SOAD take stage to call for Genocide recognition (video)

August 1, 2013 By administrator

PanARMENIAN.Net – System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian challenged a capacity crowd at their July 29 Hollywood Bowl show to imagine a world in which those who claim to speak for the international community remained silent on the Holocaust – as they do on the Turkish Government’s genocide perpetrated against its Armenian, Greek and Assyrian populations from 1915-1923.

With Daron Malakian’s soulful riffs of the Armenian ballad “Zepiuri Nman” (Like a Breeze) in the background, Tankian stated: “Imagine if this is the 1940s, and World War II had just started, and America decided not to enter the war on the side of Britain. Imagine if, Americans became allies with Nazi Germany and decided that we’re going to push away the Holocaust, never use the word Holocaust in Government policy. Imagine what a life that would be. Imagine being Jewish and living in L.A. and not hearing your President or your Congress use the word Holocaust. That’s exactly what Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians feel when our government doesn’t use the word genocide.”

The four members of System of a Down have been at the forefront of calling on the U.S., and international community as a whole, to work toward a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide, and all genocides, since the very inception of their Grammy award-winning band. Their efforts are spotlighted in the documentary “SCREAMERS” – which highlights international inaction in the face of the Armenian and Darfur genocides. Tankian and System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan travelled to Washington, DC in April, 2006, for a three-day advocacy campaign urging Congress to speak truthfully about this crime.

Armenian psychologists to look into genetic aspects of Genocide

July 29, 2013 By administrator

Ahead the 100th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, psychologists are going to launch a study into the crime’s genetic aspects, Armenpress reported.

The research, expected to target some 2,500 Armenians in Armenia and the Diaspora, is aimed at revealing the forms of the traumatic memory transfer.

Speaking to the agency, the head of the Yerevan State Medical University’s Medical Psychology Chair, Khachatur Gasparyan, has said
the project will be carried out with the assistance of the State Committee of Science (Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia).

“For us, it is interesting to know how the Armenian Genocide trauma is transferred from one generation to another,” he said. “We came up with the idea on the Genocide day as we were heading home from the Genocide complex late in the evening. With the people’s flow being large, we would pause at times. I tried, at that moment, to observe different people’s reaction in the crowd. What interested me was the behavior of a child of five or six who was shouting at his mother, asking her why music was on. I came to realize that the child couldn’t understand why so many people go to the memorial with flowers in hands; he couldn’t understand the trauma of the Massacre. We don’t know at this point what information has reached the child”.

‘Facts should drive’ Genocide analysis, says UN Ambassador-nominee Samantha Power

July 19, 2013 By administrator

UN Ambassador-nominee Samantha Power said during her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday that “facts should drive” analysis of Genocide, Asbarez reported.

This came in response to a series of questions from committee chairman, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who was probing Power’s position on Genocide, given her past record of being an advocate for Armenian Genocide recognition.

Power played an instrumental role in getting Sen. Obama to issue a strongly-worded statement on the Armenian Genocide and Armenian issues in general during Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. She also made a video in which she recounted Sen. Obama’s outstanding record on issues of special concern to Armenian Americans, including his “very forthright statement on the Armenian Genocide; his support for the Senate Resolution acknowledging the Genocide; his willingness as President to commemorate it and call a ’spade a spade’; and to speak the truth about it.”

Power failed to deliver—just as the Obama Administration—on her pledge to get US recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“Is genocide, genocide when all of the facts that we observe would lead to a conclusion that a genocide has taken place, or is that only when it is convenient to acknowledge it as genocide?” asked Menendez.

“The former, the facts should drive the analysis,” responded Power.

“And if the facts drive the analysis, then we should call that set of actions–whether historical in nature or present, god forbid–in reality a genocide,” queried Menendez.

“I believe so, yes,” said Power.

“Is violation of human rights a violation of human rights depending upon where it takes place, or is it universal?” asked Menendez, to which Power responded: “Universal, sir.”

“I think you understand why I asked you those questions. And I hope that your past history in this regard–even in the context of understanding the new role that you’ll play–will not diminish your fire for making the case internally why genocide should be called genocide when the historical facts attain themselves to that standard,” Menendez told Power, who had no response to the statement.

Menendez told Power that he is “incredibly appreciative of the principled position you’ve taken on the Armenian Genocide.”

At the start of the highly anticipated and widely broadcast hearing, Chairman Menendez noted that, “You have been an unrelenting, principled voice when it comes to human rights and crimes against humanity – and I know that voice will be heard around the world — should you be confirmed,” adding: “Personally, I am incredibly appreciative of the principled position you’ve taken on the Armenian Genocide. In 2007, you wrote in Time Magazine – ‘a stable, fruitful, 21st century relationship’ [with Turkey] cannot be built on a lie,’ and I completely agree,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

The New Jersey Democrat also stressed that, “Your belief that we should use the lessons of what clearly was an atrocity of historic proportions to prevent future crimes against humanity is a view consistent with my own and which is supported by your role on the President’s Atrocities Prevention Board. I agree that we must acknowledge and study the past, understand how and why atrocities happen, to put-into-practice and giving meaning to the phrase, “never again.”
In 2003, Power received the Pulitzer Prize in literature for the best general non-fiction book was awarded to Samantha Power for her book “A Problem from Hell: America in the Age of Genocide.”

Power’s book revisited the Armenian Genocide–the Holocaust–Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge–Iraqi attacks on Kurdish populations–Rwanda–and Bosnian ethnic cleansing. Power makes a compelling argument that US intervention in all these instances of genocide has been inadequate.

‘No justice, equality or freedom for Armenians’ – Radikal blogger

July 19, 2013 By administrator

Senan Porteron, a blogger for the Turkey-based Radikal newspaper, who spend his childhood in Baku, Azerbaijan, tells about attitude to Armenians both in Baku and in Turkey.

Below are excerpts from his article.

“I was eleven. There was a very old building in our neighborhood in those days. That was a historical building, and no one lived there. One day, my father and I went to see the building. There were inscriptions in Armenian on the rear of the building. My father told me the building was left by Armenians.

“A few months later that building was destroyed, and a new 16-story building was constructed on the site. I was upset when I saw it destroyed. That must have been the only thing to remind you of Armenians. The day it was pulled down my father told me about their Armenian neighbors. They were very kind and hospitable people. They were on the same wave.

“Years passed. You can feel only hatred for Armenians in Baku, mainly among young people. Ramil Safarov is a glaring example. He got a life term for murdering a sleeping Armenian officer. However, justice did not triumph because the victim was Armenian. On August 31, 2012, Safarov was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev.

“In Turkey the situation is not much different that in Azerbaijan. Everyone is speaking of ‘Armenians’ in an insulting manner. As years pass, the number of Armenians is decreasing, their culture is being destroyed. Armenians are pressed and called ‘strangers’. Armenians have not seen justice, equality or freedom. Unfortunately, they do not see it now either.

“Almost 100 years have passed since the 1915 Armenian Genocide, but the society has not changed. Some people are still seeking to wipe out Armenian culture. An action has been launched to save the remaining 20 Armenian houses in Mus.

“The destruction of Armenians’ property is a continuation of the genocide. Property of Armenians and Greeks is being plundered both in Mus and in other cities.”

According to the book entitled ‘Les Arméniens dans l’Empire ottoman à la veille du genocide’ by Raymond Haroutioun Kévorkian and Paul B. Paboudjian, in 1915 Mus had 299 churches, 94 monasteries, 53 places of sacred places, 135 Armenian schools and a cemetery. The Armenian population in 355 villages totaled 75,000.

Sen. Menendez praises Samantha Power’s stance on Genocide

July 19, 2013 By administrator

July 19, 2013 – 10:36 AMT

Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, opened his hearing on the confirmation of Samantha Power to serve as U.N. Ambassador by telling her that he is “incredibly appreciative of the principled position you’ve taken on the Armenian Genocide,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Armenian Genocide Museum construction launched in Uruguay

July 19, 2013 By administrator

July 19, 2013 – 11:48 AMT

The construction of Armenian Genocide Museum in Uruguay was launched on Wednesday July 17. The Museum, organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture and members of the Armenian community, will open on April 24, 2015, on the Genocide Centennial Anniversary.

The Museum will be the first one created by initiative of a State outside the territory of Armenia.

Uruguayan Undersecretary of Education, Oscar Gomez, said that the initiative “ratifies the Uruguayan policy of defense of human rights”. Gomez recalled that Uruguay was the first country in the world to recognize the Genocide in 1965.

“The Museum will not only refer to the Armenian Genocide, but also to the defense of human rights in general and the recognition of other genocides, such as the Holocaust or the Africans genocide during slavery”, he added.

Ukraine is mature enough to express its position on Armenian Genocide – Ukrainian political scientist

July 19, 2013 By administrator

July 12, 2013 | 11:18

Commenting on the submission—to the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council; i.e., the Parliament) of Ukraine—of the bill to recognize the Armenian Genocide, well-known Ukrainian political analyst Vyacheslav Pikhovshek stated that he will be in favor of its adoption.

“It is important for me that this is done not solely because of the political conjuncture, but that it is accompanied with some explanatory work,” the analyst stressed, Analitika.at.ua reports.

“This matter is known to the Ukrainians. We remember that the ‘black chapters’ of history were covered up as much as possible during the Soviet time, albeit these wounds continued to cause pain.

“To my recollection, the Ukrainian parliament has never spoken [about] and has never expressed an official position with regard to this matter. It seems to me that a balanced decision needs to be made. It seems to me we [i.e., the Ukrainians] have matured in our view to express on the Armenian Genocide,” the political scientist stressed.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, a bill on the Armenian Genocide’s recognition was registered on June 6 in the Verkhovna Rada. Ukrainian parliament members Arsen Avakov and Vilen Shatvoryan are the persons behind this law proposal.

Jews must be first to recognize Armenian Genocide – Israeli historian Yair Auron

July 17, 2013 By administrator

Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received Yair Auron, an Israeli historian and specialist of genocide studies, the Armenian presidential press service reports.

The Armenian version of his The Banality of Indifference book, which is based on the extensive research of the archive materials, has recently been presented in Yerevan. Present at the meeting was also the former member of the Knesset, former Minister of Immigrant Absorption Yair Tzaban.

President Serzh Sargsyan extended his congratulations on the publication of the Armenian version of The Banality of Indifference and expressed gratitude to Yair Auron for his invaluable work and exertion. The President of Armenia underscored that many of the Jewish intellectuals have been standing side by side with the Armenian nation, sharing the Armenians’ grief and tragedy, taking interest in our nation’s problems. Serzh Sargsyan noted that it would be hard to name one by one all those Jewish intellectuals who have spoken about the Armenian Genocide and said that the modern Israeli historian Yair Auron with his significant work is one of them.

Yair Auron thanked the President of Armenia for his warm words and for the affection and appreciation showed to him by the Armenian public during the days of his visit. He said that all this gives him a new impetus to carry on with his struggle. The Israeli historian underscored that he shares Armenians’ pain first, because of the genocide our nation was subjected to and second, for the policy of unconcern manifested toward that despicable crime. He said that he and a number of progressive Jewish intellectuals are fighting against such policies. According to Yair Auron, the Jews must be the first to recognize the Armenian Genocide. He noted that in recent years, there has been a considerable change of attitude in his country’s civil society and expressed hope that it will also influence the current policies.

***

In his book, historian Yair Auron has documented the situation of the two national minorities – the Armenians and the Jews, in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20^thcentury, political forces, a complicated balance of morals and pragmatism, and analyzed the attitude of the Jewish community of Palestine and leaders of the Zionist movement toward the Armenian Genocide.

Genocide Was Prelude to the Holocaust, Israeli Historian Says

July 16, 2013 By administrator

Yerevan—Israeli writer Yair Auron and ex-parliamentarian Yair Tzaban have arrived in Armenia at the invitation of the Union of Writers of Armenia. In his book titled Banality of Indifference, the Israeli historian speaks about the Armenian Genocide for the first time in the history of Israel. The book says the Genocide of the Armenians was the prelude to the Holocaust. Genocide studies expert Auron expresses his dismay at the behavior of the Israeli authorities. According to him, it is not acceptable to speak about one’s own tragedy and forget the similar pain of other nations. Zori Balayan has written the introduction to the book. The Armenian publication of the book has been released thanks to Moscow-based businessman Karen Baghdasaryan.

“By failing to recognize the genocides inflicted on other nations, we demean the Holocaust. We are obliged to respect the memories of other peoples and must discuss the Armenian Genocide on the parliamentary level,” Yair Auron told a press conference in Yerevan.

Using archived materials, the author of the book analyzes the attitudes of the Jewish community of Palestine and the leaders of the Zionist movement towards the Armenian Genocide at the turn of the last century.

“With this book I expressed my protest against the official stance of Israel, which is unacceptable,” the author said.

Auron said, however, that there have been changes in Israeli diplomacy. “The Israeli Knesset has been discussing the Armenian Genocide issue for the eighth year in a row, and this is a great achievement, as the issue had never been put on the agenda before,” he added.

The historian said the behavior of the Israeli government is immoral. “Israel has no right to deny the Armenian Genocide because of its past,” Auron said.

Ex-member of the Knesset, Yair Tzaban, underlined, in turn, that Israel does not recognize the Armenian Genocide because of diplomatic considerations regarding Turkey; considerations which are in pursuit of military and economic interests.

“For twenty-four years now I have been struggling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I was the first minister to visit the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem and participate in the events dedicated to the Armenian Genocide,” Yair Tzaban said.

Armenian Genocide was justified and lawful – Turkey’s ex-president

July 14, 2013 By administrator

July 13, 2013 | 00:04

In the report which was signed by Kenan Evren, who had come to power in Turkey as a result of the military coup in 1980 and who became the country’s seventh president, the Armenian Genocide was noted as “justified and lawful.”

Extremely harsh sentences are written about the Armenians in the “Turkey’s Internal Threat” report, which the Turkish Armed Forces Chief of Staff has forwarded to the trial on the military coup, writes Radikal daily of Turkey.

The report, which was prepared three months before the military coup, was signed by Evren.

In the report, Armenians were accused of treason in connection with the events that occurred in 1914 and 1915, and it was noted that what was done to the Armenians in 1915 was justified and lawful.

Also in the report, the loss of Armenian lives was estimated at 50,000-100,000, at the same time adding that the loss of Turkish lives was considerably more.