Syria: Aleppo’s 15th century Armenian Church of Forty Martyrs Destroyed

April 29, 2015 By administrator

Aleppo’s Armenian Church of Forty Martyrs destroyed (photo: iNews)

ALEPPO, Syria (A.W.)—The Armenian Church of Forty Martyrs in Judayda, Aleppo, has been destroyed. The Church was bombed with explosives placed underneath the structure through underground tunnels, reported sources.

The Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern U.S. confirmed the destruction of the Church to the Armenian Weekly.

The Forty Martyrs Church dates back to the 15th century. The first mention of the Church appeared in the second edition of the book, The Exploit of the Holy Bible, by Father Melikseth in 1476. The bell tower was built in 1912. The Church housed khatchkars, relics, and icons, including “The Last Judgment,” a painting that dates back to 1703.

The Church was at the center of Armenian community life in Aleppo, where for centuries religious and cultural initiatives took place.

The destruction of the Forty Martyrs Church comes about four months after terrorists bombed the Armenian Catholic Cathedral Our Lady of Pity (also known as St. Rita), located next to the Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Aleppo, leaving the church partly destroyed. In September 2014, terrorists destroyed the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Der Zor, Syria—considered the Auschwitz of the Armenian Genocide.

Before the start of the Syrian crisis in the spring of 2011, between 60,000-70,000 Armenians called Syria home, constituting less than 0.5 percent of the country’s total population. More than half of them lived in Aleppo, with the other half scattered in such cities as Latakia, Homs, Qamishli, Hasakeh, Yaqubiye, Raqqa, Kessab, and the capital Damascus.

Armenian Genocide bill discussed at Iraqi Kurdistan parliament

April 29, 2015 By administrator

A bill on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and which an Armenian MP had introduced to the parliament of the Iraqi Kurdistan autonomous region, has caused debates among the local political forces.

The parliament’s Armenian member, Yervant Nisan, informed that he collected signatures from all parties in the parliament, and in favor of the draft law he introduced, reported the Rudaw website.

Although the parliament’s Kurdistan Patriots Union (KYB) openly supported this bill, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Movement for Change (Gorran) platform preferred to remain silent on this matter.

KYB MP Rewas Fayik noted that he signed for this bill and its passing in the Iraqi Kurdistan parliament will be something ordinary.

Several KDP MPs likewise signed in favor of the passing of this proposed law.

KDP member Muhammad Amir Dershewi, for his part, said everyone knows that genocide was committed against the Armenians, and stressed that the parliament of the Kurdistan autonomous region must take the initiative.

Forty Iraqi Kurdistan MP’s signed under this bill, which calls for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and it was submitted to the presidency of the parliamen

Turkey: Armenian Church Seeks Headquarters’ Return

April 29, 2015 By administrator

By RICK GLADSTONE

Lawyers for the Armenian Church said Tuesday that they had filed a lawsuit with Turkey’s highest court seeking a return of the church’s headquarters, a sacred site in the south-central city of Kozan confiscated by the Ottoman authorities in 1915 as part of their broad repression of the Armenian Christian minority. About 1.5 million Armenians were killed during that era in what is now widely regarded as a genocide. The lawsuit, brought in the Constitutional Court of Turkey, is an unprecedented effort by the Armenian Church to use the Turkish legal system to recover property seized 100 years ago, said Payam Akhavan, a former prosecutor at The Hague and the church’s lead international counsel in the case. The suit, filed Monday, came a few days after Armenia officially commemorated the centennial of the genocide.

Source: NYtime

DW: Turkey is shooting itself in the foot #ArmenianGenocide

April 28, 2015 By administrator

Turkey has badly hurt its international ties by threatening Germany and other partner nations over their assessment of the Armenian Genocide a century ago, Deutsche Welle says.

Turkey has rarely launched rhetorical attacks on so many different international players in such a short time. The pope came in for his share, as did the European Parliament.

Then it was Austria’s turn, before Germany, France, Russia and the USA were also all verbally assaulted – in a series of foreign office statements issued at the rate of almost one a minute – for the positions they have taken in the debate on the correct word to give to the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman authorities one hundred years ago.

In the case of Germany, Ankara stressed that the Turkish people would neither forgive nor forget the words of President Joachim Gauck, who has spoken of Armenian Genocide.

The presidents of the USA, Russia and France – Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin and Francois Hollande – drew Ankara’s ire because they also mentioned the massacre. And Obama didn’t even use the “G-word” out of consideration for his country’s important NATO ally.

Within just a few hours, Ankara thus verbally attacked three of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council and, in the case of Germany, also its most important trading partner. With only a few weeks to go to the Turkish parliamentary elections on June 7, this probably appeals to right-leaning voters – one possible motivation behind the wave of blustering statements.

But Turkey will have to realize that such exaggerated accesses of rage do more harm than good in the sphere of foreign affairs, Deutsche Welle notes.

For a start, the report says, there is barely a single government politician in the targeted countries who takes the tirades from Ankara seriously: many are the occasions when Turkey has announced political and economic reprisals against partner nations in great indignation, only to get back to business as usual without losing another word on the matter.

Then there is the fact that the furious Turkish outbursts reinforce doubts about how reliable this partner to the West actually is. To a point, it is understandable, in view of the country’s domestic political situation and the decades spent denying the crime, that the Turkish government rejects the application of the term “genocide” to the massacre of Armenians. But the way Ankara has almost broken up its friendship with important allies in a spectacular gesture just because they did not agree with the Turkish view of things could cause some politicians and officials in the West to think again.

For some time, Turkey has been taking pleasure in presenting itself as a regional power whose irresistible rise is being hindered by foreign ones, because Europe and the USA fear a new rival. This strange view of the world is part of the reason for the heated debate on the Armenian issue, and was frequently promulgated in the past few days in particular by the government-friendly press in Ankara and some advisers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It may be that Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party can score with nationalistic voters in the Turkish election campaign by this means. But internationally, it is a course that will lead to isolation.

U.S Armenian goes on hunger strike in front of White House “OBAMA KEEP YOUR PROMISE”

April 28, 2015 By administrator

US Armenian Davit Mnatsakanyan, founder and director of the United Armenia and the Global Education and Research Alliance (GERA) companies has gone on hunger strike in front of the President’s official residence since Friday. Davit Manatsakanyan told Armenian News – NEWS.am that he is on hunger strike over the 100the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

“Before his election President Barack Obama stated he would acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, but he hasn’t done this so far. That’s why I decided to go on hunger strike in front of the White House, bringing the public attention to that question,” Mnatsakanyan said.

His hunger strike will last till May 1-2. During these days Mnatsakanyan has been approached and supported by many Armenians and Iranians. “There were also five Turks who came up to me; one of them tried to use violence, but nothing will stop me. I’m continuing the hunger strike,” Mnatsakanyan said.

In his hand Mnatsakanyan holds a banner with an Armenian flag and the inscription ‘Obama keep your promise and recognize Armenian Genocide.’

L.A. County officials push for Turkish recognition of Armenian Genocide

April 28, 2015 By administrator

By City News Service

LOS ANGELES >> The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to send a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to petition the Turkish government to recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich marked the 100th anniversary of the slaughter and decried the “Turkish government’s continued denial of that genocide.”

Moving to “honor the 1.5 million victims,” Antonovich told his colleagues, “23 nations and our Pope Francis have declared this a genocide … it’s time that we also proclaim it a genocide.”

An Armenian priest told the board that the “eighth and final stage of genocide is denial.”

Recalling the Holocaust and reciting a list of other genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Darfur and “today in the desert of Syria,” the religious leader told the board, “and we still say ‘never again.”’

Supervisor Hilda Solis told her colleagues that “any assault on humanity is an assault on all of us.”

Los Angeles is home to the largest Armenian population in America — more than 183,000 people according to the latest available U.S. Census estimates.

Tens of thousands of people marched to the Turkish consulate in Los Angeles last week to mark the anniversary and several public officials had harsh words for the President and Congress, who have failed to push Turkey, a NATO ally, on the issue.

During a visit to Washington, D.C. last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned that any use of the term “genocide” by Obama would have a “detrimental effect” on U.S.-Turkish relations, The Washington Post reported.

Turkey has cooperated with the U.S. in its fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

Turkish TV Accidentally Airs Genocide Centennial Events Instead of Gallipoli

April 27, 2015 By administrator

ISTANBUL (ArmRadio)—On April 24, CNBC Turkey mistakenly aired footage from the commemorations of the Armenian Genocide centennial instead of Gallipoli celebrations during its news program.

While the anchorwoman spoke about the events marking the anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli, footage on the background was showing commemoration of the Armenian Genocide centenary at the Dzidzernagapert Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.

CNBC showed Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian welcoming foreign dignitaries. Only close to the end of the report, Erdogan was shown placing flowers at the memorial of the Battle of Gallipoli.

Armenians in China organize Genocide centennial events

April 27, 2015 By administrator

The Armenian Community of China organized a landmark series of cultural and artistic events in cities across China, to mark the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. These events, held in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai during the weekend of April 24-25, shared the Armenian history, art and culture with the Chinese people on a historic occasion.

The highlight of the weekend was the main gathering in Nanjing,which was chosen in solidarity with China, as it was in Nanjing that Japanese troops massacred hundreds of thousands of Chinese during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937. As with the Armenian Genocide, it is an event that still goes unrecognized by its perpetrators.

In the Exhibition Hall of the Art Institute of Nanjing, celebrated Armenian painter Sevada Grigoryan presented his collection entitled “Awakening.” The opening ceremony started with the sounds of Duduk, Vahe Der-Hovakimian performed Dle Yaman, which is considered to be the symbol of the Armenian Genocide In parallel, Michael Hayrapetyan, a talented pianist and associate professor at the Moscow University of Art and Culture, performed at the Concert Hall of the Nanjing Institute of Art. His musical piece, “The Secrets of Armenia,” was inspired by the work of classical Armenian composers.

“It is a big honor to share our musical history with our Chinese friends,” said Hayrapetyan, who resides in China and regularly performs for Chinese audiences.

The musical performance was followed by an evening of remembrance, during which Chinese and Armenian guests shared their family histories. The documentary “The River Ran Red” by Mickayel Hakobian, which was recently translated into Chinese for the first time, was shown to the attendees.

“It was a very touching evening and reinforced the solidarity between the Armenian and Chinese,” said Lee Yen, a resident of Nanjing.

One day before, on April 24 an Armenian cultural evening, dedicated to the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, was held in the prestigious Bund area of Shanghai. An audience of both Chinese and Armenian attendees enjoyed a performance of classical music and Armenian dance, as well as an art exhibition of works by Chinese students inspired by the events of the Armenian Genocide.

“Our goal was to share with our Chinese friends our rich artistic history, while highlighting the common threads of our two ancient cultures,” said Astghik Poghosyan, an accomplished Armenian violinist. Poghosyan has studied in China for five years and regularly performs on Chinese television. The evening concluded with a candle lighting ceremony in remembrance of the 1.5 million Armenians who were systematically massacred by the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

That same night the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Beijing hosted renowned documentary filmmaker Ruben Giney, a resident of China since 2004. Giney presented his latest award-winning documentary, entitled “Andin: Armenian Journey Chronicles.” The film recounts the long history of Armenians in China and the historical links between the two civilizations.

“China has welcomed Armenians for hundreds of years,” said Henri Arslanian, President of the Armenian community of China. “There are many similarities between our nations and cultures. We wanted to share a taste of Armenian culture, as a way to thank our Chinese friends for welcoming us to their country.”

The Armenian Community of China, also known as ChinaHay, has been growing tremendously in recent years. Its members mainly live in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The Armenian Genocide victims honored in Istanbul

April 26, 2015 By administrator

(AFP) – Hundreds of people symbolically honored Friday in Istanbul memory of the victims of the massacres of Armenians in 1915, the Turkish authorities for the first time honored at a Mass but continuing to reject any “genocide” .

Gathered at the call of a group of Turkish and international NGOs, the demonstrators gathered in succession to the former prison, now Museum of Islamic Art, which were held the first Armenians arrested April 24, 1915 and Haydarpasa train station, where they were later deported.

Under the eye of the police, they exhibited portraits of the victims killed in 1915 and placards “Recognize Genocide”, Turkish, Armenian and English.
“I wanted to come here in the middle of the Turkish people to commemorate this common cause,” he told AFP Satenik Baghdasaryan, an Armenian activist came specially for the occasion of Yerevan. “It’s my way of showing my appreciation for the work they do here (…) to push their state to recognize what has happened,” she added.

Turkish Minister participated Friday for the first time, a Mass in honor of the victims of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul.
“We respect the suffering of our Armenian brothers. We are aware of their ordeal, that’s why we came to attend the ceremony, “said Minister for European Affairs, Volkan Bozkir.

In a message read at the Mass, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his “condolences” to the Armenian victims of the 1915-1917 killings. “I say that our hearts are open to descendants of Ottoman Armenians around the world,” also wrote the strongman of the country as a message.

espite this gesture of openness, the Turkish Islamic-conservative leaders have deemed “unfounded” genocide qualification massacres of hundreds of thousands of Armenians committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915, denouncing a “smear campaign against Turkey “.

“We expect the Turkish state recognition of the genocide, he stops to Holocaust denial at the heart of its education, its diplomacy, its politics, its ideology,” said Benjamin Abtan, the European Anti-Racist Movement ( Egam), who participated in the rallies of the day.

Brief scuffles finally between students of the Technical University of Istanbul that deployed on campus banners calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the private security and police officers, reported the news agency Dogan.

Other rallies in memory of the victims of the 1915 massacres were reported in Turkey, especially in Diyarbakir (south-east), according to media.

Egyptian expert: Historic moment of Armenian Genocide recognition is not far

April 25, 2015 By administrator

YEREVAN. – The historic moment of Armenian Genocide recognition is not that far, Ayman Salama, Egyptian historian, scientist and specialist of international law told Armenian News – NEWS.am. He said that it was his already second visit to Armenia. “I offer sincere and deep condolences to the Armenian people, Armenian families, who suffered from the genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 during WWI,” Ayman Salama said.

According to the expert, Article 1 of the Genocide Convention (adopted by UN General Assembly on December 9, 1948) defines genocide as an international crime regardless of being committed in time of peace or in time of war. “Therefore, it is actually a clear and undeniable refutation to the Turkish side’s allegations. If you ask lawyers, attorneys and human rights activists all over the world, 90 per cent of them will respond that the Armenian Genocide was a typical genocide, defined by international law, international humanitarian law and Geneva Convention,” Salama added.

According to the historian, the Turkish government should address not the Armenian nation but its own people, so that the latter can understand what actually happened.