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CEO of Coca-Cola with Turkish background invited to join the campaign of Armenian Genocide denial

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In the campaign of disinformation and denial of the Armenian genocide planned before April 24, 2015, organized by the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA), major Turkish leaders were invited to join arton101588-480x171them as the CEO of Coca-Cola Muhtar Kent. It does not say by what means it will support. In coin of the realm, or maybe thousands of cans that will accompany the “events” in question change? The red background of the famous Coca-Cola logo then take another dimension.
Sunday, July 13, 2014,
Jean Eckian © armenews.com

Presbyterian Church Adopts Resolution on Armenian Genocide Centennial

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DETROIT—On Friday, June 20, some 600 commissioners to the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), meeting in Detroit, Mich., adopted with near unanimity a resolution recognizing the prebytarian-churchArmenian Genocide and adopting the 2015 church calendar designating April 26 as the day for its observance. It also directed the church’s Mission Agency to prepare educational and liturgical resources for member churches in preparation for the event.

This historic resolution, which was the first of its kind for a major American church body, was adopted by the 1.8 million-member church. It originated in the local presbyteries of Los Ranchos (Anaheim, Calif.), Chicago, and Palisades (New Jersey), and was sent on to the national body for adoption. Two overture advocates who played a vital role in this regard were Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian (Chicago Presbytery) and Rev. Dr. Vartkes Kassouni (Los Ranchos Presbytery). Dr. Chakoian is the senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, Ill. Dr. Kassouni is retired, and at present the parish associate of the Tustin Presbyterian Church of Tustin, Calif. Central to the development and writing of the resolution (called an overture) was the staff of the Jinishian Memorial Program (Eliza Minassian, director, and Cara Taylor, coordinator) and the World Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (USA), with Greg Allen-Pickett the general manager of operations.

Assisting Rev. Drs. Chakoian and Kassouni was Rev. Fr. Garabed Kocharian, pastor of St. John’s Armenian Church of Southfield, Mich. They spoke on Mon., June 16, before the meeting of the Peacemaking and International Relations Committee, which had to hear, debate, and approve the resolution, and then send it on to the plenary session for final adoption. Their presentations were coordinated, first in an “open hearing” where Chakoian and Kochakian spoke, and then in the action phase where Kassouni spoke calling on the Assembly to take this historic step and recognize the massacres of 1.5 million as “the first genocide of the 20th century.”

The overture includes four key points. One, it urges member congregations to recognize the Armenian Genocide, express deep sympathy to the Armenian people, and designate April 24 every year as the day of remembrance, and honors the provisions of American and international law in this regard. Two, it supports the designation of “genocide” for the death of 1.5 million Armenians and the expulsion of 1 million more from the Ottoman Empire in the years 1915-23.

Three, it directs the stated clerk of the General Assembly to call on the president and the Congress of the United States of America to recognize and condemn the death and expulsion of the Armenians, and to communicate this resolution to our ecumenical partners nationally and internationally. Four, it directs the Presbyterian Mission Agency to encourage appropriate observance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide (subsequently choosing April 26, 2015) in the churches, with accompanying educational and cultural forms of remembrance, noting the important role played in this endeavor by the Jinishian Memorial Program.

The resolution received great support by the committee during its hearings and action. The Plenary Session affirmed its recommendation and adopted it with no opposition. This was a rare occasion when three Armenian clergy (two Protestant and one Apostolic) stood together in strong cooperative witness and support on behalf of the Armenian people. The process took a long time, starting in January 2014, and worked its way up to the General Assembly in June. It’s a great tribute to cooperative, consistent, intelligent, and dedicated effort on behalf of our Armenian people, past and present.

Turkey: Tablet found in Armenian church ruins, date back to 2,000 years ago

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BATMAN – Doğan News Agency

Tablet found in Armenian church ruinsA historical tablet with Armenian writings on it was discovered in the ruins of an Armenian church. DHA photo

In the ruins of the Surp Asvadavin Mother Mary Church, which is located on Mount Mereto in the eastern province of Batman’s Sason district, a historical tablet and some historical artifacts have been discovered. The tablet and pieces were delivered to the Batman Museum Directorate.

The ruins of the Armenian church, some part of which was damaged in 2012, were cleaned by the Istanbul-based Sason Armenians Association Chairman Aziz Dağcı with 10 people. They found the historic pieces during the cleaning.

He said they had removed the ruins for restoration under the surveillance of Batman Museum officials. “When we removed the ruins, we found a big tablet with Armenian writing on it. We also found historical horseshoes and some Armenian historical figures,” Dağcı said, adding they had delivered them to the Batman Museum.

The historical pieces will be examined in the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate, he said. “Our goal is to restore this church, which collapsed two years ago. The church is located on the peak of the 2,973-meter-high Mount Mereto. We estimate that these remains date back to 2,000 years ago. We also applied to the Batman Governor’s Office for the construction of a different road to the church,” he said.

July/10/2014

Ground Broken for Buenos Aires Armenian Genocide Museum

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BUENOS AIRES—On Tuesday, on the second day of his official visit to Argentina, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, accompanied by Chief of Staff of the Government of City of Buenos Aires Horacio Larreta and the sarkisian-groundbreaking-1representatives of local organizations and the Armenian community of Argentina, attended the groundbreaking ceremony of an Armenian Genocide museum at the neighborhood of Palermo in Buenos Aires.

“This museum is being built in order to fill up the ranks of the numerous monuments dedicated to the Armenian Genocide which extend from East to West and from North to South as a vivid testimony to the fact that no matter how much time has passed we will keep on remembering and demanding,” President Serzh Sarkisian said during a speech after the future museum’s grounds were consecrated.

“One of these bright places is Argentina, who gave a helping hand to our people in hard times, saved not only hundreds of thousands of Armenians, but also restored our people’s broken belief in the fact that man was created to resemble God,” Sarkisian said.

“Next year is the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The centennial will sum up a historical period and will herald a new phase of fighting for the restoration of justice which will be supplemented with new methods of fighting against denialism,” Sarkisian stressed. “We are going to be more powerful; powerful together with the international community, since the secret of power and the victory of justice is unity.”

Turkey has lied for 99 years – Armenia MFA

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July 10, 2014 | 00:26

Turkey is to blame for the failure to advance in the normalization of ties with Armenia because the government of Recep Erdogan demands “impossible” pre-conditions, the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward 218416Nalbandian told the Buenos Aires Herald during a visit to the Argentine capital city.

“Our president attempted to normalize relations between our two countries. We agreed on two protocols to normalize our relations, including the establishment of diplomatic relations. Unfortunately, after the signing ceremony — which took place in Zurich in October, 2009 — the Turkish Parliament hasn’t been able to ratify and implement agreements and Turkey is now coming up with new pre-conditions,” Nalbandian said.

Nalbandian is part of the delegation that accompanied Armenia President Serzh Sargsyan to Argentina, where the two participated in the inauguration of the Museum of Armenian Genocide, the first of its kind outside Armenian borders. According to Nalbandian, the opening of the museum “is a very important step and we appreciated it very much, as well as the recognition of the genocide (by the Argentine government) through a special law.”

Why is it so important for Armenians that the international community acknowledges the genocide? “It was the first genocide of the 20th century. And unfortunately, the fact that it was not recognized by the international community at the time made it possible for other genocides to take place. So we feel a responsibility as a people who suffered the first genocide in the 20th century not to allow new crimes against humanity in the future,” Nalbandian responded.

Regarding Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge the scale of the killings, the Foreign Minister said that “it has less to do with the reparations that the Turkish state would have to pay to Armenian families (of victims), than with the fact that it is difficult to look at your own people in the eye and say: ‘we’ve been lying to you for 99 years.’”

Armenians around the world will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the massacre next year and Nalbandian said he was confident “that many countries in the world will express their solidarity to the Armenian people.”

 

Armenia president to Turkey leadership: We cannot accept such a ‘just memory’

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July 08, 2014 | 17:59 

YEREVAN. – Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide. April 24 is undoubtedly a symbolic day, but it is clear that the genocide did not start and did not end in one day.

218212-PresidentMoreover, the genocide is not completed until  Turkey’s authorities continue to deny what has been committed, Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan said during his meeting with the Armenian community of Argentina.

“However, the day when Turkey will face its history is not far away,” president said.

He is convinced that social consciousness in the face of young, educated generation who believe it is better to apologize than to abandon the past shamefully will contribute to the recognition.

“Yes, thousands of Turks do not accept the official policy of denial and express solidarity with the Armenian people. These processes are evident and they make the Turkish authorities to take certain steps” Sargsyan emphasized.

7154_b-argantineTh Armenian leader recalled that Turkish leadership is speaking of the need for “a just memory” between Armenians and Turks, but by the next step is trying to undermine justice, putting an equality sign between one and a half million innocent victims, mostly elderly, women and children, and the Turkish military who died as a result of adventurous actions orchestrated by the leaders Ottoman Empire.

“It is not ‘a just memory’. We can not accept such ‘just memory’. In fact, this is an updated, improved, re-packaged version of the policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide,” Sargsyan added.

The President noted that Armenia will continue joint activities in terms of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

“But we have to respect the memory of our ancestors, not only through bringing our struggle till the end, but also by strengthening our homeland using the talent and capabilities of every Armenian for the benefit of  homeland,” he added.

According to him, every Armenian should be proud of the fact that on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we stand with the existence of two independent states – the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

“Even under the blockade and situation of ‘no war, no peace’ our homeland is developing,” he added.

Desecration of the memorial of the Armenian Genocide in Villeurbanne

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The beautiful memorial of the Armenian Genocide Villeurbanne which had been inaugurated by Mayor Jean-Paul Bret April 23, 2005, on the eve of the commemoration of its 90th anniversary was desecrated on July 3. arton101396-480x271Vandals have attacked the particular entry made of steel letters that were embedded in the stone. Some of these letters were torn and twisted others to deface the phrase “recognize the Armenian genocide.”

This outrage is another attack on the memory of the million and a half Armenians were exterminated in 1915 under the direction of Young Turk government. It is part of the long list of sacrilegious actions against the victims of this crime which is still not recognized by the Turkish state and continues to do its part the subject of a militant denial. This new affront to the dignity of the dead rests the issue of criminalization of denial of the Armenian genocide and the adoption of a new law on this subject, as there are committed repeatedly authorities.

Turkish Americans Dr. Mehmet Öz and Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent prepare ‘master plan’ for Genocide denial 2015

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Tolga Tanış WASHINGTON

The largest Turkish group in the United States has prepared a plan to counter efforts by Armenian lobby groups on the eve of centennial anniversary of the 1915 events.Dr-OZArmenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in 1915 and 1916 by the forces of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that only 500,000 died and denies this was genocide, ascribing the toll to fighting and starvation during World War I.

The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), a Washington-based group founded in 1979, has prepared a “master plan” to “respond to the Armenians’ claims on every front.”

The Turkish campaign, which will include “both proactive and reactive responses,” will be introduced to all Turkish groups that will be invited to Washington in September.

“Proactive” measures include the forming of “activist committees” who will visit lawmakers in each state, conduct social media campaigns, keep in touch with traditional media outlets, prepare online courses and organize countrywide networking meetings for Americans.

One part of the initiative consists of the organization of at least 20 “day-long conferences” in partnership with local universities and with the participation of famous Turkish-Americans like Dr. Mehmet Öz and Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent.

“Reactive” responses will include immediately countering when the claims from Armenians are published or featured in panels, conferences and exhibitions organized by the Armenian lobby groups. The ATAA will request from the writers and publishers to include the Turkish claims in their books or documentaries based on the Armenian claims.

Another aspect of the Turkish campaign will focus on Capitol Hill. The ATAA will cooperate with PaxTurcica for a joint educational program for the members of Congress. Members of the U.S. Congress will be instantly informed when they are presented with an anti-Turkish bill.

Meanwhile, “ghost websites” that have been set up by the Armenian lobby to manipulate search engine results on the web will be countered more effectively, according to the ATAA document.

The Turkish-American community will also hold a fundraising event for every such event that the Armenian lobbies organize in the U.S.

 Source: hurriyet daily news

Report on opening of Armenia-Turkey border piece of misinformation – opinions

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Considering Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political personality, as well as the upcoming presidential election in Turkey, he is most unlikely to sacrifice nationalists’ votes and open the border Turkey misinformationwith Armenia expert in Turkic studies Ruben Melkonyan told Tert.am as he commented the report by the Taraf newspaper.

“In our age of infowars the mass media are used for addressing messages and, sometimes, for probing into the stance of the public and political circles. This statement raises certain questions as the report says that Erdogan has issued an instruction for the opening of the border. However, the opening of the border is supposed to be preceded by certain procedures – the ratification of protocols and establishment of diplomatic relations,” Melkonyan said.

This should mainly be considered in the context of infowars and, sometimes, disinformation. The ground for this opinion is the Turkish PM’s political personality, especially the possibility of the upcoming presidential election dealing a blow to his political rating, as his rivals will make use of it to win over nationalistic and anti-Armenian voters.

Melkonyan does not rule out Erdogan’s rivals using it to “entrap” him.

Expert in Turkish studies Hakob Chakryan believes that the Taraf report is misinformation. Even if such an initiative were undertaken, Turks will derail it.

Turkish press also notes that Turkey will open the border under the US pressure. But the border opened under pressure can easily be closed again or resistance can be shown, with new problems for Armenia.

As to whether it may be a step on the threshold of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, Chakryan said:

“Since 1991, Turkey’s policy toward Armenia has not seen any progress. They keep on speaking of opening the borders, but they start bargaining over it and the issue is closed. I do not think Turkey has a sincere intention to open the border. Turkey is pursuing a clearly anti-Armenian policy now irrespective of whether it will open the border. They should begin with establishing interstate relations, and the border will mechanically be opened.”

In any case, the Turkish foreign office is directing the mass media, the expert said.

Head of the ARF-D Hay Dat office Giro Manoyan told Tert.am that the likely reason for the report by the Taraf newspaper was to discredit the Turkish premier. The newspaper has problems with the Turkish authorities and rumor has it may be shut down.

As to any links with the approaching centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, Manoyan said, “Everything’s possible.”

source: tert.am

Turkey’s Erdogan instructs to open border with Armenia?

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July 4, 2014 – 14:17 AMT

180484Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is readying another move to normalize ties with Armenia, Taraf opposition paper suggests.

The presidential candidate, who earlier extended condolences to the descendants of the Armenian Genocide victims ahead of the April 24 commemoration day, allegedly instructed to open the border with Armenia.

The official is said to have ordered preparatory works to launch Alijan checkpoint scheduled to start services in September. The step is expected to promote rapprochement with Armenia and help normalize relations with the U.S., the paper said.