Rep. Gabbard calls for Armenian Genocide recognition, stresses Artsakh’s self-determination

September 28, 2017 By administrator

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) last week traveled to Armenia on an official, bipartisan diplomatic trip as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, and as a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus.

“I traveled to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh with a bipartisan group of congressional colleagues to hear and see firsthand the challenges and opportunities that exist within Armenia and the region, and identify areas of mutual interest and cooperation that will strengthen the security, economic, and cultural relationships that bind our two countries. Focusing on the priorities of a peaceful, sustainable, and secure region remains the key to deepening the American-Armenian relationship,” Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said after the trip.

“The resilience and courage I witnessed in the people of the Nagorno-Karabakh region who remain in an ongoing conflict over their independence, further demonstrates our shared values of freedom, democracy, and self-determination. We must support a diplomatic resolution to this ongoing conflict, such as what has been proposed by the Minsk Group (made up of the United States, France, and Russia), to allow for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to exercise their freedom and independence,” Tulsi Gabbard.

“One major issue that continues to be unresolved is global recognition and condemnation of the Armenian genocide. It is unconscionable that the United States government still has not formally recognized and condemned the Armenian genocide. I stand with Armenians in America and around the world in condemning the Armenian Genocide, and I call on my colleagues to adopt House Resolution 220 so we never forget, or repeat, the suffering endured by the Armenian people,” she added.

“While there is much progress to be made within Armenia, the resilience of the Armenian people, their rich culture, values, and the depth of economic and academic investment I witnessed during my trip leaves me hopeful for the future of Armenia and the region,” the Congresswoman added.

In Armenia, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met with President Sargsyan, Prime Minister Karapetyan, distinguished members of the Ministry, representatives from Armenia’s National Assembly, Americans of Armenian ancestry, and a wide range of business, academic, and community leaders to discuss areas of mutual interest to strengthen regional and national security efforts, enhance humanitarian assistance for refugees, build economic opportunities, learn about the ongoing conflict and struggle of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, and to pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Last year, Hawaii’s State Legislature passed a resolution recognizing the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and previously, along with 46 other states, passed legislation formally recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and honoring its victims.

Armenian Genocide movie “Architects of Denial” premiere draws a capacity crowd in DC

September 27, 2017 By administrator

“Architects of Denial”

“Architects of Denial” – a powerful documentary film by Executive Producers Dean Cain and Montel Williams – drew a capacity crowd at its Washington, DC premiere, raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide among policy-makers and directly linking the denial of this crime to ongoing anti-Armenian discrimination and violence by both Turkey and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The viewing, held at the historic U.S. Navy Memorial, was hosted by PrimoVision, Tanit Productions and the Montel Media Group, in conjunction with the ANCA, The Armenian Artsakh Fund and Hope for Children Today, and featured an introduction by ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and presentations by Cain and Williams.

Among the Members of Congress participating in the event were Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA) and Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), who were joined by Notis Mitarachi, a visiting member of the Greek Parliament. Earlier in the day, Cain and Williams held a series of Congressional meetings across Capitol Hill. Ambassador of Armenia to the U.S. Grigor Hovhannisian, and Republic of Artsakh Representative to the U.S., Robert Avetisyan, were present, as was former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, who was featured prominently in the film.

“Architects of Denial forcefully challenges Ankara and its allies – on and off Capitol Hill – who dare to bully, bribe or barter America into silence on Turkey’s still unpunished genocide and exile of millions of Armenians and fellow Christians,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We want to thank Dean Cain and Montel Williams for their remarkable leadership in producing this powerful film, and to express our special appreciation for all they are doing through the media, in Congressional meetings, and in so many different ways to raise awareness of this crime. As they said, so eloquently, this evening: ‘Genocide denied is genocide continued,’” concluded Hamparian.

Cain and Williams, who have differing views on a range of issues, explained why they came together to place a spotlight on the Armenian Genocide, the importance of international affirmation and justice. “A genocide forgotten or not even acknowledged is a genocide that continues, and is a seed for a new one,” explained Williams. Cain, who recently returned from a visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland with Rep. Abraham, noted that whether discussing the Holocaust or the Armenian Genocide, these are human rights issues which should never be politicized.

Both Cain and Williams described their recent trip to Armenia, where they were particularly moved by the plight of Syrian Armenian refugees, descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, who are now seeking safe haven in their historic homeland after fleeing regional strife.

Only a democratic Turkey can recognize Armenian Genocide: MP

September 19, 2017 By administrator

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.”

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

September 16, 2017 By administrator

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

September 10, 2017 By administrator

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.”

Iowa recognizes Armenian Genocide

August 24, 2017 By administrator

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a powerful proclamation making Iowa the 47th State to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National Committee of America reported.

The proclamation declared October 2017 as “Armenia Awareness Month”.

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

August 17, 2017 By administrator

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.”

Americana agrees to advertise Armenian Genocide movie after all

August 17, 2017 By administrator

The Armenian National Committee of America – Glendale on Thursday, August 17 received a letter from Caruso Affiliated Executive Vice President of Operations, Jackie Levy condemning “violence and atrocities of any form anywhere in the world, including the Armenian Genocide that has impacted the lives of Armenians in our community.” The letter also states that Caruso Affiliated will work with the producers of “Architects of Denial” and the City of Glendale in an effort to display the advertisement at the Americana at Brand, at no cost to the producers, Asbarez reports.

The ANCA Glendale welcomed this important albeit delayed response as the first step in addressing a larger issue of insensitivity toward the Armenian-American community and utter lack of outreach and understanding.

“We look forward to working with Americana at Brand and Caruso Affiliated to further address the community’s needs and develop a positive and constructive relationship moving forward,” ANCA said.

“We especially want to thank the grassroots in our community who rose to the occasion by making our collective concerns heard on a larger scale. This outcome shows that when the community is activated, decision makers will hear its voice.”

The ANCA-Glendale will hold its scheduled press conference o on the green at the Americana at Brand to further discuss this issue of importance to our community.

Israeli opposition: We should recognize Armenian Genocide

July 27, 2017 By administrator

Israel Armenian Genocide Israeli opposition party leader said Israel has to recognize the Armenian Genocide and support Kurdish state amid the policy of Turkey’s president Erdogan.

Talking to reporters, Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid said time has come to stop ingratiating themselves to the Turks, who every time come and kick us harder, the Jerusalem Post reported.

“We need to say, ‘okay, we understand, now we have to run our own policy: from now on we support the establishment of an independent Kurdish state, we need to recognize the Armenian genocide, we need to do all the things that we didn’t do when we had good relations with Turkey, because we don’t, and we will not have in the future,” he said.

He also urged to give up the idea of a gas pipeline to Turkey.

Erdogan has recently made some critical remarks in connection with the Temple Mount crisis.

Turkish journalist exposes exclusive archive record on Genocide

July 23, 2017 By administrator

A Turkish journalist and editor for CNN Turk, Sedar Korocu, has published an exclusively important document on the Armenian Genocide.

The archive record, bearing the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate’s seal, contains a message by Archbishob Zaven Ter-Yaghyayan, the supreme religious leader at the time, reporting the demise of Karapet G Zarmanyan, a native of Erzurum who was exiled from home under the Turkish authorities’ decree. The document reveals that Zarmanyan passed away in March 1916 in the vicinities of Mosul (Iraq).

The Turkish journalist notes that Patriarch Yaghyayan, who was born in Baghdad, was exiled to his home city after the Patriarchate’s closure in 1916 and was able to return to Constantinople only three years laterafter the Young Turk government’s overthrow .

After his return, he faced the difficult task of conveying the sad news of the missing Armenians’ death (during the march into exile) to their families.

A French language document about Zarmanyan’s demise contains also the name of his wife and daughters, who were reported alive at the time.

The Turkish journalist is hopeful to find living descendants of the Zarmanyan family after the archive document’s publication.