Early Day Motions, British Parliament

[Steph]

Armenia Solidarity
British-Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group
Nor Serount Publications
Armenian Genocide Trust




Meeting on Darfur and Denial of the Armenian Genocide in the UK Parliament (in the context of an ethical foreign policy)

Police Take an aggressive attitude to Armenian Lobbyists

In London yesterday, on Tony Blair's last day as Prime Minister, British-Armenian activists lobbied parliament all day in support of Early Day Motion 357. This motion, recognising the Genocide, has now been signed by 144 Members of Parliament.

Police took an unwarranted intolerant attitude, tearing a large "Recognise the Genocide " banner and detaining the director of Armenia Solidarity for half an hour under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for holding the banner too close to Parliament. The distribution of leaflets was continued throughout and the banner redisplayed where it could still be noticed by those entering the Houses of Parliament.

A meeting on "Darfur and Armenia" was organised in the House of Commons in the evening in conjunction with, the Genocide Prevention All Party Parliamentary Group and the Aegis Trust

In the meeting in the House of Commons, Dr James Smith of The Aegis Trust, in a major speech on Ethical Foreign Policy emphasised the parallels between Armenia and Darfur where the Turkish model of the 20th century is being successfully repeated. Ruth Barnett spoke on the psychological effects of denial and introduced the concept of reducing the present "Genocide Footprint" by addressing the issues of past genocides. The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia, Dr Vahe Gabrielyan, emphasised the political dimensions of genocide recognition which could not be addressed by any commission of historians however eminent. The meeting was chaired by John Bercow MP of the Genocide Prevention All Party Parliamentary Group, and attended by several other parliamentarians including Lord Avebury, Lord Alton of Liverpool David Burrowes MP as well as David Drew MP, the sponsor of the meeting.

The present Armenian Genocide Recognition effort in the UK is an ever expanding coalition which is gathering momentum involving involves more and more Armenian and UK supporters. "Genocide Recognition is a human not merely an Armenian issue" said Eilian Williams, a spokesman for the organisers. "We urge all Armenians to continue lobbying to obtain further parliamentary support as well as to consider joining the Aegis Trust in their Genocide Prevention Campaigns.

[Steph]

Nor Serount Publications
Armenian Genocide Trust

c/o The Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales

The Number of Members of the UK Parliament recognising the Armenian Genocide passess 150

The majority of non-Conservative eligible Members have now signed the Genocide motion.

Another important milestone on the journey to UK Recognition of the Genocide was passed today.
Glenda Jackson MP became the 150th Member of the UK Parliament to signi Early Day Motion 357, recognising the Truth of the Genocide which our parents, grandparents and other relatives endured during the years of 1915-23.
This motion, put by Bob Spink MP, has put the Armenian Genocide issue at the forefront of international issues on which MPs have shown concern. Including other MPs who have signed the Genocide Motion in previous years but unable to do so this year for parliamentary technical reasons, the total now approaches 200
The majority of MPs who are eligible to sign the motion, and unconstrained by their party, have now done so. Of the 460 MPs who are eligible to sign, 180 are members of the Conservative Party who provide a central,ready-made answer explaining why their members will not sign. Few Conservatives have dared to break with the Party's authority. Of the other 280 MPs of the Labour (the party of government), Liberal Democrat, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) and smaller parties just over half (143) have signed
That the past governments of the UK in recent years have maintained a position of denial in the face of this obvious and self-evident truth is a blemish on the reputation of this country, which was the first to identify and publicise what happened to the Armenians in 1915 as " New Crimes against Humanity and Civilisation"(the precursor of the modern term Genocide). in the Joint Statement of the Allies in May 1915). Most Armenians in the UK are able to recite their familly stories of persecution, mis-treatment and murder, if the government and the remainder of MPs would care to listen.
To continue with the lobbying, we shall give a copy of the "House of Commons Conference on the Armenian Genocide" published by Nor Serount Cultural Association, to all MPs this week.It includes contributions by historians and other Genocide Scholars. We expect that this will enable all MPs to have more knowledge of the issue, resulting in more signatures in the three weeks left for the motion after the summer recess.
We are optimistic now that MPs will be encouraged to force a vote on the issue in the House of Commons after the autumn, following this unprecedated support.
We are also hopeful of meeting with several MPs on july 24th, the 84th anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty. Gregory Topalian will address a meeting in the House of Commons on that day on "Britain's Responsibility for the Fate of Western Armenia"

[Joseph]

Nor Serount Publications
Armenian Genocide Trust

c/o The Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales

The Number of Members of the UK Parliament recognising the Armenian Genocide passess 150

The majority of non-Conservative eligible Members have now signed the Genocide motion.

Another important milestone on the journey to UK Recognition of the Genocide was passed today.
Glenda Jackson MP became the 150th Member of the UK Parliament to signi Early Day Motion 357, recognising the Truth of the Genocide which our parents, grandparents and other relatives endured during the years of 1915-23.
This motion, put by Bob Spink MP, has put the Armenian Genocide issue at the forefront of international issues on which MPs have shown concern. Including other MPs who have signed the Genocide Motion in previous years but unable to do so this year for parliamentary technical reasons, the total now approaches 200
The majority of MPs who are eligible to sign the motion, and unconstrained by their party, have now done so. Of the 460 MPs who are eligible to sign, 180 are members of the Conservative Party who provide a central,ready-made answer explaining why their members will not sign. Few Conservatives have dared to break with the Party's authority. Of the other 280 MPs of the Labour (the party of government), Liberal Democrat, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) and smaller parties just over half (143) have signed
That the past governments of the UK in recent years have maintained a position of denial in the face of this obvious and self-evident truth is a blemish on the reputation of this country, which was the first to identify and publicise what happened to the Armenians in 1915 as " New Crimes against Humanity and Civilisation"(the precursor of the modern term Genocide). in the Joint Statement of the Allies in May 1915). Most Armenians in the UK are able to recite their familly stories of persecution, mis-treatment and murder, if the government and the remainder of MPs would care to listen.
To continue with the lobbying, we shall give a copy of the "House of Commons Conference on the Armenian Genocide" published by Nor Serount Cultural Association, to all MPs this week.It includes contributions by historians and other Genocide Scholars. We expect that this will enable all MPs to have more knowledge of the issue, resulting in more signatures in the three weeks left for the motion after the summer recess.
We are optimistic now that MPs will be encouraged to force a vote on the issue in the House of Commons after the autumn, following this unprecedated support.
We are also hopeful of meeting with several MPs on july 24th, the 84th anniversary of the Lausanne Treaty. Gregory Topalian will address a meeting in the House of Commons on that day on "Britain's Responsibility for the Fate of Western Armenia"

Looks like momentum is building.

[Steph]

Armenia Solidarity
Nor Serount Cultural Association
Firodil Institute ( UK Assyrian Group)

1 Invitation to the launch of EDM 119 on the Genocide of the Armenians
and Assyrians

Dear Friends
We extend a warm invitation to you to attend a meeting in Committee Room
17 of the House of Commons at 1.00 p.m. next wednesday,12th december. The
meeting is sponsored by Andrew George MP.You are most welcome to give your
own views about how the cause of Genocide Recognition should proceed in the
House of Commons, following the success of last session's EDM by Bob Spink
MP (which 185 MPs signed).

1 The present EDM, which is launched today, ( number 119) is similar,
but not identical. It includes reference to the Assyrians, who also suffered
genocide during the 1915-23 period. It does not even name Turkey as the
perpetrator, and should enable more MPs to sign.
If you cannot attend the meeting, your name on EDM 119 is of great
importance to the UK Armenian and Assyrian Communities

2 We shall also discuss the proposal for a Commission of independent
Historians (yet another one!) to investigate culpability for the genocide.
We welcome your advice on the possibilities on how such a parliamentary (or
other type of) Commission could be established.

3 The continued persecution of Turkish publisher Ragip Zarokulu is of
great concern to us

4 Also on the agenda- We also wish to raise the issue of Armenians under
threat of deportation to Azerbaijan from Yarl's Wood detention Centre ,
Bedfordshire
Any response to this invitation would be greatly appreciated
Eilian Williams

Lobby for the Christians of Iraq

2 Invitation to a meeting on The Plight of the Christians of Iraq

This is followed at 2.00 p.m.(in the same room) by a meeting(organised by
ourselves) on : The Plight of the Christians of Iraq

We are inviting a speaker (from Jubilee Campaign and Christian Solidarity
Worldwide
This meeting's aim will be
1) to establish a channel of of information to MPs on this issue
2 ) to support EDM 224 on The Treatment of Christians in Iraq.
3) to raise awareness of the government's responsibility to Iraqi
Christians, with reference rejection of visa applications.
Yours sincerely
Eilian Williams

[Steph]

"Will the EU inherit Turkey's guilt for its past crimes and have to assume
liability for reparations for the Genocide of Armenians and Assyrians?"

This is the question that was raised in the House of Commons, London
yesterday in a meeting to launch a new Early Day Motion on the Genocide of
the Armenians and Assyrians. The sponsor was Andrew George MP.The special
Honoured Guest was Bishop Gueorges of the Ancient Church of the East. This
latest EDM follows the success of last year's motion , which 185 MPs signed.

Mr George Jerjian, author of "The truth will set us free", (the book, whose
translation into Turkish, led to the present prosecution of Ragip Zarokulu)
was the main speaker.

Nineb Lamassu, from the Firodil Institute gave the Assyrian perspective on
this campaign for Genocide Recognition. This was the first time that
Armenian and Assyrian groups have co-operated to hold a lobbying meeting at
the House of Commons.

Parliamentarians were urged to to explore the above question by the
establishment of a Commission.

Armenians, Assyrians and their friends were urged to contact their MPs
requesting that they sign EDM 119(below)

"That this House believes that the killing of over a million Armenians and
over half a million Assyrians between 1915 and 1923 was an act of genocide;
further believes that it is in the long-term interests of those countries
involved to acknowledge this; and calls upon the Government to join others
in formally recognising these events as constituting genocide."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Jerjian’s Speech to the House of Commons
Committee Room 17 - On 12 December 2007

In the coal-mining industry, the danger was always that miners would die as
a result of methane gas being released in underground mines. For a long
time, the only early warning system available, even if low technology, were
yellow canaries. On the slightest whiff of methane gas, yellow canaries
would start to wobble on their perch, giving sufficient time for the miners
to evacuate the mine.

The Armenian genocide is the early warning system that will ensure that the
EU does not asphyxiate from the toxic fumes of extreme Turkish nationalism.

So what is the significance of the Armenian (and Assyrian) genocide to the
European Union and United Kingdom?

1. Turkey needs to be held up to the same legal and human rights
standards as other EU countries, if it is to be admitted. Failure to do so
will in a very short period of time corrupt our own laws. As Ragip Zarakolu,
my Turkish publisher, has pointed out; why are the stringent rules applied
to Eastern European countries who have joined the EU, lowered substantially
in the case of Turkey? Why is Turkey not held to the high standards of civil
liberties that EU countries must attain? Why is she allowed to abuse the
human rights of its people? Why is there a double standard in the EU? He has
a worthy point.



2. The Armenian Genocide is not open to debate as to its veracity. If
Turkey can pressure the EU to drop this issue, what message is the EU
sending to the Turks in future negotiations? In 1997, over 125 scholars and
historians at the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS),
including Prof. Israel Charney and Elie Wiesel, released a unanimous
statement that what happened to the Armenians was in fact Genocide. The
Turks can only muster about five mediocre historians, one of whom is
discredited as he was caught writing a letter on behalf of the Turkish
ambassador to the US. The only eminent historian on the Turkish side, who
states openly that what happened to the Armenians was not genocide, is Prof.
Bernard Lewis of Princeton University. Yet, in 1961, he wrote a book called
The Emergence of Modern Turkey, in which he stated in no uncertain terms
that 1.5 million Armenians perished in a “Holocaust”. Against all the
empirical evidence that points to genocide, the reasons offered by Prof.
Lewis, for his changed position, are banal, partisan, and light-weight.





3. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide will level the playing
field of the EU-Turkey negotiations. For example, it will compel the Turks
to completely revamp their oppressive penal code. The Turkish Penal Code
runs contrary to all European concepts of civil liberties and human rights.
Article 301 which covers insulting Turkishness was used to bring famous
Turkish author Orhan Pamuk to trial, resulting in his fleeing to New York.
Article 301 caused a Turkish nationalist to assassinate Turkish-Armenian
publisher Hrant Dink in January 2007. Now, my Turkish publisher is facing
trial on 31st January 2008, having made half a dozen court appearances,
which act as an insidious mechanism to deter other writers and publishers
from meddling with this highly sensitive issue. As I write some 60 writers,
editors and publishers face jail in Turkey. Turkish President Gül said that
he wants this article 301 removed, but Turkish officials have hinted that
they want to see some of the EU chapters re-opened, in exchange. While
Turkey plays cat-and-mouse with the EU, a journalist based in Turkey told me
in confidence that when Article 301 is removed, there are dozens of articles
in the penal code that can be used to silence people. Turkey has been
changing its laws since the 1839 Tanzimat, to no avail; nothing ever filters
down. The Turkish penal code has now been translated into English with the
help of a British barrister; this clearly sends a message to the EU that
Turkey will only negotiate these issues on a piece-meal basis. This is
detrimental and dangerous to EU citizens and Turkish citizens alike.



Lastly, Turkey denies the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide. Denying the
Armenian Genocide and blaming the victims is the last component of the act
of genocide. By denying it, the Republic of Turkey has in effect continued
the genocide started by the Ottoman Empire to completion. This being the
case, if Turkey were allowed to join the EU, without admitting to the
Armenian Genocide, there is a strong legal argument that the EU will have
assumed the obligations and reparations of Ottoman Empire and the Turkish
Republic and therefore open to class action lawsuits by the descendants of
the Armenian victims? Perhaps the cost-benefit analysis of the Turkish EU
accession needs to be re-calculated or re-negotiated.

The yellow canary of the Armenian Genocide has wobbled on its perch. The
early warning system has been activated. The EU and the UK governments
ignore this alert at their peril.