Ruslan Tsarni, the uncle of alleged terror suspects in Boston, apologizes to Armenian community

May 1, 2013 By administrator

22:18, 30 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: Ruslan Tsarni, the uncle of alleged terror suspects, Tamerlan and Djokhar Tsarnaev, contacted the Mirror-Spectator directly to issue an apology to the Armenian community for his recent statements referencing Armenians in his discussions of the Boston Marathon bombings, reports Armenpress referring to Mirror-Spectator.

“Armenia has a very strong culture, therefore, I want to stress that his [Misha’s] ethnicity has nothing to do with it,” Tsarni said. “I wish I had never said it.”

Tsarni added, “I felt for you [Armenians] and wish I had never done it.”

He once again apologized for connecting the Armenian community “to this evil event.”

In previous media statements, Tsarni had discussed a recent convert to Islam named “Misha” – now reported as Mikhail Allakhverdova – stressing that he was of “Armenian descent” while implicating the man in the possible “brainwashing” of Tamerlan Tsarnev with notions of violence against non-Muslims.

Tsarni spoke briefly on the matter via phone, but said he was unable to comment further or answer additional questions. A reverse phone number search traced and confirmed that the phone call came from a Maryland cell phone issued to Tsarni.

Archbishop Aram Ateshyan told about concealed Armenians in Turkey

April 30, 2013 By administrator

11:07, 30 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 30, ARMENPRESS: The General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan gave an interview to the Turkish Bugun TV channel, where he told about the concealed Armenians living in Turkey, the number of which makes about a million. As reported by Armenpress, the Archbishop Aram Ateshyan stated that those people were made to conceal their nation and become Muslims during the World War I, because of the well-known events, occurred to Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey.

“There are about a hundred thousand people in the present generation in Turkey, whose parents are Armenians and they are Muslims. They talk Armenian and wear a cross secretly. I cleared it out due to my personal contacts. They do not want to attend church, as it will reveal their identity. The liturgy held in the Saint Kirakos Church in Diyarbakir was attended by more than 400 people, half of which having Armenian roots. My family as well lives in Diyarbakir as Muslims. The sons of my elder sister also live in Diyarbakir. They accepted Islam under pressure in 1950.

My son-in-law was told if he does not accept Islam, he will be killed. I was born in 1954. When I was 4-5, my sister became a Muslim. Their children became Muslims as well. My sister wore her cross secretly and spoke Armenian. I lost them, as they did not attend our church and I could not christen them. Many of the concealed Armenians told about their being Armenians only before the death.

A 30-year-old man came to me and asked to christen him. I told him to prove his being Armenian and he could not. Then his father called me and asked to accept his son. He said that he worked in the municipality and when he retires, he will return to his roots. According to his son, 90% of the population of Tunceli are Armenians and now he is a member of our church”, – told the General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan.

Greece is right to expose German loans hypocrisy

April 29, 2013 By administrator

As the Athens-Berlin spat intensifies, both sides must approach the eurozone crisis with humility or face dire consequences

Adolf Hitler’s military chief, Walther von Brauchitsch, front left, and colleagues at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, in 1941. Photograph: Roger Viollet/Getty Images

Greece forgets much of its history when it demands Germany repays loans made during the second world war.

The foreign minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, told the parliament in Athens on Wednesday: “We will exhaust every means available to arrive at a settlement. One can’t compare the times, but also one cannot erase the memories.”

His speech, which was light on details, followed a leak this month of a finance ministry report showing that Greece wants Berlin to repay €162bn – consisting of €108bn for infrastructure damage during the occupation between 1941 and the end of the war, and €54bn as compensation for an interest-free loan Germany demanded to support its war effort.

Avramopoulos has launched the claim for damages in response to taunts by German policymakers that Athens must fork out such vast sums for the country’s recklessness before and after the banking crash. Private sector debtors have forgiven some of Greece’s debts, but loans from Berlin via Brussels must be repaid in full – and with interest – says the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. Loans to Brussels and the International Monetary Fund amount to €240bn.

In one sense Athens is right to point out that Berlin is hypocritical when it accuses indebted eurozone countries of reckless behaviour. Germany was an aggressor in two world wars and failed to pay the debts it incurred. During the second world war it forced countries such as Greece to hand over huge sums in the form of 0% loans that were not repaid.

Greece was ordered to pay $528m by Adolf Hitler. It was not just a huge sum – equivalent to $7.1bn now – it weakened the currency and, according to Apostolos Vetsopoulos, in his 2002 doctoral thesis for University College London, “aggravated inflation in the Greek economy because the Bank of Greece was forced to issue inflationary notes to cover these extraordinary expenses”. Avramopoulos has applied compound interest to this sum to reach $54bn.

The trouble with the Greek stance is that by the end of the war Germany was broke and in huge debt. It was not only unable to pay outstanding loans, but also unable to pay the reparations many countries wanted to cover the cost of all the damage wreaked by the Wehrmacht.

France wanted reparations and so did the Benelux countries. So did Britain. They got their money, though not from Germany. Their recompense came from the US, which had come to the conclusion that punishing Germany, Japan and all the Axis nations would trigger a return to fascism. So it stepped in with large sums of cash from 1945 onwards, which in 1947 turned into the Marshall plan.

Like most of Europe, Greece was a beneficiary of the Marshall plan. The sums were so large they replaced the money due from Germany and more. In effect, Washington paid Berlin’s debt.

Vetsopoulos points out that much of the problem for Greece then, and it is probably true today, is that the money was wasted. First, Greece descended into civil war after 1945 when other countries were busy rebuilding. From 1947, when things settled down, the corruption in public life and schlerotic business sector meant much of the money went unspent, at least not on investment to re-tool a largely agricultural economy.

So the point is that no one extracted any money from the Germans after the war. Almost all its debts were forgiven, first at an international conference in 1953 and then in 1989, when Helmut Kohl said he could not possibly absorb East Germany and pay second world war debts.

And there is another twist. If the Greeks refuse to relinquish their 70-year-old claim, they should also approach the Italian government for unpaid loans. As Germany’s Axis partner, Rome was a beneficiary of the same deal, and Benito Mussolini’s soldiers helped destroy much of Athens.

In the end, the lesson both sides need to learn is humility, because both are wrong. But that said, Germany should revise its position on eurozone debt. It must recognise the hypocrisy of its current stance and, more importantly, the dire consequences of making it stick. The Americans were wise when it came to German debts, it is time Germany adopted the same stance.

• The picture caption of this article was amended on 29 April 2013. The original said Walther von Brauchitsch was in the centre of the picture. This has been corrected.

Complete three part Video Commemoration of Armenian genocide at Montebello CA. Monument (98) (Video)

April 26, 2013 By administrator

The United Armenian Council for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, which represents about 50 groups, sponsored the event.

You have heard the writing but now we want you to hear the Voices of these leaders.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“This monument is a sacred place,” Villaraigosa said. “It’s a marker of one of the 20th century’s greatest crimes. The Armenian genocide is not a matter of debate. It is a matter of fact. ”

Geoffrey Robertson, a former international judge from London, said Armenians should demand justice from Turkey.

“The attempt to exterminate a race is not just unforgettable,” Robertson said.

“It is unforgiveable unless and until the perpetrators make amends,” he said. “This shouldn’t be a day of sadness. It should be a day of anger and a day to demand justice. ”

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On CNN Mark Geragos strictly condemned rumors alleging Armenian connection in Boston marathon explosions ( Video)

April 26, 2013 By administrator

12:25, 26 April, 2013
While Armenians where commemorating 1.5 Million Christian Armenian Massacred by the Turks in 1915, the Turkish lobby where busy associating Armenian convert to Muslim to the Boston Turkish Chechnya bomber.

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS. During the Live discussion on CNN prominent American-Armenian attorney Mark Geragos strictly condemned the international broadcaster and other media for continuous coverage of rumors regarding a Muslim-convert Armenian, who directed the Tsarnaev brothers in the way of radical Islam. As reports “Armenpress” the Armenian National Committee of America and a number of Armenians all over the world expressed their gratitude and support to the ethnic Armenian attorney for his actual remarks.

Among other things Mark Geragos noted: “As an Armenian I do want to comment on all the speculations about a convert named Misha, which is by the way is not an Armenian name. It is insulting for the Armenians everywhere, for it is the first Christian nation. So instead of listening to an uncle, who has not seen the guys for three years, I think we should be a little bit more critical to some of the information, which is being passed around as Gospel.”

Also Mark Geragos underlined that it is insulting the Armenians everywhere, saying that there is an Armenian convert to Muslim, and reminded that this week the Armenians celebrated the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, when 1.5 million Christian Armenians were whipped out by Muslim Ottoman Turks. Summing up Mark Geragos emphasized: “I think that this uncle is under the influence of something.”

1,500 attend commemoration of Armenian genocide at Montebello monument

April 25, 2013 By administrator

By Mike Sprague
mike.sprague@sgvn.com

MONTEBELLO “” Don’t forget what happened to the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in 1915 by the Ottoman Turks. That was the message speakers delivered Wednesday at the commemoration of the 98th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

About 1,500 people were present at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument at Bicknell Park in Montebello.

“We must take a sacred vow to never forget and always remember the Armenian genocide,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The United Armenian Council for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, which represents about 50 groups, sponsored the event.

Turkey, a close U.S. ally, has long denied there was a systematic campaign to kill Armenians.

The event is held on April 24 because 98 years ago on that date in 1915 is when the Ottoman Turkish government captured and imprisoned about 300 intellectuals, said John Kossakian, one of the chairpersons of Wednesday’s commemoration.

“We want to keep the memory alive,” Kossakian said.

“It’s not like any other genocide,” he said. “This genocide also comes as a package with the loss of land. Armenians were deported off their land and are immigrants all over the world.

The Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument was unveiled in April 1968 to honor the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government from 1915 through 1921, as well as to honor all victims of crimes against humanity.

Wednesday’s event was one of many held in Southern California this week. A rally and vigil was held Tuesday night at the monument, a march was held Wednesday in Hollywood and two more were held in Pasadena.

Geoffrey Robertson, a former international judge from London, said Armenians should demand justice from Turkey.

“The attempt to exterminate a race is not just unforgettable,” Robertson said.

“It is unforgiveable unless and until the perpetrators make amends,” he said. “This shouldn’t be a day of sadness. It should be a day of anger and a day to demand justice. ”

Robertson said justice would be an apology and reparations.

It wasn’t just the speakers who said the genocide must be remembered.

“We can never forget,” said Sara Nahapetyan of Montebello, who comes every year to the event. “1915 “” never again. “

Never Forget Armenian Genocide – Kim Kardashian

April 25, 2013 By administrator

April 24, 2013 | 22:00

Famous American celebrity of Armenian descent Kim Kardashian posted a link on her Celebuzz webpage, where she stresses the importance to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed in the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

“I am incredibly proud of my Armenian roots and that is why it is so important for me to spread the word about the Armenian Genocide. It is so important for me to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed in the 1915 Armenian Genocide. My thoughts and prayers will always be with all my fellow Armenians. I will never forget the fear and pain this has caused my ancestors and those close to me and will continue to do everything in my power to educate those around me so that there is a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. I love my heritage so much, this will be a part of me forever. Xo,” reads Kardashian’s post.

Armenian Genocide commemorated in Bulgarian cities

April 25, 2013 By administrator

April 24, 2013 – 19:40 AMT

On April 24, Armenian ambassador to Bulgaria Arsen Shoyan, the embassy staff, former MP Katar Khachikian and representatives of the Armenian community laid flowers at the Genocide memorial in Sofia. Ambassador Shoyan delivered a speech, stressing the need for the international recognition of the Genocide and condemning the denial policy. A liturgy was further served in Sofia’s St. Mary’s Church.

The Armenian Genocide commemoration events will also be held in Bulgaria’s other cities such as Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse, Burgas, Dobrich and Sliven.

Obama again fails to use term Genocide in April 24 statement

April 24, 2013 By administrator

April 24, 2013 – 17:48 AMT

U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement on Armenian Remembrance Day, again failing to use the term Genocide.

“Today we commemorate the Meds Yeghern and honor those who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. Ninety-eight years ago, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. We pause to reflect on the lives extinguished and remember the unspeakable suffering that occurred. In so doing, we are joined by millions across the world and in the United States, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and families. We also remind ourselves of our commitment to ensure that such dark chapters of history are not repeated,” Obama said in his April 24 address to the Armenian community.

“I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future. We appreciate this lesson in the United States, as we strive to reconcile some of the darkest moments in our own history. We recognize those courageous Armenians and Turks who have already taken this path, and encourage more to do so, with the backing of their governments, and mine,” he said.

“The history and legacy of the Armenian people is marked by an indomitable spirit, and a great resiliency in the face of tremendous adversity and suffering. The United States is stronger for the contributions Armenian-Americans have made to our society, our culture, and our communities. In small measure we return that contribution by supporting the Armenian people as they work toward building a nation that would make their ancestors proud: one that cherishes democracy and respect for human liberty and dignity.

Today we stand with Armenians everywhere in recalling the horror of the Meds Yeghern, honoring the memory of those lost, and affirming our enduring commitment to the people of Armenia,” he concluded

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (A.W.)—A large crowd gathered at the Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality Theater on April 23 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

April 24, 2013 By administrator

This report was filed by the Armenian Weekly’s Diyarbakir correspondent, Gulisor Akkum.

The event, commemorating the 98^th anniversary of the destruction of the Armenian community in the city, was organized by the Diyarbakir Bar Association (DBA) and the Diyarbakir Municipality, and featured a panel discussion with historian Ara Sarafian and the head of the DBA, Tahir Elci.

In his opening remarks, Elci noted that as Armenian intellectuals and community leaders were being rounded up in Istanbul on April 24, 1915 and during the weeks that followed, a similar process unfolded in Diyarbakir.

Stressing Kurdish participation in the genocide in Diyarbakir, Elci said that confronting the reality of the genocide by Kurds today is inevitable. Moreover, he argued that Kurds should support Armenians in the struggle against the state’s ideology and denialism.

“We grew up with the stories of our grandparents about the massacres of the Armenians. Denialist discourse does not withstand legal and historic scrutiny,” he said.

“Today, we commemorate the genocide in Diyarbakir for the first time. This is a very important day for us. We bow respectfully before the memory of our Armenian brothers who were murdered in 1915, and condemn the genocide,” Elci concluded.

Sarafian focused on the process of the destruction of the Armenians in Diyarbakir in 1915. He noted that he had come to Diyarbakir to conduct research on the genocide, and that locals had been very helpful.

After the meeting, members of the audience headed to the banks of the Tigris River and threw flowers in the water in memory of the Armenians killed there during the genocide.