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It is time for Turkey to recognise the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide

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By Benjamin Abtan New Statesman magazine

It has been 98 years since – following a premeditated plan with a methodic implementation – one million and a half Armenians were massacred in the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian people were the victims of a genocide which would soon serve as a gruesome reference for those that followed.

143319609Today in Turkey, the mere enunciation of this historical fact still provokes ferocious opposition, sometimes even physical threats. Genocide denial serves as an encouragement to racism and hate against Armenians and other non-Muslim minorities. Some want to pretend that acknowledging the reality of the Armenian Genocide is an attack on all Turkish people and on “Turkishness”. It is not: it is a step towards justice.

Several years ago, the genocide of Armenians began to be commemorated in Turkey itself. The participants are still few but their number grows every day despite an official discourse of genocide-denial. Today, those among us who have taken part in these commemorations in Turkey are calling for solidarity beyond borders.

This year on 24 April – the widely recognised starting date of the massacre – we ask citizens, civil society leaders, antiracist activists, intellectuals and artists, of Armenian and other diverse origins, in Turkey and across the world, to unite in calling for the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide to be recognised at last.

Our shared initiative is one of solidarity, of justice, and of democracy.

It is an initiative of solidarity between all who fight for historical truth. Today the divide is not between Turks and Armenians, but between those who struggle for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, whatever their origins are and wherever they live, and those who promote denial. In a word, it is not a question of blood, but of ideas; not a question of origins, but of a common goal.

It is an initiative of justice. In the words of writer and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, “Genocide kills twice, the second time by silence.” Denial, then, is the perpetuation of genocide. Fighting against denial is trying to quell the trauma in Armenian communities from one generation to another. It is not an end to this part of history – because when it comes to genocide, there is unfortunately no true end – but it offers new generations the opportunity to look together towards the future.

Finally, it is an initiative for democracy. Echoing writer and Buchenwald survivor Jorge Semprun’s frequent reminder, democracy requires vitality from civil society. Strengthening Turkish civil society by establishing bridges with the rest of the European civil society is strengthening democratic values, thus combating racism and promoting human rights, in Turkey as well as in the rest of Europe.

In solidarity, for justice and democracy, for the respect of the victims and their descendents, we will commemorate together the Armenian Genocide on 24 April, in Turkey.

Signed by:

Benjamin Abtan, President of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM

Cengiz Algan & Levent Sensever, Spokespeople for Durde! (Turkey)

Alexis Govciyan , European President & Nicolas Tavitian, Member of the Board of the Armenian General Benevolent Union – AGBU (Europe)

Meral Çildir, Member of the Board of Directors & Ayse Gunaysu, Member of the Commission against Racism and Discrimination of the Turkish Association for Human Rights – IHD (Turkey)

American Memco Inc. Company opens Armenian Genocide online museum

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16:51, 22 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS. On the eve of the Armenian Genocide’s 98th commemoration, Memco Inc. has updated and released the Armenian Genocide Virtual 716171Museum tour at http://www.genocide-museum.am. The Public Relations Service of Memco Inc. Company informed “Armenpress” that the virtual visit facilitates the visitors to visit the Armenian Genocide Museum—Institute from across the globe, to take a tour of the monument as well as the museum itself where documents and images of the perpetrations is displayed. Additionally, in remembrance of the victims of the genocide the visitors can place flowers by the eternal flame.

To view the aforementioned content the visitor is required to download and install a viewer (MiaPlayer) for a high-quality interactive experience. Once installed, the visitor may follow the easy instructions and navigate the entire scene. The visitor is presented with the choice of visiting the Genocide Museum during the day or the evening hours accompanied with the lasting music of Komitas as performed by the renowned Komitas Quartet.

Per Mr. Garen Melikian’s words, the President and CEO of Memco Inc., “… as someone who lives in the United States and could not attend the ceremony every year, I wanted to participate and make my presence permanent”. He goes on to say, that “by creating a virtual environment of the monument and the museum we wanted to offer the diaspora Armenians, as well as concerned non-Armenians, the opportunity that is readily available to our compatriots in Armenia. For them to visit Tsitsernakabert and pay their respect to victims of the genocide”, added Melikian.

It must be noted that the creation and maintenance of the Armenian Genocide Virtual Museum is a charitable contribution made by Memco Inc. in honor of the resilience and everlasting endurance of the Armenian people for the recognition of their pain and celebration of their life.

Former U.S. ambassador John Evans to address Armenian Genocide commemoration event in Fresno

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The 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be remembered this week in Fresno with a series of events, including a visit by a former U.S. ambassador to Armenia who spoke out about the genocide, The Fresno Bee reported.

g_imageNearly a century after 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, the U.S. government still fails to label the ethnic cleansing as a “genocide.”

The G-word was the “inappropriate” term and the event’s history was so taboo it couldn’t even be discussed, said former U.S. ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, who held the post from 2004 to 2006.

Evans challenged that taboo in a 2005 speaking tour in California where he first described the Ottoman Empire’s assault as a genocide — an act that thrust him into an uncomfortable position with his bosses.

“After I leveled with California audiences about the Armenian Genocide in February 2005 … I returned to Armenia as ambassador, but was required to issue a statement to the effect that what I had said was ‘inappropriate,’ ” Evans said.

“The fact that the subject was treated as taboo meant that it could not even be discussed,” he said. “That had to change, even if it cost me my job.”

Evans, a career foreign service officer, was recalled from his ambassador’s posting in Armenia before the end of his planned three-year assignment. He retired from the foreign service 18 months after his genocide remarks.

Evans continues to speak out about the genocide and calls for everyone to face the hard issues of history and be understanding. “I believe the failure of the world to deal with the issue has continuing deleterious consequences,” he said.

Evans will be the keynote speaker for Tuesday’s memorial commemorating the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the Pilgrim Armenian Congressional Church.

Source: Panorama.am

Knesset to hold discussion of Armenian Genocide

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April 22, 2011552673 – 16:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On April 23, Knesset will hold a discussion of the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Spokesman of Ararat Union of Armenians of Israel Mendel Korsunsky told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that the issue was on Knesset’s annual agenda for the past five years due to pro-Armenian MPs.

“However, the Israeli government has so far failed to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. The union calls on everyone who put morality above political interests to participate in April 24 action to protest the denial of the Armenian Genocide,” Mr Korsunsky said.

Iranian deputy speaker justifies Genocide recognition demands

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April 22, 2013 – 17:28 AMT

First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Mohammad-Hassan Aboutorabi Fard’s statement on the Armenian Genocide is unprecedented in terms of bad relations 155242between Turkey and Iran, editor-in-chief of Tehran-based Alik newspaper Derenik Melikian said.

Iranian MPs and politicians always attended the events commemorating Genocide anniversaries organized by Armenian Cause office of Iran, with deputy speaker coming up with a separate speech.

In his speech, deputy speaker Aboutorabi said, “those who hands are stained with Armenian blood are now taking the same measures against Syrian people.”

Thus, he practically justified Armenian demands in Genocide recognition campaign.

“Iranian-Turkish relations on Syrian issue have recently deteriorated as Iran attaches special importance to the Syrian crisis resolution. Otherwise, Iran has full right to establish peace in the region and use political and diplomatic tools in prevention of the strengthening of Sunni Islam in the neighboring country,” Melikian said.

Turkish well-known singer urges to participate in commemoration of Genocide victims

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Turkish well-known singer Nihat Dogan has stated about his intention to participate in the event dedicated to the victims of what he said “Meds Yeghe3rn” on April 24 in Istanbul Taksim square.

In an interview to Turkish Taraf paper, he said there is no need to be afraid of Lynch trial.

“Violence is a violence. If we go and if we are not afraid of being set ablaze many dark issues will come up. That is why I think that for the sake of humanity, for the sake of justice we all must be there,” he said.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Genocide Prevention Organizations Call On Coca-Cola & Citigroup To Sever Ties With Denial Group (The notorious American Turkish Council ATAA)

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Turkey’s diplomacy that works so wonderfully, but a sinister combination of greed and corruption of the American power elite and Turkey’s ruthless and secret campaign of buying, bribing, blackmailing and influencing behind the scenes America’s key figures who will work in Turkey’s interests . I do recommend Sibel Edmonds’ excellent account on how this diabolical system, financed by Turkey with money laundering, narcotics, arm dealings and nuclear black market operations, works. She writes (Wally Sarkeesian)

WASHINGTON—America’s leading genocide prevention groups this week called upon Coca-Cola and Citigroup to suspend their participation in a conference hosted by an organization waging a public campaign that supports the Turkish government’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, the Ottoman Turkish Government’s centrally planned and coke_citi_1000systematically executed mass murder of Christian Armenians.

In letters sent yesterday to the boards of directors of Citigroup and Coca-Cola, United to End Genocide, Investors Against Genocide, Genocide Watch, Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur, Jewish World Watch, and the Armenian National Committee of America all called upon these two corporations to sever any ties with organizations, such as the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), that actively deny the Armenian Genocide.  Citigroup and Coca-Cola are ranked by Fortune magazine as the 20th and 59th largest American corporations, respectively.

Both firms are scheduled to be represented at the ATAA’s convention, being held in Washington, DC starting on April 25, the day after the worldwide commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.  Speaking on behalf of Coca-Cola will be its Chairman, Muhtar Kent; representing Citigroup will be its Senior Vice President for International Government Affairs, Charles R. Johnston.  The signatories of the letter asked both corporations to withdraw their speakers from the conference, and, failing that, to publicly clarify that any participation by the officials is in a personal capacity.

Also scheduled to speak at the ATAA conference, over the publicly voiced objections of the ANCA, is the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Francis Ricciardone.  The Obama Administration has yet to confirm that any of its representatives will participate in the annual Capitol Hill Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, to be hosted by the Congressional Armenian Caucus on April 24th at the Hart Senate Office Building, Room 902.  The ANCA’s invitation to Secretary of State John Kerry and representatives of the State Department to attend the Congressional event is available at:

Click to access ANCA_Kerry_Genocide_invite.pdf

Copies of the letters to Coca-Cola and Citigroup are available at:
Coca-Cola: http://www.anca.org/asset/pdf/misc/CocaCola_Genocide_denial.pdf
Citigroup: http://www.anca.org/asset/pdf/misc/Citi_Genocide_denial.pdf

The complete texts of the letters to Coca-Cola and Citigroup are provided below.

April 18, 2013

Members of the Board of Directors
The Coca-Cola Company
P.O. Box 1734
Atlanta, GA  30301

Dear Members of the Coca-Cola Company’s Board of Directors:

We are writing to express our profound concern regarding the Coca Cola Company’s association with an organization that has, for many years, orchestrated a hateful public campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide, a government sponsored campaign that killed over 1,000,000 men, women and children because of their Armenian ethnicity and Christian faith.

As you may know, the Chairman of your Board, Mr. Muhtar Kent, is scheduled to speak on April 27th, three days after the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, at a grassroots organizing conference hosted by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) – an organization that routinely denies the Armenian Genocide and urges its members to block its commemoration in the United States.

As the International Association of Genocide Scholars wrote in March 2007, “As crimes of genocide continue to plague the world, Turkey’s policy of denying the Armenian Genocide gives license to those who perpetrate genocide everywhere… Denial is the final stage of genocide, as it seeks to demonize the victims and rehabilitate the perpetrators.”

We respect the Coca Cola Company’s stated view, as outlined in your code of conduct, that: “integrity means doing what is right.”  It is in this spirit that we call upon you to sever any connection between the Coca-Cola Company and organizations, such as the ATAA, which actively deny the Armenian Genocide.

If, even after our efforts to alert your company to the ATAA’s public record of genocide denial, Mr. Kent chooses to still address their conference, we ask that the Coca Cola Company publicly clarify that he is supporting this organization on a personal basis, and that the denial of any genocide, past or present, reflects neither the views nor values of your company.

We look forward to your response to our concerns, and would, of course, be pleased to meet with your board to discuss this matter further.

Sincerely,

Aram Hamparian
Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of America

Tom Andrews
President and CEO, United to End Genocide

Eric Cohen
Chairperson, Investors Against Genocide

Gregory Stanton
President, Genocide Watch

Bill Rosenfeld
Director, Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur

Vaughan Meyer
Advocacy Committee Chair, Jewish World Watch

April 18, 2013

Members of the Board of Directors
Citigroup Inc.
399 Park Avenue
New York City, NY  10043

Dear Members of Citigroup’s Board of Directors:

We are writing to express our profound concern regarding Citi’s association with an organization that has, for many years, orchestrated a hateful public campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide, a government sponsored campaign that killed over 1,000,000 men, women and children because of their Armenian ethnicity and Christian faith.

As you may know, Citi’s Senior Vice President, International Government Affairs Charles R. Johnston is scheduled to speak on April 26th, two days after the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, at a grassroots organizing conference hosted by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) – an organization that routinely denies the Armenian Genocide and urges its members to block its commemoration in the United States.

As the International Association of Genocide Scholars wrote in March 2007, “As crimes of genocide continue to plague the world, Turkey’s policy of denying the Armenian Genocide gives license to those who perpetrate genocide everywhere. . . .  Denial is the final stage of genocide, as it seeks to demonize the victims and rehabilitate the perpetrators.”

We respect Citi’s stated view, as outlined in your Citizenship Report, that: “Our common purpose is to always conduct business with integrity….”  It is in this spirit that we call upon you to sever any connection between Citi and organizations, such as the ATAA, which actively deny the Armenian Genocide.

If, even after our efforts to alert your company to the ATAA’s public record of genocide denial, Mr. Johnston chooses to still address their conference, we ask that Citi publicly clarify that he is supporting this organization on a personal basis, and that the denial of any genocide, past or present, reflects neither the views nor values of your company.

We look forward to your response to our concerns, and would, of course, be pleased to meet with your board to discuss this matter further.

Sincerely,

Aram Hamparian
Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of America

Tom Andrews
President and CEO, United to End Genocide

Eric Cohen
Chairperson, Investors Against Genocide

Gregory Stanton
President, Genocide Watch

Bill Rosenfeld
Director, Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur

Vaughan Meyer
Advocacy Committee Chair, Jewish World Watch

Turkish human rights activists to mark Armenian Genocide 98th anniversary

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April 20, 2013 – 19:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The commission on the elimination of xenophobia and discrimination, Istanbul branch, is planning to hold a number of events to commemorate the 15513198th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Director of Komitas Institute, historian Ara Sarafian will be the special guest of the event, with a representative of Assyrian community to deliver a speech about Assyrian massacres in 1915.

The event participants will later visit the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, the building of which served as a central prison in 1915, with Armenian intellectuals killed there.

A large map with will 2300 towns and villages on it will be showcased during the event, as home to Armenians during the Ottoman Empire.

The event participants will further visit the grave of Armenian-Turkish soldier Sevag Balikcı, killed on April 24, 2011, Demokrathaber reported.

Armenian Genocide commemoration held in London

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A rally d155165edicated to the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was held in London on April 20.

Around 1000-1200 people, including representatives of the Armenian community, youth organizations and RA embassy staff, as well as public figures participated in the event.

Victims of Armenian Genocide to be commemorated in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir

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16:35, 20 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS: Victims of the Armenian Genocide will be commemorated in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, reports Armenpress, referring to marksist.org.

716025Turkish news web site called on Turkish activists, journalists, academicians and artists to gather on April 24 and participate in the commemoration ceremony at Taksim Square. “These lands have seen a lot of pain during last 100 years. Anatolia, which was a mosaic of different nations, lost its entire colors only for becoming homogenous nation. First of all non-Muslim nations were expelled, losing everything they had. Those who managed to stay were merged, and if not were destroyed. Nevertheless, the most horrible happened to the most ancient owners of these lands, Armenian, in 1915. On April 24, 1915 Armenian nation was massacred. In order to commemorate this tragedy we call on our compatriots to pay tribute to their memory,” it is noted in the message.