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How Armenian Genocide discussion failed in German Reichstag in 1916

June 4, 2016 By administrator

213922 The first-ever attempt to address the mass killings of Armenians in Germany was made back in 1916 during the Genocide.

Reichstag member, the founder-to-be of the Communist Party of Germany Karl Liebknecht sent a written appeal to Bethmann Hollweg, the Reich Chancellor on December 20, 1915, to learn whether the German government was aware of the massacres of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. The response of the 26th session of the 13th convocation of Reichstag and the fierce reaction of the Reich’s members prove that humanist Liebknecht had risen an question, uncomfortable for the German government.

Armeniangenocide100.org presents Liebknecht’s written appeal and the transcript of the short discussion on the issue:

An excerpt from the transcript of 26th session of the 13th convocation of Reichstag:

President: We are passing to the agenda. The written appeals form the first part of the agenda. N 12 is the first of them. Reichstag member Dr. Liebknecht is invited to present the appeal.

Dr. Liebknecht: Is the Imperial Chancellor aware of the fact that during the ongoing war hundreds of thousands of Armenians in the allied Turkish Empire have been exiled and massacred? What measures has the Reich Chancellor taken for the need for repentance to awaken in allied Turkey, for the conditions of the Armenians left in Turkey to become worthy of human dignity, to prevent the recurrence of such disasters.

President: The Imperial Envoy, Director of the Political Department of the German Foreign Office, Dr. von Stumm is invited to answer the inquiry.

Dr. von Strumm: The Imperial Chancellor is aware that some time ago the Sublime Porte, compelled by the rebellious machinations of our enemies, evacuated the Armenian population in certain parts of the Turkish Empire and allocated new residential areas to them. Due to certain repercussions of these measures, an exchange of ideas is taking place between the German and the Turkish governments. Further details cannot be disclosed.

Dr. Liebknecht: I am asking you to give me the right to make a supplement in the request. (Excitement is observed in the courtroom)

Persident: Dr. Liebknecht is invited to make a supplement in the request.

Dr. Liebknecht: Is the Imperial Chancellor aware that professor Lepsius virtually spoke of an extermination of the Turkish Armenians…?

(The president’s ring. The speaker tries to continue talking. Call – Silence! Silence!)

President: Mr. deputy, this is a new appeal, which I cannot accept.

Dr. Liebknecht: Mr. President, please, keep to the rules of procedure.

If Mr. President listened to the appeal up to the end (excitement is observed in the courtroom), he would be able to decide whether it is a new request or not. By the way, it is noteworthy that the president was not self-willed in concluding a new appeal was being submitted, but was influenced by the audience’s reaction.

President: Dr. Liebknecht, I forbid such criticism against my regulations. (Stormy applause). We pass on to the next written appeal on the agenda…

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce applauded yesterday’s vote by the German Bundestag

June 3, 2016 By administrator

Ed Royce: Germany’s vote to recognize Armenian Genocide is a major event

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce applauded yesterday’s vote by the German Bundestag to recognize the Armenian Genocide, during which 1.5 million innocent lives were taken, the Armeian Assembly of America reported.

“Germany’s vote to recognize the Armenian Genocide is a major event. Acknowledging this dark moment in history is a victory for human rights. The annihilation of millions of Armenians was genocide. Period. And the 1.5 million innocent men, women, and children whose lives were taken deserve recognition,” he said.

Armenia President thanks German President, Chancellor and Bundestag President

June 2, 2016 By administrator

sargiyan and merkel 400 YEREVAN. – President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan sent letters of thanks to the President of Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and Bundestag President Norbert Lammert on occasion of the adoption of the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

The President expressed gratitude to them, as well as all the political and public forces of Germany which had their final word in this issue. Sargsyan expressed conviction that the resolution will play its unique role in the recognition and prevention of genocides.

“The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by German’s Bundestag was indeed a historic step not only for Armenia and Armenian people, Germany and German people, but also the entire civilized world. It symbolizes democracy and supremacy of universal values, stressing the consistent role of Germany in maintaining those values. It is a message to the entire world on that the 100-year-old crimes are not only not forgotten, but also condemned and with accurate description,” the President’s letter reads.

Armenia hails German Bundestag’s move to recognize Gemocide – Nalbandian

June 2, 2016 By administrator

Below is Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s statement hailing the passage by the German Bundestag of the resolution on recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
“Armenia welcomes the adoption of the resolution by the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany on recognition of the Genocide committed against Armenians and other Christian peoples.

“President Joachim Gauck’s statement on the occasion of the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide together with this resolution adopted by Bundestag are Germany’s valuable contribution not only to the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, but also to the universal fight for the prevention of genocides, crimes against humanity.

“While Germany and Austria, as former allies of the Ottoman Empire, are today acknowledging their part of responsibility in the Armenian Genocide, the authorities of Turkey are continuing to obstinately reject the undeniable fact of genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire.

“The international community has been waiting for 101 years that Turkey would face its history.”

German MPs get threatening emails over expected Genocide recognition

June 1, 2016 By administrator

Genocide preparation Thousands of emails have been reportedly sent out by the Turkish community to German MPs, threatening the politicians and calling them names in connection with Berlin’s latest attempts to recognize the Armenian Genocide, RT says.

Berlin is looking to adopt a resolution, titled “Remembrance and commemoration of the Genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in the years 1915 and 1916” Thursday, June 2.

Over 500 different Turkish organizations in Germany sent out emails to their local MPs and journalists covering the subject, Germany’s Spiegel Online reported. Turkish citizens have also reached out privately via social media.

Some emails crossed a line, intimidating politicians and threatening the lives of journalists, RT says.

Chairman of the German Greens, Cem Ozdemir, who is of Turkish origin, was one of the MPs who received abusive messages via email, Twitter and Facebook.

“It’s always the same terms: ‘Traitor,’ ‘Armenia’s pig’, ‘son of a bitch’, ‘Armenian Terrorist’ and even ‘Nazi’,” he told ARD.

Journalists covering Germany’s attempts to recognize the Armenian Genocide also received threats such as: “You will be eliminated,” or “Your end will be like that of Hrant Dink [the Turkish-Armenian journalist who was shot in January 2007 by right-wing extremists in Istanbul].”

Armenians also sent out letters supporting the resolution. “Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is important to prevent other genocides in the future,” the spokesman of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Tigran Balayan, told AFP.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the conversation on Tuesday, warning Germany that if it proceeds with its Armenian genocide resolution, it would hurt the bilateral ties between the two nations.

German Bundestag set to approve Armenian Genocide resolution

May 31, 2016 By administrator

213591 Co-chairman of the German political party Alliance ’90/The Greens Cem Ozdemir –who is of Turkish descent – said that the Bundestag memberswill on June 2 approve a resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Ermenihaber.am reports citing Zaman newspaper.

On June 2, the Bundestag intends to approve a resolution condemning the century-old Ottoman massacre of Armenians by describing it as genocide. The majority of foreign policy specialists from the relevant parties have given a clear signal that they will support the resolution.

Ozdmir slammed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal of creating a panel of historians for studying the issue as pointless.

According to him, Turkey must clarify its prioroties in the framework of the Armenian Question, adding that the Muslim country made a mistake by first signing the Zurich Protocols and later backing from them.

The Zurich Protocols constituted an agreement signed in 2009 between Armenia and Turkey designed to allow the opening of borders and to set up formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

German Lawmaker Shocks Parliament by Reciting Poem Mocking Erdogan Video

May 13, 2016 By administrator

Detlef Seif, a backbench member of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, has caused a stir in Bundestag by reciting a satirical poem that mocked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as German MPs were debating the fate of the law that was invoked to prosecute the text’s author.

The politician hailing from North Rhine-Westphalia did not recite the explicit satirical poem to support its author, comedian Jan Boehmermann, but rather to show that the text was insulting and lacked satirical merit.

“A person’s honor is under attack here and the justice must decide if these statements are still covered by freedom of expression and press,” Seif told fellow MPs, adding that he was not trying to defend Erdogan.

Yet other lawmakers did not think it was appropriate. Some gasped “unbelievable.” Renate Künast of the Green Party called Seif’s speech “embarrassing.” Christian Flisek of the Social Democrats (SPD) observed that Seif could refrain from reciting the text in its entirety.

“Keep in mind that we are in the German parliament, and that even with quotations one should not forget this fact,” Edelgard Bulmahn, a cive president of the Bundestag, told Seif.

https://youtu.be/WAwQlmq68QU

The speech was broadcast live on national TV. The comedian uploaded Seif’s speech to YouTube, turning the politician into an internet sensation. The footage has already been viewed more than 270,000 times.

The notorious poem has been at the heart of a diplomatic scandal between Germany and Turkey that has sparked an intense debate on the state of the freedom of speech in both countries.

The explicit satirical text was first recited on March 31. The Turkish president then demanded that Jan Boehmermann be sent to trial for insulting a foreign leader under a law (section 103 of the German criminal code).

Angela Merkel gave the green light to the proceedings against the comedian, much to public discontent. She now wants to repeal the law.

If found guilty, Boehmermann could spend up to three years in prison.

GERMANY Armenian Genocide: A German orchestra denounces the Turkish pressure on a show

April 24, 2016 By administrator

arton125281-480x360 Berlin (AFP) – A German orchestra music on Saturday accused the Turkish authorities to put pressure on him and the European Union, to prevent the term “genocide” is used as part of a concert he gave about the massacre of Armenians in 1915.

“This is an attack on freedom of expression,” said the director of the Dresden orchestra (East), Dresdner Sinfoniker, Markus Rindt.

According to him, the Embassy of Turkey to the European Union asked the European Commission in Brussels to remove a subsidy of 200,000 euros given to the orchestra for this project, arguing that the show uses the term “genocide” – Ankara rejects that – to qualify the massacres there a century.

The European Commission maintained the subsidy but invited the orchestra to “soften” the texts of the show by no longer mentioning genocide and removed any mention of the concert on its web page, said the director of the orchestra. “We find this all very questionable,” he told AFP.

A spokesman for the Commission in Brussels acknowledged the withdrawal. “Due to concerns raised about the terms used to describe the project, the Commission has temporarily removed from its website to discuss a new formulation with the project sponsor,” said she told AFP.

The show was mounted to mark the centenary of the massacre of Armenians in 1915 and wants a reconciliation project.

It combines several musical selections played by an orchestra displaying Turkish and Armenian musicians. The controversy concerns the texts sung by the choir or played on stage, as well as the formulation of the program that speaks explicitly of genocide (www.aghet.eu). The name of the production, “Aghet” is also used to speak Armenian massacres of 1915.

It was shown in November 2015, first in Berlin, without causing tub.

German journalist refused entry to Turkey

April 19, 2016 By administrator

Volker Schwenck, a TV journalist for public broadcaster ARD, was detained on Tuesday after arriving in Turkey and appears set to be expelled from the country.
Authorities have yet to give Schwenck any reason for refusing his travel into the country, The Local reports, citing ARD’s tagesschau website.

“My travel into Turkey has been refused. There’s a black mark against my name. I’m a journalist. Problem?” the Cairo bureau chief and Middle East expert wrote on Twitter early on Tuesday.

Schwenck had been planning a trip to the Turkish-Syrian border, where he hoped to speak with refugees fleeing the war in Syria.

Turkey’s frontier with its war-torn neighbour have increasingly come into focus in recent days as NGO Human Rights Watch reported that border troops were using live rounds to scare refugees away.

Amnesty International has also accused Turkey of illegally expelling Syrian asylum seekers across the border, forcing them to return to their war-torn country.

“Our colleagues in Ankara and Istanbul are in contact with the responsible Turkish authorities and the person affected,” the German Foreign Ministry tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

GERMANY Scolded by Turkey, a German TV rebroadcasts his satire on Erdogan (video)

April 1, 2016 By administrator

arton123985-480x250 The German television channel NDR rebroadcast, in protest, a satirical song about the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced by Ankara, Berlin and scratched for his reaction as too soft after the convening of the German ambassador.

“Maybe that Erdogan did not understand the song? This is why the are back and with subtitles in Turkish! “Shouted the presenter of the program” Extra 3 “on the public channel broadcast in the north, Christian Ehring Wednesday night.

The German Ambassador in Ankara, Martin Erdmann, was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry after the premiere of the song “Erdowie, Erdowo, Erdogan” NDR on March 17 and denouncing leader of the authoritarian excesses of Turkish state.

The chain had strongly protested when the German Foreign Ministry was quick to respond.

The German authorities expected Wednesday to formally celebrate the freedom of the press and of opinion were “not negotiable”. The spokesman of the German government, Christiane Wirtz, had assured “see no more reason to talk” with Turkey, adding that the issue “belongs to the German media landscape,” a presentation perspective to the Turkish authorities .

But does the German media were not satisfied with that answer. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung expressed in an editorial of his irritation to see Berlin react “late”.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is seen as the main initiator of a controversial plan between the EU and Turkey to try to stop the flow of migrants, and has increased in recent months signs of goodwill towards Ankara despite the authoritarian excesses of its president.

The host of “Extra 3” has also not fail to emphasize the retention of the German government in its reaction. “If he (Erdogan, ed) wants to hear criticism, he must listen ‘Extra 3”, has he said on the air. “But if he does not want criticism, rather it should meet the Chancellor.”

The European Commission has also strongly rebuked Ankara.