2015, Academy Award-winning director Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) took on the challenge of making the first mainstream film about the 1915 Armenian Genocide that wiped out 1.5 million Armenians in The Promise (starring Oscar Isaac and Christian Bale). Berlinger’s film combines a mixture of exclusive behind-the- scenes footage, rare archival material and investigative interviews that capture the shocking and complex history of the Armenian Genocide, all while presenting the unfolding, real-time drama of bringing this long-ignored chapter of human cruelty to the big screen.”