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Merkel rejects Erdogan: government will not make statement against resolution of Bundestag

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Merkel-rejectThe Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have said to Angela Merkel that he will allow the German MPs to visit the Incirlik military base, if the German government announces that it does not agree with the Armenian resolution adopted by the German Parliament . The Turkish periodical Diken reports that banning the visit of the German MPs to the Incirlik military base have  created a new tension in Turkish- German relations.

The Turkish foreign minister tried to ease the tension of the situation , announcing that the German military delegation can visit the Incirlik base, but the visit of the civilians is not appropriate . That statement provoked the outrage of the German MPs and the German Ministry of Defense . He said that they will go to Incirlik and meet with the German troops.

It is noted that the tension began within the framework of the NATO summit meeting between Merkel and Erdogan , when Erdogan announced that the German MPs will visit the military base in Incirlik , if the German Government states that it disagrees with the resolution that recognizes the Armenian Genocide earlier adopted by the Bundestag. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected Erdogan’s condition, saying that the German government will not make a statement against the resolution of the Bundestag.

 

 

Karabakh in focus of Armenian, French Presidents’ meeting

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meeting 333President Serzh Sargsyan and his French counterpart Francois Hollande on Saturday, July 9 discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Warsaw, the presidential press service reports.

Talking on the sidelines of a NATO summit, Sargsyan hailed Frances’ and personally Hollande’s own efforts aimed at resolving the issue.

Both of them attached great importance to previous meetings in Vienna and Saint Petersburg, during which Armenian and Azeri leaders discussed opportunities for bringing the negotiation process back on track.

Sargsyan and Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev met on June 20 in Saint Petersburg to address the conflict, with Russian President Vladimir Putin mediating the talks. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents confirmed their commitment to the implementation of agreements reached at a Vienna-hosted meeting on May 16. To that end, they have agreed to increase the number of international observers in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone. Also, they expressed satisfaction that the ceasefire was now holding.

Prior to that, a meeting between both leaders was organized on May 16 in Vienna, with top diplomats from the MG co-chairing countries hosting the summit.

Hailing evermore developing economic relations between the two countries, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude over the French National Assembly’s vote to criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Knesset doesn’t shy away from Armenian Genocide after Turkey deal

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yuli edelstein-1“We must disconnect current interests from the past; we cannot remain apathetic,” Edelstein says.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and other MKs called for the government to recognize the Armenian Genocide on Tuesday, despite recently signing an agreement improving relations with Turkey.

“We cannot ignore, dwarf or deny this terrible genocide,” Edelstein stated. “We must disconnect current interests of this time and place from the difficult past.”

Edelstein quoted Nobel Prize-winning author, philosopher and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who died on Saturday, as saying apathy to suffering helps the enemy.
“We cannot remain apathetic, even if it’s late, to the suffering the Armenians experienced,” said Edelstein. “Recognizing the Armenian genocide is important to us as human beings who carry the moral responsibility, and constantly hope to improve the world and society.”

Meretz chairwoman Zehava Gal- On, who initiated the discussion, also quoted Wiesel, in an open letter his foundation published in 2007 calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“Children and grandchildren of survivors must know what genocide looks like and how one tragedy turned into another giant one,” she said. “But here, in the Knesset, the elected parliament of the state in which the memory of the Holocaust is constant, and ‘never forget’ is a moral commandment, we haven’t heard about it.”

Gal-On said that despite the agreement with Turkey, Israel must recognize it.

“This is a decision Israel must make,” she stated. “Sometimes there is a price to doing the right thing, and sometimes the right choice is not the easy one. We are tested when we have to pay a price.”

Minister without portfolio Tzachi Hanegbi presented the government’s position, saying he understands the emotions behind the MKs’ speeches. But he did not use the Hebrew phrase for “genocide,” simply saying “tragic events.”

The MKs present approved Gal- On’s motion to the agenda, and the discussion will be moved to the Knesset Education Committee.

Meanwhile outside the Knesset, more than 50 people rallied for the same cause. Protesters lined the gate separating the Wohl Rose Park of Jerusalem from the Knesset holding placards reading “Recognize the Armenian Genocide,” and “Fight to stop the Turkish Denial Machine.”

Many countries have debated whether what happened in 1915 can qualify as a “genocide” – 29 countries and groups including the United Nations, the Catholic Church and the Anti-Defamation League say yes, Israel and Turkey say no.

Apo Sahagian, an Armenian Israeli whose family immigrated to Israel in 1921 following the genocide, was part of the group that planned the event. He was not optimistic that it would work.

“This is just to make sure that the people inside, the suits inside, are reminded that they still have a moral obligation, that they don’t simply avoid it or turn a blind eye to it,” he said.

First-ever Australian film on Armenian Genocide slated for July 31 release

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armenian children moveThe first ever Australian-produced film on the Armenian Genocide, Shahane Bekarian’s “Children of a Genocide” will Premiere at Event Cinemas in Top Ryde on July 31, the Armenian National Committee of Australia reports.

This 62-minute documentary, produced in association with ANC Australia, is about the struggle of Armenian children who narrowly survived the genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Exiled from their homes and forced onto death marches into the Syrian desert of Deir ez-Zor, more than 1.5 million perished.

Sydney-based Bekarian uncovers archival interviews of 40 survivors who disclose their shocking stories. Driven by his grandfather’s story, the filmmaker searches for identity amongst a mélange of separate cultures. Having tracked down other survivors’ grandchildren, 100 years after the genocide, they compare today’s struggle to retain their ancient culture from assimilation and homogeny in the “lucky country” of Australia.

With the 101st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide commemorations in Australia having a particular focus on Australian links to the Armenian Genocide, the film “Children of a Genocide” will add to this awareness as it looks at eyewitness testimonies recorded in the 1980s to help understand the severity of the tragedy, ANC Australia says.

Many descendants play a part in telling their story and how they live their day-to-day lives remembering the pain and sufferings of their ancestors.

Regarding the Premiere of the film, Bekarian said: “I’m very excited and proud to bring my film Children of a Genocide to the greater community.”

“The film intends to raise questions on how we’re coping with cultural preservation in multicultural Australia and how we deal with the genocide 101 years on, on an interpersonal level and in our day-to-day lives.”

He added: “I hope that, with the use of survivor archive footage, it preserves the cause of our forefathers, echoes the connection to the youth, and helps us unite as a singular community.”

Papazian: France constitutional court unlikely to reject law criminalizing denial of Armenian Genocide

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genocide as crime

YEREVAN. – The law criminalizing the denial of genocides will make it impossible to conduct the Turkish policy of denial in France, representative of the Armenian community said.

“This was a pre-election promise of Francois Hollande, and he kept it. This is a bill to criminalize the denial of all genocides and crimes against humanity. The bill will be reviewed in September and will be mst likely adopted. With the adoption of this draft law in France, no one will any longer have the right to say that there was no  Armenian Genocide, and this also applies to other genocides as well,” co-chairman of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France Mourad Papazian told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The National Assembly (NA) of France adopted the amendments proposed to the bill on “Equality and citizenship” on July 1. The amendments propose to establish 45,000 euro penalty for denying the crimes against humanity. In fact, the document specifically mentions about criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

Asked whether it is possible that the French Constitutional Council could reject the law as it happened last time, Mr. Papazian said that this time the bill had been studied by lawyers and such an outcome is almost impossible: “We made sure that there were no gaps. We are pretty sure that this time the court will not give up. But, of course, we cannot be 100%”.

Representatives of the Armenian community of France are doing everything to ensure that in September the bill would pass the Senate. Mr. Papazian added that the Turkish side is also active in the opposite.

French MPs vote to criminalise denial of Armenian genocide

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French MP genocideThe new amendment covers all events which French law deems to be genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or slavery, including ‘denial or trivialisation’

By Rachael Pells,

French MPs have voted unanimously to pass a law banning the denial of crimes against humanity.

The amendment was passed as an extension of the current French holocaust law and includes “denial or trivialisation” of all events classed as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or slavery as punishable crimes.

The act means that denial of events such as the Armenian genocide will be punishable by up to one year in prison and a 45,000 Euro fine (approximately £37,760).

The French parliament passed an Armenian genocide law in 2001 and tried to ban denial of it in 2012. The law, which made it illegal to negate acts that parliament had decided were crimes against humanity, was blocked by the Constitutional Council, however, on the grounds that it was a limit on freedom of expression.

While the new motion is yet to be passed by France’s Senate, backers of the amendment hope for it to be implemented by the end of the year.

The bill also allows NGOs that campaign on slavery issues to take legal action against related denial crimes.

Nearly 1.5 million people were executed by Ottoman armies during World War One.

Turkish officials have said the killings were part of a collective tragedy during which both Turks and Armenians died, but Armenians have long campaigned for the mass murders to be categorised as a crime against humanity.

Last month, Germany voted to recognise the Armenian killings as genocide – a term rejected by ministers in Ankara

French parliament adopts bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial

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armenia france genocideThe National Assembly (NA) of France adopted the amendments proposed to the bill on “Equality and citizenship”, which President François Hollande had also promised to make.

The amendments propose to establish 45,000 euro penalty for denying the crimes against humanity, 20Minutes writes. In fact, the document specifically mentions about criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

The bill will now be directed for adoption by Senate.

The previous law criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial in France was blocked by the country’s Constitutional Court, following which François Hollande initiated another bill.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier visits Armenian Genocide Memorial

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german FMThe OSCE chairperson, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier today early in the morning  visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex , where he laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Frank -Walter Steinmeier was accompanied by the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany Matthias Kiessler ,and the Armenian Genocide Museum director Hayk Demoyan.

As reported earlier, he announced that it has become clear for the OSCE that the status quo in that way will not be possible to maintain in Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The OSCE acting chairperson has arrived to Yerevan on Wednesday within the  framework of the regional visit.  He said “It is obvious, that it is impossible to maintain the status quo. The longer the conflict lasts, the greater the likelihood of its escalation. We need to avoid it. The OSCE makes efforts, and I, as a Chairman , am in a search of a lasting peace, ” said Steinmeier .

French government tabled Support bill penalizing denial of Genocide

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France table genocideThe French government tabled a text penalizing the denial of genocides and crimes against humanity under the bill Equality and Citizenship, whose examination began at the National Assembly.

The government amendment specifies that “will be punished the same way those who have denied, trivialized or minus of outrageous manner by one of the means set forth in article 23, the existence of a genocide (…) another crime against humanity, a crime of enslavement or exploitation of a disabled person in slavery or war crimes (…) “.

The Armenian Organizations Coordination Council of France (CCAF) welcomes and supports this initiative which is consistent with the commitments of the President of the Republic, paid by the government.

Including the text in the bill Equality and Citizenship, denial of genocide is not registered under the memorial laws but in the corporate laws, like the fight against racism and antisemitism.

The CFC also welcomes the willingness of the government to include the defense of the truth of the Armenian Genocide in the frame, more global, the values of the French Republic. As we hope that such legislation is finally adopted this year, we welcome the commitment of all members who have accompanied us during all these years.

Today, for the first time, we have a government initiative.

We call on all parliamentary forces to rally behind this consensus text.

The text on the link below.

PDF - 13.1 kb

AMENDMENT No. 1559 presented by the Government

ARTICLE 38 TER Replace paragraphs 2-8 the following ten paragraphs:

“1. The fifth paragraph of Article 24 is amended as follows:

“A) After the word” humanity “are inserted the words” the enslavement of crime and exploitation of an enslaved person “;

“B) is supplemented by the words”, including if these crimes have not resulted in the conviction of perpetrators “;

“2. After the first paragraph of Article 24a are inserted three paragraphs as follows:” Will be punished the same way those who have denied, trivialized or minus of outrageous manner by one of the means set forth in Article 23 the existence of a genocide other than those referred to in the first paragraph of another crime against humanity, a crime of enslavement or exploitation of a disabled person in slavery or war crime, as defined by Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Statute of the international criminal Court created in Rome on 17 July 1998 and by articles 211-1 to 212- 3 224
- 1 A to C 224-1 and 461-1 to 461
- 31 of the Criminal Code when:

“1 This crime resulted in a conviction by a French or international court or,

“2. The denial, markdown or the trivialization of the crime constitutes incitement to violence or hatred against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to the alleged race, color, religion, descent or national origin. “;

“3. After Article 48-1, inserted Article 48-1-1 as follows;

1-1. – All regularly registered association for at least five years, is intended by its statutes to fight against slavery or defend the memory of slaves and the honor of their descendants may exercise the rights granted to the civil party in respect apology offenses, denial, markdown or trivialization of crimes of enslavement or exploitation of a disabled person in slavery under articles 24 and 24 bis.

“However, when the offense is committed against persons considered individually, the association will be admissible in its action if it proves it has obtained the consent of such persons or to justify that these persons do not oppose prosecution. “

SUMMARY STATEMENT

The fight against discrimination is a priority of the Government, which finds expression in this bill. It requires recognition of its more extreme forms, such as crimes against humanity, including genocide and slavery crimes.

The specificity of these crimes requires that they can be judged and recognized by the court as long as their authors remain, that is why they are imprescriptible. It also means fighting beyond, against their denial or trivialization.

The questioning of these crimes, be it genocide, trafficking and slavery or any other crime against humanity when it contradicts the facts that have been tried and found by the courts, or when it incites hatred or violence, may indeed be tolerated.

MP Victorin Lurel wanted to make a significant improvement in this respect to our legislative system when reviewing the text in committee, by broadening the scope of the repression of the protest or the trivialization of crimes against humanity, today ‘ hui limited to the denial of the Holocaust, in all these crimes, including trafficking and slavery.

The Government shares this objective and therefore fully supports this approach. He therefore wishes to ensure the highest level of legal certainty on a sensitive issue, and have shown a decision of the Constitutional Council in 2012 and a notice of the State Council in 2013.

The aim of this amendment is to improve the wording of article 38 bis adopted in committee to clarify and strengthen the legal security.

It thus provides:

• To better distinguish advocating crimes against humanity, which falls under Article 24 of the Press Law, it should be supplemented to mention there slavery, their denial. It should also be noted that for the apologies of Article 24, it is not required that the perpetrators were convicted.

• Better define the negation of crime or trivialisation of these crimes respecting both constitutional requirements and the Framework Decision 2008/913 / JHA of 28 November 2008 on the fight against certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia means of criminal law. Two hypotheses are thus provided for either the crimes were the subject of a conviction by an international court or by a French court, or the denial or trivialization of these crimes is exercised in a way that incites violence or hatred.

While only the denial of the Holocaust is repressed today, this text will punish the challenge or the trivialization of all crimes against humanity or war crimes, but not limited to, when they have been recognized by a court.

It will, for example, penalize the denial of the Rwandan genocide.

But it will, above and more generally, to take into account the historically recognized crimes, although their seniority rules out any possibility for the court to decide when their dispute or trivializing them will be committed in conditions encouraging to hatred or violence. This second category will notably cover the case of the Armenian genocide of 1915, which France has recognized, but there is more opportunity to prosecute. •

Allow associations to fight against slavery or slaves defense memory and honor of their descendants to become a civil party in proceedings to these crimes.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016,
Ara © armenews.com
Other information available: EQUALITY LAW AMENDMENT AND CITOYNNETÉ 1559

Pope Listens to His Heart, not Handlers, On Genocide during Armenia Pilgrimage

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HARUT SASSOUNIAN 400BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

While Armenians throughout the world were overjoyed with the landmark “pilgrimage” of His Holiness Pope Francis to the first Christian state, most people were unaware of the behind the scenes deliberations on the Armenian Genocide issue in the Vatican prior to his visit.

The Pope’s dual roles as Pontiff of the Catholic Church and head of the Vatican State occasionally create problems within and outside the walls of the Holy See, which is what happened during the Pope’s visit to Armenia last week.

After lengthy preparations and internal discussions, the Pope arrived in Armenia on June 24 ready to deliver a series of sermons and remarks over the course of his three-day visit. Surprisingly, none of his prepared speeches contained the words Armenian Genocide, but there were plenty of references to “tragedy, slaughter, terrible trial, and immense suffering.” His homilies repeatedly used the Armenian term “Meds Yeghern” (Great Crime) which was wrongly translated by the Vatican as “Great Evil.” The first indication of a change in terminology came prior to the Pope’s pastoral visit in a video address to the Armenian people, which did not mention the Armenian Genocide. Later on, during his visit to the Armenian Genocide Monument, the Pontiff did not write the words Armenian Genocide in the guest book, copying the text from a pre-prepared note card!

There may have been two reasons why the words Armenian Genocide had been avoided:

1) Since Pope Francis had already gone on record using the term “Armenian Genocide” during last April’s Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican officials had decided to deliver a new message of “peace and reconciliation.”

2) The Pontiff’s foreign policy advisors may have been reluctant to raise the Armenian Genocide issue once again after the Turkish government’s harsh reaction last year and withdrawal of its ambassador from the Vatican for 10 months.

Pope Francis, however, surprised everyone, when he departed from the text of his prepared remarks that had been already distributed to the media, by adding the word genocide to his address at the Presidential Palace in Yerevan on June 24. Here is what Pope Francis actually said while recalling his earlier sermon of April 12, 2015: “The occasion was the commemoration of the centenary of the Metz Yeghern, the ‘Great Evil’ that struck your people and caused the death of a vast multitude of persons. Sadly, that tragedy, that genocide, was the first of the deplorable series of catastrophes of the past century, made possible by twisted racial, ideological or religious aims that darkened the minds of the tormentors even to the point of planning the annihilation of entire peoples.”

Later that day, Father Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, explained why Pope Francis deviated from his prepared text: “The Pope says what he finds appropriate, and no one decides what the Pontiff should say. The Pope had no reason to avoid the word ‘genocide’ during his trip to Armenia. The reality is clear and we never denied what the reality is.”

The Pontiff’s use of that single word in one speech did not escape the attention of Turkish authorities. Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli responded by accusing the Pope of having a “Crusader mentality.” Canikli went on to repeat the usual Turkish lies about the Armenian Genocide. Lombardi, the Pontiff’s spokesman, dismissed the Deputy Prime Minister’s criticism, stating that “the Pope is not doing Crusades. He has said no words against the Turkish people.”

Refusing to buckle under Turkish pressure, Pope Francis went on to sign a “Joint Declaration” with Catholicos Karekin II on June 26, 2016, which referenced the Vatican’s earlier acknowledgments of the Armenian Genocide: Pope Francis’s April 12, 2015 sermon and the “Joint Declaration” signed on Sept. 27, 2001 by Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II. Another “Joint Communique” acknowledging the Armenian Genocide was signed on Nov. 29, 2000, by John Paul II and Karekin II.

During his return flight to Rome on June 26, an AFP journalist asked Pope Francis why he added the word genocide to his speech in Yerevan. The Pope explained in detail that genocide is the only word he has grown up with to describe the mass killings of Armenians. The Pope also mentioned his upcoming trip to Azerbaijan and Georgia from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

Pope Francis approached his “pilgrimage” to Armenia with utmost honesty and spoke from his heart about the Armenian Genocide, ignoring the political calculations of his advisers and speechwriters. He preferred to conduct himself as a true man of God rather than a crafty politician!