Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

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

c/o The Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel: 07718982732 Int: ++ 44 7718982732


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 confident 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"

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg195595.html

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918 * Fax. (202) 775-5648 * [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release ~ 2007-06-29
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian ~ Tel: (202) 775-1918

MAJORITY OF U.S. HOUSE MEMBERS COSPONSOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) reached an important milestone today with the number of cosponsors for the human rights measure growing to 218 – a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We welcome the growth of Armenian Genocide Resolution cosponsors to the 218 threshold – and want to extend our appreciation to Congressman Schiff and his colleagues who helped us reach this mark, as well as to each and everyone of the two hundred and eighteen cosponsors of this measure,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We look forward in the coming days and weeks to working with our chapters and activists across the country in maintaining and expanding the bipartisan majority in favor of the timely adoption of this human rights legislation.”

"In gaining 218 cosponsors, we have demonstrated that a majority of the House strongly supports recognizing the facts of the Armenian Genocide," said lead sponsor, Congressman Adam Schiff. "While there are still survivors left, we feel a great sense of urgency in calling attention to the attempted murder of an entire people. Our failure to acknowledge these dark chapters of history prevents us from taking more effective action against ongoing genocides, like Darfur."

Introduced on January 30th by Rep. Adam Schiff along with Representative George Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), the Armenian Genocide resolution calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide. A similar resolution in the Senate (S.Res.106), introduced by Assistant Majority Leader xxxx Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 31 cosponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY).

Over the past five months, Armenian Americans and human rights advocates have joined with Members of Congress in educating their colleagues about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of proper recognition of this crime against humanity.

Just this week, thousands participated in the ANCA “Call for Justice Campaign,” a national Congressional call-in effort in support of H.Res.106. The campaign was a follow up to the weeklong ANCA “Click for Justice” web campaign in April.

On March 22nd and 23rd, over 100 activists from 25 states participated in the Washington, DC advocacy days, titled “End the Cycle of Genocide: Grassroots Capitol Campaign.” By the end of the whirlwind two-day campaign, organized by the ANCA and the Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net), activists had visited all 100 Senate and 435 House of Representatives offices, meeting with Members of Congress and their staff, and dropping off information regarding pending Armenian and Darfur genocide legislation.

The grassroots campaign continued with the launching of the ANCA Western and Eastern Region POWER Initiatives designed to significantly expand community outreach and support. Dubbed “Project Outreach Western Region” in the West and “Project Outreach Waves the Eastern Region” in the East, the program has generated renewed grassroots activism in large and small communities. Travels to traditional strongholds in California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois have been complemented with visits to Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina and South Carolina, expanded outreach to established communities in Ohio, Wisconsin and Missouri and burgeoning communities in Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington state.

The Armenian Genocide resolution is supported by a broad-based coalition of over 47 human rights, religious, civic, and ethnic organizations, including the (in alphabetical order): American Federation of xxxs from Central Europe (New York, NY), American Hellenic Council of CA (Los Angeles, CA), American Hellenic Institute (Washington, DC), American Hungarian Federation (Washington, DC), American xxxish World Service (New York, NY), American Latvian Association in the U.S. (Rockville, MD), American Values (Washington, DC), Arab American Institute (Washington, DC), Belarusan-American Association (Jamaica, NY), Bulgarian Institute for Research and Analysis (Bethesda, MD), Center for Russian xxxry with Student Struggle for Soviet xxxry (New York, NY), Center for World Indigenous Studies (Olympia, WA), Christian Solidarity International (Washington, DC), Congress of Romanian Americans (McLean, VA), Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (Lafayette, LA), Estonian American National Council (Rockville, MD), Genocide Intervention Network (Washington, DC), Global Rights (Washington, DC), Hmong National Development, Inc., Hungarian American Coalition (Washington, DC), Institute on Religion and Public Policy (Washington, DC), International Association of Genocide Scholars (New York, NY), xxxish Social Policy Action Network (Philadelphia, PA), xxxish War Veterans of the USA (Washington, DC), xxxish World Watch (Encino, CA), Joint Baltic American National Committee (Rockville, MD), Leadership Council for Human Rights (Washington, DC), Lithuanian American Community (Philadelphia, PA), Lithuanian American Council (Rockville, MD), National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (New York, NY), National Council of Churches USA (New York, NY), National Federation of American Hungarians (Washington, DC), National Federation of Filipino American Associations (Washington, DC), National Lawyer's Guild (New York, NY), Polish American Congress (Chicago, IL), Progressive xxxish Alliance (Los Angeles, CA), Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Wyncote, PA), Slovak League of America (Passaic, New Jersey), The Georgian Association in the USA (Washington, DC), The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring (New York, NY), U.S. Baltic Foundation (Washington, DC), Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (New York, NY), Ukrainian National Association (Parsippany, NJ), Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (Washington, DC), United Hellenic American Congress (Chicago, IL), Washington Chapter Czechoslovak National Council of America (Washington, DC), and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Philadelphia, PA).

http://www.anca.org/press_releases/p....php?prid=1222

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet www.anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
June 7, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

CHILEAN SENATE UNANIMOUSLY RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today welcomed the Chilean Senate's unanimous passage of
legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide and urging its
government to support a key 1985 United Nations Subcommission
report properly describing this crime against humanity as a clear
instance of genocide.

"We join with Armenians in Chile, throughout South America, and
around the world in welcoming Chilean Senate's recognition of the
Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
"The Chilean government's principled stand further isolates Turkey
and shines the spotlight of international public opinion on the
remaining countries - the United States sadly among them - that
insist upon remaining complicit in Ankara's shameful campaign of
genocide denial."

The resolution was introduced by Senator Ricardo Nunez (Socialist)
and cosponsored by Senators Guido Girardi, Jaime Naranjo, Jaime
Gazmuri, Mariano Ruiz-Esquide, Alejandro Navarro, Camilo Escalona,
Roberto Munoz Barra, Juan Pablo Letelier and Antonio Horvath.
Citing the United Nations Subcommission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities report, the Senate
noted the "ethical and moral imperative that Chile makes a
resolution along the lines of that from 1985 which recognizes that
the Ottoman Empire committed a brutal genocide in Armenia against a
defenseless people that now cry out for moral reparations from part
of the international community and especially Turkey."

The Chilean Senate's recognition was spearheaded by that country's
small but vibrant Armenian community, working closely with the
Armenian National Committee of South America (ANC-SA). ANC of
Argentina Chairman and longtime South American activist Hagop
Tabakian noted that: "passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution
in Chile is an important step in our progress toward our goal of
all of South America taking a principled stand on this key human
rights issue."

Chile joins its South American neighbors Uruguay, Argentina, and
Venezuela in properly characterizing Turkey's systematic campaign
to annihilate its Armenian population between 1915-1923 as
genocide. Other countries worldwide that have also recognized the
Armenian Genocide include Bulgaria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus,
France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Poland, Russia,
Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and The Vatican, as
well as the European Parliament and various other European bodies.

The complete text of the resolution is provided below.

#####

Text of the Chile Senate Resolution
Recognizing the Armenian Genocide
(translated from Spanish)

Adopted June 5, 2007

Honorable Senate

Considering:

1. that 24th of April, 1915, in Constantinople, then the capital of
the Ottoman Turkish Empire, after the unjust arrest and later the
disappearance of the entire leading class of the Armenian
community, marks the beginning of a policy of systematic
extermination of the Armenian population on the part of the
imperial authorities;

2. that the brutal genocide, enacted between 1915 and 1923,
resulted in the deaths of over 1.5 million Armenian citizens that
lived in the lands of their ancestors for thousands of years;

3. that this reproachable action constituted the first ethnic
cleansing of the 20th century and more than that or even any
judgment or interpretation of it, signifies a flagrant violation of
the human rights of that nation;

4. that in spite of the intent to erase the collective memory of
mankind and of the loss of sensibility of the great powers to end
those acts, the Armenians and their several organizations around
the world have found that part of the international community may
recognize the genocide in which they were victim to be doomed;

5. that such a recognition was granted in 1985 by the Subcommission
on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of the
UN that clarified the Armenian case as a genocide;

6. that nations such as Uruguay, Argentina, Greece, Bulgaria,
Belgium, Russia, Italy, Lebanon, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland,
Venezuela, Lithuania, Canada and France have made their own
resolutions like those also of the European Parliament;

7. that our nation has yet to be made to regret to permanently
invoke the supremacy of Human Rights in international relations
above whatever agreement or compromise regardless of how important
it may be;

8. that consequently it constitutes an ethical and moral imperative
that Chile makes a resolution along the lines of that from 1985
which recognizes that the Ottoman Empire committed a brutal
genocide in Armenia against a defenseless people that now cry out
for moral reparations from part of the international community and
especially Turkey.

By virtue of these outlined issues, the Honorable Senate of the
Republic decides

1. To support the Armenian nation in condemning the genocide of its
people and,

2. To call on the government of Chile to adhere to the 1985 United
Nations decision.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg191785.html

[MrLeftyHye]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

Agreed.

[karoaper]

A good article in The New Yorker

A very well-written article on the Genocide and the dirty politics of denial appeared in The New Yorker's November issue:

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/content/articles/061106crbo_books2

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

The French Genocide Bill:
5- Other reactions.


Besides the following articles, it is noteworthy to mention:
1- A group of French historians opposed to the adoption of the bill; they also suggested the abolition of the law that criminalizes the xxxish Holocaust.
2- A group of French lawyers have pleaded in favor of the bill
3- Hrant Dink, Elif Shafak, Orhan Pamuk reacted against the adoption of the bill. Was it based on conviction or pure (political) acting?

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165351.html

The Independent (London)
October 14, 2006 Saturday
First Edition

Let me denounce genocide from the dock

ROBERT FISK


This has been a bad week for Holocaust deniers. I'm talking about
those who wilfully lie about the 1915 genocide of 1.5 million
Armenian Christians by the Ottoman Turks. On Thursday, France's lower
house of parliament approved a Bill making it a crime to deny that
Armenians suffered genocide. And, within an hour, Turkey's most
celebrated writer, Orhan Pamuk - only recently cleared by a Turkish
court for insulting "Turkishness" (sic) by telling a Swiss newspaper
that nobody in Turkey dared mention the Armenian massacres - won the
Nobel Prize for Literature. In the mass graves below the deserts of
Syria and beneath the soil of southern Turkey, a few souls may have
been comforted.

While Turkey continues to blather on about its innocence - the
systematic killing of hundreds of thousands of male Armenians and of
their gang-raped women is supposed to be the sad result of "civil
war" - Armenian historians such as Vahakn Dadrian continue to unearth
new evidence of the premeditated Holocaust (and, yes, it will deserve
its capital H since it was the direct precursor of the xxxish
Holocaust, some of whose Nazi architects were in Turkey in 1915) with
all the energy of a gravedigger.

Armenian victims were killed with daggers, swords, hammers and axes
to save ammunition. Massive drowning operations were carried out in
the Black Sea and the Euphrates rivers - mostly of women and
children, so many that the Euphrates became clogged with corpses and
changed its course for up to half a mile. But Dadrian, who speaks and
reads Turkish fluently, has now discovered that tens of thousands of
Armenians were also burned alive in haylofts.

He has produced an affidavit to the Turkish court martial that
briefly pursued the Turkish mass murderers after the First World War,
a document written by General Mehmet Vehip Pasha, commander of the
Turkish Third Army. He testified that, when he visited the Armenian
village of Chourig (it means "little water" in Armenian), he found
all the houses packed with burned human skeletons, so tightly packed
that all were standing upright. "In all the history of Islam,"
General Vehip wrote, "it is not possible to find any parallel to such
savagery."

The Armenian Holocaust, now so "unmentionable" in Turkey, was no
secret to the country's population in 1918. Millions of Muslim Turks
had witnessed the mass deportation of Armenians three years earlier -
a few, with infinite courage, protected Armenian neighbours and
friends at the risk of the lives of their own Muslim families - and,
on 19 October 1918, Ahmed Riza, the elected president of the Turkish
senate and a former supporter of the Young Turk leaders who committed
the genocide, stated in his inaugural speech: "Let's face it, we
Turks savagely ( vahshiane in Turkish) killed off the Armenians."

Dadrian has detailed how two parallel sets of orders were issued,
Nazi-style, by Turkish interior minister Talat Pasha. One set
solicitously ordered the provision of bread, olives and protection
for Armenian deportees but a parallel set instructed Turkish
officials to "proceed with your mission" as soon as the deportee
convoys were far enough away from population centres for there to be
few witnesses to murder. As Turkish senator Reshid Akif Pasha
testified on 19 November 1918: "The 'mission' in the circular was: to
attack the convoys and massacre the population??? I am ashamed as a
Muslim, I am ashamed as an Ottoman statesman. What a stain on the
reputation of the Ottoman Empire, these criminal people???"

How extraordinary that Turkish dignitaries could speak such truths in
1918, could fully admit in their own parliament to the genocide of
the Armenians and could read editorials in Turkish newspapers of the
great crimes committed against this Christian people. Yet how much
more extraordinary that their successors today maintain that all of
this is a myth, that anyone who says in presentday Istanbul what the
men of 1918 admitted can find themselves facing prosecution under the
notorious Law 301 for "defaming" Turkey.

I'm not sure that Holocaust deniers - of the anti-Armenian or
anti-Semitic variety - should be taken to court for their rantings.
David Irving is a particularly unpleasant "martyr" for freedom of
speech and I am not at all certain that Bernard Lewis's one-franc
fine by a French court for denying the Armenian genocide in a
November 1993 Le Monde article did anything more than give publicity
to an elderly historian whose work deteriorates with the years.

But it's gratifying to find French President Jacques Chirac and his
interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy have both announced that Turkey
will have to recognise the Armenian death as genocide before it is
allowed to join the European Union. True, France has a powerful
half-million-strong Armenian community.

But, typically, no such courage has been demonstrated by Lord Blair
of Kut al-Amara, nor by the EU itself, which gutlessly and childishly
commented that the new French Bill, if passed by the senate in Paris,
will "prohibit dialogue" which is necessary for reconciliation
between Turkey and modern-day Armenia. What is the subtext of this, I
wonder. No more talk of the xxxish Holocaust lest we hinder
"reconciliation" between Germany and the xxxs of Europe?

But, suddenly, last week, those Armenian mass graves opened up before
my own eyes. Next month, my Turkish publishers are producing my book,
The Great War for Civilisation, in the Turkish language, complete
with its long chapter on the Armenian genocide entitled "The First
Holocaust". On Thursday, I received a fax from Agora Books in
Istanbul. Their lawyers, it said, believed it "very likely that they
will be sued under Law 301" - which forbids the defaming of Turkey
and which right-wing lawyers tried to use against Pamuk - but that,
as a foreigner, I would be "out of reach". However, if I wished, I
could apply to the court to be included in any Turkish trial.

Personally, I doubt if the Holocaust deniers of Turkey will dare to
touch us. But, if they try, it will be an honour to stand in the dock
with my Turkish publishers, to denounce a genocide which even Mustafa
Kamel Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish state, condemned.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165202.html

Paris Link, France
Oct 13 2006

Armenian genocide: The EU is picking the wrong battle
Thu, 12 Oct 2006 22:40:00
Gareth Cartman


A law, proposed by the Socialist party, has been voted through the
Assemblée Nationale today. Turkey is furious, as is the EU. However,
they forget one thing - the holocaust is banned in many countries
across Europe. Time to be less selective with our memories.



A little perspective. Holocaust denial is illegal in the following
countries:

Austria (6 month to 20 years prison sentence),
Belgium (maximum one year sentence or a fine),
Czech Republic (6 month to 2 years prison sentence),
France (maximum two year sentence or a fine),
Germany (maximum five year sentence or a fine),
Israel (maximum five year sentence),
Lithuania (maximum ten year sentence),
Poland (maximum three year sentence),
Romania (6 month to 2 year sentence),
Slovakia (maximum three year sentence)
Switzerland (maximum 15 month sentence or fine)

Today, French socialists have voted through a law that will make
denial of the Armenian holocaust illegal as well, with a one year
jail sentence and a fine. Not wishing to take part in a debate that
they morally could not win, the UMP refused to take part, making the
actual vote (106-19) something of a cakewalk for the Socialists.

The reaction has been hostile. Firstly, the Turks have taken to the
streets in protest outside the French embassy in Ankara. There has
been talk of a boycott of French products, which the government moved
to deny quickly - stressing that the people would make that choice.
The government then went on to mention that French companies would be
viewed unfavourably when seeking to enter markets in Istanbul.

France has reconfirmed its commitment to dialogue with Turkey and has
stressed that the passing of this law will in no way hinder talks
regarding accession to the EU, to which France has always been
relatively favourable.

EU spokesmen have spoken furiously against the law today. Quoted in
Libération, British Lib-Dem vice-president for the Turkish
delegation, Andrew Duff, said that it was a sad day for liberal ideas
in France, and that the Assemblée Nationale had rejected the
fundamental rights of freedom of speech. Voltaire must be turning in
his grave, he said.

While the EU is attempting to force Turkey to overturn its own laws
which "offend the Turkish identity" (and mentioning the Armenian
Genocide is a possible method of offending this identity), it feels
that the French law will hinder negotiations. Indeed, if Turkey is to
promote freedom of speech by overturning their own law, this law in
France hardly gives the Turks the best example of how to do so.

Jacques Chirac - the man who started the debate by declaring in
Yerevan that the Turks must acknowledge the genocide - has been
strangely quiet on the issue. Chirac has been strongly against
historic laws, throwing France's colonial glorification out of the
law books, acknowledging the role the Harkis played for France in the
Algerian war and revising the pensions of colonial-origin soldiers
recently.

The majority of historians agree that the genocide of the Armenians
did indeed take place. Not just the majority, but almost every single
historian. To its credit, even Turkey has welcomed a debate on the
subject and university professors have acknowledged that the genocide
did take place. Between 1915 and 1917, over 1.5 million Armenians
were massacred as the Ottoman Empire drew to a bloody close.

The genocide took place. Of that there can be no doubt. Today's law
may not be the most necessary law in the world, and it may not be the
most popular, but the EU are picking the wrong battle. While voices
against this law claim that it will hinder negotiations, it should
indeed help negotiations. Concerned only with its own negotiations
and business, the EU ignores the fact that holocaust denial is
illegal in most countries across Europe - why should denial of the
Armenian genocide cause such a problem?

This is not about freedom of speech - holocaust deniers or
revisionists frequently take their claims to the European Court using
the Freedom of Speech Law as the basis of their ultimate defence.
They are thrown out of court each time. Besides, what use is freedom
of speech when it is to deny the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians?

If Turkey has pretentions to EU accession, then the EU will be all
the better for its eventual inclusion. But the EU cannot and must not
accept Turkey unless it acknowledges the genocide. The law passed
today is not foolish, useless or even vain. It is necessary - and not
without precedent. Remember.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165102.html

Reporters without borders (press release), France
Oct 14 2006


Reporters Without Borders regrets adoption of law making it a crime
to deny Turkish genocide against Armenians

Reporters Without Borders can only regret the adoption by the French
National Assembly, on 12 October 2006, of a draft law making denial
of the Armenian genocide a crime. It will now be punishable by five
years in jail and 45,000 euros fine.

The law complements that of 19 January 2001 in which France publicly
recognised the 1915 Armenian genocide.

`There is obviously no question of going back on the recognition of
the Armenian genocide, but legislating on it will expose anyone
denying it to harsh judicial penalties set out by the 18 July 1881
law on press freedom (Article 24a). Memorial laws contribute to the
creation of an official historical truth. This practice is
incompatible with France's fundamental values, starting with freedom
of expression,' said the organisation.

`Not only is it absurd that free expression - however contestable and
that is not the question - should be submitted to a constraint which
is also an additional threat, but it seems to us that this legalistic
concept of history will be much more likely to stoke up antagonism
rather than promote debate.

`It is particularly symbolic that this vote should have been held on
the same day of the awarding of the Nobel Prize for literature to
Orhan Pamuk, who was himself taken to court by the Turkish
authorities for having raised the issue of this genocide,' Reporters
Without Borders stressed.

Reporters Without Borders hopes that senators due to examine the law
at the second reading, will show less attention to forthcoming
elections and will have the wisdom to reject it. If not it could have
incalculable consequences for all historians and of course for press
freedom

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

The French Genocide Bill:
4- The reaction of the EU and TEMPORARILY SO CALLED Turkey

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg164989.html

TURKEY SAYS TIES DAMAGED BY FRENCH APPROVAL OF ARMENIA GENOCIDE BILL

International Herald Tribune. France
The Associated Press
Oct 12 2006

ANKARA, Turkey Turkey's foreign minister said the country would
consider retaliatory measures against France, and unions called for a
trade boycott after French lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill making
it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of
the Ottoman Turks.

In Ankara, angry protesters pelted the French Embassy with eggs,
while others laid a black wreath at the gate of the French Consulate
in Istanbul.

"No one should harbor the conviction that Turkey will take this
lightly," Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, said. "The
parliament will meet on Tuesday with a special agenda and no doubt
we have measures to take in every field."

Gul did not elaborate but his comments were interpreted by many as
also being a reference to proposals currently being debated by Turkish
lawmakers to recognize an "Algerian genocide" by France.

"This is a national issue, no doubt our reaction both at the official
and public level will be very big," Gul said.

He said the bill dealt a serious blow to Turkish-French relations
and seriously damaged the credibility of France as a European Union
member which defends freedom of expression.

"From now on, France will never describe itself as the homeland of
freedoms," Gul said. "It will never be proud of being the country
where ideas are freely expressed."

"This shame will really be a grave one for them," Gul said.

France in 2001 recognized the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians
from 1915 to 1919 as genocide; under Thursday's bill, those who contest
it was genocide would risk up to a year in prison and fines of up to
~@45,000 (US$56,000).

Armenians say the killings were part of an organized campaign to force
Armenians out of eastern Turkey. However, Turkey says the death toll
is inflated and contends that a large number of people died in civil
unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Several trade groups called for a boycott of French goods, asking
the government to oust French firms from multimillion dollar energy
and defense tenders. Turkey had removed French firms some lucrative
tenders back in 2001 when French lawmakers voted to characterize the
killings of Armenians as genocide.

Gul hinted that Turkish reaction would now be much stronger.

Bulent Deniz, president of Turkish Consumers Union, said French goods
would be boycotted.

"Every week, we will announce a French trademark and increase the
number of goods in the boycott list," Deniz said. "We will reflect
the Turkish consumers reaction in the right way to France, it is
economic sanctions."

Ahmet Ozkul, a local official of a pro-Islamic businessmen association,
MUSIAD, in the western city of Bursa, also pressed for economic
sanctions against France.

"French firms, especially those operating in environment,
transportation, energy and defense sectors, must be ousted from major
tenders," Ozkul said.

ANKARA, Turkey Turkey's foreign minister said the country would
consider retaliatory measures against France, and unions called for a
trade boycott after French lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill making
it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of
the Ottoman Turks.

In Ankara, angry protesters pelted the French Embassy with eggs,
while others laid a black wreath at the gate of the French Consulate
in Istanbul.

"No one should harbor the conviction that Turkey will take this
lightly," Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, said. "The
parliament will meet on Tuesday with a special agenda and no doubt
we have measures to take in every field."

Gul did not elaborate but his comments were interpreted by many as
also being a reference to proposals currently being debated by Turkish
lawmakers to recognize an "Algerian genocide" by France.

"This is a national issue, no doubt our reaction both at the official
and public level will be very big," Gul said.

He said the bill dealt a serious blow to Turkish-French relations
and seriously damaged the credibility of France as a European Union
member which defends freedom of expression.

"From now on, France will never describe itself as the homeland of
freedoms," Gul said. "It will never be proud of being the country
where ideas are freely expressed."

"This shame will really be a grave one for them," Gul said.

France in 2001 recognized the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians
from 1915 to 1919 as genocide; under Thursday's bill, those who contest
it was genocide would risk up to a year in prison and fines of up to
~@45,000 (US$56,000).

Armenians say the killings were part of an organized campaign to force
Armenians out of eastern Turkey. However, Turkey says the death toll
is inflated and contends that a large number of people died in civil
unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Several trade groups called for a boycott of French goods, asking
the government to oust French firms from multimillion dollar energy
and defense tenders. Turkey had removed French firms some lucrative
tenders back in 2001 when French lawmakers voted to characterize the
killings of Armenians as genocide.

Gul hinted that Turkish reaction would now be much stronger.

Bulent Deniz, president of Turkish Consumers Union, said French goods
would be boycotted.

"Every week, we will announce a French trademark and increase the
number of goods in the boycott list," Deniz said. "We will reflect
the Turkish consumers reaction in the right way to France, it is
economic sanctions."

Ahmet Ozkul, a local official of a pro-Islamic businessmen association,
MUSIAD, in the western city of Bursa, also pressed for economic
sanctions against France.

"French firms, especially those operating in environment,
transportation, energy and defense sectors, must be ousted from major
tenders," Ozkul said.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165046.html

RFE/RL

Friday 13, October 2006

EU Says French Bill `Not Helpful'

AP, Reuters, AFP

The European Union on Friday criticized a French bill that would make it
a crime to deny that the World War I-era killings of Armenians in Turkey
were genocide, describing it as counterproductive at a critical stage in
Turkey's EU entry talks.

"We don't think that this decision at this moment is helpful in the
context of the European Union's relations with Turkey," European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. "This is not the best way
to contribute to something we think is important."

On Thursday, French lawmakers - in a 106-19 vote - approved a bill that
would criminalize denying the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks around the time of World War I amounted to genocide, but the bill
still needs to be approved by the French Senate and the president to
become law. Turkey denounced the French lawmakers' decision, saying it
would harm bilateral relations.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the bill, "instead of opening
up the debate, would rather close it down, and thus have a negative
impact." "We don't achieve real dialogue and real reconciliation by
ultimatums, but by dialogue. Therefore, this law is counterproductive,"
Rehn told reporters.

Rehn said it came at a bad time as the 25-member bloc was trying to
avoid "a train crash" in negotiations with the predominantly Muslim
nation. "The real issue now is to avoid a train crash because of a
slowing down of the reform process (in Turkey) and because of Turkey not
yet meeting its obligations" in EU entry requirements, Rehn said.

Barroso said "the very sensitive issue" of Armenia should be made by
"Turkish society itself." "Frankly, we don't think it is helpful that
another parliament outside takes a legislative action on a matter of
historical interpretation and analysis," he said.

The Armenia genocide issue has become intertwined with ongoing debate in
France and across Europe about whether to admit Turkey into the EU.
France is home to hundreds of thousands of people whose families came
from Armenia. France has already recognized the 1915-1919 killings of up
to 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. Under Thursday's
bill, those who contest it was genocide would risk up to a year in
prison and fines of up to 45,000 euros ($56,000).

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday the EU is not in
a position to "preach" to Turkey on human rights after France's move to
block free speech with the controversial bill. "Those who are trying to
preach to us should keep their advice for themselves," Erdogan said in a
televised speech.

European Union pressure is mounting on Ankara to either scrap or amend
Article 301 of its penal code, which has landed a string of
intellectuals in the courts for "insulting Turkishness." Most cases,
including one against novelist Orhan Pamuk who was awarded the Nobel
Literature Prize on Thursday, have resulted from remarks the defendants
made to contest the official line on the Armenian massacres, which
Ankara fiercely rejects amounted to genocide.

Erdogan also said Turkey was studying retaliatory measures against
France following the approval of the law. "Turkey's foreign trade volume
with France is $10 billion and this is equal to 1.5 percent of France's
whole foreign trade volume. We're going to make the proper calculations
and then take necessary steps," Erdogan said in a speech.

He did not elaborate, but said the government would take measures within
Turkey and abroad.

Hundreds of French firms such as Renault and Carrefour have large
investments in Turkey, employing thousands of Turkish workers. This week
Turkish consumer groups and some trade unions called for boycotts of
French products.

The Turkish Consumers Union called on its members to begin boycotting
French products, starting on Friday with energy group Total. "The
boycott will continue increasingly until the law on the so-called
Armenian genocide is annulled," the union's chairman Bulent Deniz said
in a press release.

But economists questioned the effectiveness of a boycott on France,
which is one of biggest economies in the world, as Turkey accounts for
only 1.3 percent of France's exports. Past Turkish boycott calls against
other countries had an effect only for a short time. Big Turkish
business have largely opposed a boycott and Economy Minister Ali Babacan
said on Thursday the government would not encourage it either.

Turkish newspapers, meanwhile, joined the government on Friday in
condemning the French bill. "Genocide of thought," the mass-circulation
Hurriyet said on its front page. "106 stupid men," the popular daily
Vatan blared, describing the lawmakers who voted for the bill as "Les
Miserables", after French author Victor Hugo's classic novel.

The mass-circulation Sabah ran, in French, the headline "J'accuse" --
after the title of another French author's, Emile Zola's, landmark 1898
article in favor of human rights --and described the bill as "an
unjustified decision that has hurt all Turks".

Many commentators said the bill aimed to thwart Ankara's membership
talks with the European Union, which began last year amid widespread
skepticism on whether this mainly Muslim country has a place in Europe.
"The bill aims to booby trap Turkey's path to EU membership rather than
touch our sore spot concerning the allegations of Armenian genocide," a
commentator in Sabah said.

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

The French Genocide Bill:
3- The reaction of members of the Armenian Community

[I do not think that the reactions of Hrant Dink and Crook Mutafian belong in this section. Siamanto.]

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165572.html

1 - Commentary
Armenians Worldwide Proudly
Proclaim: "Vive La France!"

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
The bill adopted by the French Parliament last week with a vote of
106 in favor and 19 against, making it a crime to deny the Armenian
Genocide, has more to do with a political tug of war between the
denialist Turkish government and French Armenian activists, than with
freedom of expression.
The score in France is now: Armenians 4, Turkey 0. The three goals
were scored when President Chirac in 2001 signed into law a bill
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, after it was approved by the
Parliament and the Senate.
Back then, Turkey tried to block that law by threatening France with
economic and political reprisals. The Turks withdrew their
Ambassador, only to send him back meekly in a few of weeks. They also
said they were going to boycott French products, but Turkish imports
from France actually jumped from $2.3 billion in 2001 to $5.9 billion
in 2005. The French politicians were right not to take the Turkish
threats seriously. The Turkish bark was worse than its bite!
Last week, the same scenario played itself out. The Turks made the
same threats and the French Parliament ignored them once again.
This David and Goliath battle pitted a powerful country that marshals
unlimited resources to propagate lies, against Armenian activists who
are armed with nothing more than the truth.
It is simply amazing that the Turks, of all people, are accusing the
French of repressing freedom of speech when they themselves have been
prosecuting for years anyone who dares to even utter the words
"Armenian Genocide!"
Various Turkish leaders and journalists tried to deceive world public
opinion last week by stating that France has lost all credibility
after the passage of this bill. None of these statesmen and
journalists, including the pro-Turkish European Union officials who
so readily condemned the French Parliaments action, had the decency
of acknowledging the following basic facts:
1) France and a score of other European countries have for years
banned the denial of the xxxish Holocaust.
2) The European Court on Human Rights has repeatedly ruled that such
a prohibition is not a repression of the freedom of speech.
Those who criticize the French bill on the Armenian Genocide do not
seem to have the minimal courage to criticize the similar law banning
the denial of the Holocaust adopted in 1990. They have no explanation
as to why the victims of the Armenian Genocide do not deserve equal
protection under French law as the xxxish victims of the Holocaust?
Furthermore, many Turkish leaders and EU officials have shamelessly
proclaimed that the French ban of the denial of the Armenian Genocide
would prevent reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia and delay the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey. In other words, they
are opposed to this bill out of their deep concern for Armenia's
interests! They are simply trying to trick the Armenians into giving
up their historic rights for dubious economic and political relations
with Turkey! As prominent British journalist Robert Fisk pointed out
in his October 14 column in The Independent, such statements are akin
to telling the xxxs, "no more talk of the xxxish Holocaust lest we
hinder reconciliation between Germany and the xxxs of Europe."
It is the height of hypocrisy for the leaders of Turkey, a country
that has violated the most basic rights of its citizens for years, to
be screaming about lack of freedom in France! As the Bible quotes
Jesus saying: "You see the sliver in your friend's eye, but you don't
see the timber in your own eye!"
Once again the Turkish government has a serious credibility problem.
If it does not carry out its announced threats against France, it
will be the laughing stock of the entire world. Unfortunately for the
Turkish government, all of its contemplated measures have serious
drawbacks:
-- Withdrawing its Ambassador from France. Problem: When the
ambassador is eventually returned to Paris, Turkey would look
foolish, as his withdrawal would look like an empty gesture that did
not accomplish anything.
-- Boycotting French products. Problem: Boycotting the products of
French companies operating in Turkey would result in tens of
thousands of Turkish workers losing their jobs.
-- Canceling all French tenders for Turkish military contracts.
Problem: To win such bids, the French companies must have offered a
better product at a lower price than that of their competitors. If
their offer were to be rejected for political reasons, Turkey would
then be forced to accept the bid from a non-French company, paying a
higher price for an inferior product. Furthermore, rather than
isolating France by such boycotts, Turkey would be isolating itself
from a powerful country that has a major influence over Turkeys
application for EU membership. The more irrational the reaction is to
this bill, the more Turkey risks antagonizing the French public which
would eventually decide in a referendum whether Turkey is qualified
to join the ranks of civilized European nations!
-- Threatening to pass a resolution accusing France of committing
genocide in Algeria. Problem: This would backfire on Turkey by
validating all of the resolutions on the Armenian Genocide adopted by
two-dozen countries and undermine the Turkish claim that parliaments
should not legislate history. Another problem is that Turkey would
look foolish by doing so, as the Algerian Parliament itself has not
passed a resolution accusing France of genocide.
-- Pulling out of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon in
order to avoid bringing Turkish troops under French control. A
Turkish dilemma: How to score diplomatic points for participating in
the UN effort to "bring peace to Lebanon," without putting Turkish
soldiers under French command?
The only thing the Turks are doing successfully is continuing to
repress their own Armenian citizens, who, as hostages, are forced to
make statements against the French law and even deny that their own
family members had been the victims of genocide.
The Turks are simply 5 years too late in fighting the battle that
they lost when the French government first adopted the law
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. This new bill basically assigns a
punishment (one year in jail and up to $56,000 in fines) for those
breaking that law. Disobeying every law must have a consequence. Why
shouldn't this one?
The Armenian-Turkish political match is not yet over. In the coming
months, Armenians will hopefully score a couple of more goals when
the French Senate would consider this bill and then send it to the
President for his signature.
In the meantime, sit back and watch Turkey humiliate itself with each
passing day. You can counter the Turkish boycott by buying a lot of
French bread, drinking a lot of French wine, and engaging in a lot of
French kissing!

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165146.html

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org

PRESS RELEASE
October 13, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]


ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY APPLAUDS FRANCE FOR STRONGLY AFFIRMING THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE

Washington, DC - The Armenian Assembly welcomes the continued commitment
by the French parliament to keep the history of the Armenian Genocide
inviolable despite calls from Turkey to drop an Armenian Genocide bill
or risk damaging bilateral ties.

Yesterday, the French National Assembly voted 106 to 19 to approve
legislation that would penalize Armenian Genocide denial with fines and
a jail term. The bill must still be approved by France's upper house of
parliament and signed by President Jacques Chirac, who called on Turkey
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide during a recent state visit to
Armenia.

According to The Associated Press, Chirac asked, "Should Turkey
recognize the genocide of Armenia to join the European Union? Honestly,
I believe so. Each country grows by acknowledging its dramas and errors
of the past."

In the week leading up to the vote, the Turkish government warned France
that bilateral relations would suffer if lawmakers approved the bill. A
statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, criticized the vote
saying, "French-Turkish relations....have been dealt a severe blow today
as a result of the irresponsible false claims of French politicians who
do not see the political consequences of their actions."

The Armenian government, for its part, called the vote a "natural
continuation of France's principled and consistent defenses of human and
historic rights and values."

The statement from Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian also said,
"To adopt such a decision is the French Parliament's sovereign right and
is understandable. What we don't understand is the Turkish government's
instigation of extremist public relations, especially while Turkey
itself has a law that does exactly the same thing and punishes those who
even use the term genocide or venture to discuss those events."

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

The French Genocide Bill:
1- The vote

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165162.html

Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Oct 13 2006

French Assembly votes to penalise Armenian Genocide denial

13/10/2006


In a historic move, the French National Assembly has voted
overwhelmingly to adopt a law imposing legal penalties on deniers of
the Armenian Genocide.

The legislation, introduced by Christophe Masse, Didier Migaud et
Martine David (Socialist group), seeks "to counter the denial of the
Armenian Genocide." The measure, adopted by a vote of 106 to 19, adds
a second article to the 2001 law through which "France publicly,
acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915."

In a direct reference to the law already in place imposing penalties
for the denial of the xxxish Holocaust ("Loi Gayssot"), the measure
approved this week states that, "those who contest the existence of
the Armenian Genocide through methods recorded in its article 23 will
be sanctioned through article 24-2 of the 28 July 1881 Law on the
press liberty."

"We welcome this historical move, which demonstrates, once again,
that France continues to lead the international community's progress
on human rights and the dignity on man. State-sponsored denial of
genocide represents a calculated form of incendiary hate speech that
threatens both public safety as well as the ability of society to
organize itself, through open discourse, to prevent the repetition of
genocides in the future. We offer our profound thanks to the
individual political leaders and the broader movement that have moved
this cause forward,"
said Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation.

"We do hope that the Senate will adopt this same text in the very
near future, so that this measure will become the law of France at
the first opportunity," added Tchoboian.

The European Armenian Federation notes with interest that the path to
the adoption of this measure in France was paved by the recent
electoral defeat of Armenian Genocide deniers in Belgium, the
exclusion of Armenian Genocide deniers from electoral lists in the
Netherlands, and the ban on Armenian Genocide denial demonstrations
in Germany.

"The time is now for a global European law that would penalize the
Armenian Genocide denial, as well as the other Genocide denials
occuring in Europe" concluded Tchoboian.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg164979.html

FRENCH LOWER HOUSE APPROVES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

Armenpress
Oct 12 2006

PARIS, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS: By a vote of 106 to 19 the French
lower house of parliament approved a bill on Thursday criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian genocide in 1915 at the hands of the
Ottoman Turks.

The bill still needs to be ratified by both the upper house Senate
and the French president to become law. The French government told
parliament on Thursday that it did not support the motion, but the
ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) has given its lawmakers a
free hand in the vote.

"To deny the Armenian genocide is to help perpetuate it," UMP deputy
Philippe Pomezec was quoted by Reuters as saying during the debate. "I
firmly believe that the Armenia question deserves the same judicial
treatment as the Holocaust. Does a genocide committed in the World
War One have less value than a genocide committed in World War
Two. Obviously not."

The proposed legislation establishes a one-year prison term and 45,000
euro ($56,570) fine for anyone denying the genocide -- exactly the
same sanctions as those imposed for denying the Nazi genocide of xxxs.









2- The reaction of members of the Armenian Community of France, instrumental to the recognition

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg165030.html

PATRICK DEVEDJIAN: TURKEY CAN'T TEACH US LESSONS ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 12 2006

PARIS, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "Turkey should recognize the Armenian
Genocide and its denial should be punished. Recognition of the Genocide
and establishing a punishment for its denial are the result of the same
logic." Deputy Frederick Dutua declared this at the discussion of the
Armenian bill at the French parliament on October 12. He mentioned
that cases of denying of Armenian Genocide have been always left
unpunished and France as a country - leader in the issue of human
rights protection, is going towards the step of considering denial
of the Armenian Genocide as a crime by adopting a law on this.

"History of the countries of the world is part of the global history.

Therefore, one should respect peoples' history. Not only the Armenian
Genocide, but also all genocides should be recognized by UN,"
Dutua added.

Then Patrick Devedjian, Armenian Deputy of French National Assembly,
member of the People's Movement Union making a majority at the
parliament, took the floor. He declared that Turkey can't teach France
lessons on freedom of expression, until it liquidates Article 301 of
the Criminal Code. "Some persons assert that this law to be adopted
by France, allegedly, will impede Turks' disputes around this issue,
but even Olli Ren (General Commissioner on EU Extension: NT) has
declared lately that freedom of expression has not registered any
progress in Turkey," the Armenian Deputy stressed.

Devedjian reminded that Turkey has denied the fact of the Armenian
Genocide for 90 years: "After 1915 the Genocide was recognized for a
short time and some legal proceedings were held. Turkey denies even
this," the Deputy emphasized.

Patrick Devedjian also touched upon the Turkish point of view that,
allegedly, parliaments "have no right to write history." "The point
is that parallel with denying the Genocide Turkey wishes to spread
this denial in our country. Demonstrations are organized here by
instructions of the Turkish government and with Turkish flags. They
constantly assert that, allegedly, the Genocide "is a lie." The Mayor's
Office has been unable to do anything to prevent such demonstrations up
to present. If this law is adopted, the Mayor will have a possibility
to prohibit such cases," P.Devedjian said.






Alexis Govciyan greeted Thursday "historical day" for the French of Armenian origin


[The following is an automatic translation using Systran; it may not be perfect, but seems "readable." The original French text follows. Siamanto.]
Armenian genocide: the Armenians of France greet a "historical day"

Thursday October 12,2006,

The president of the Council of coordination of the Armenian organizations of France Alexis Govciyan greeted Thursday "historical day" for the French of Armenian origin after the vote by the deputies of the private bill punishing the negation of the genocide of 1915.

"The memory of the victims is finally completely respected"�, it declared in Associated Press after having attended the vote of the deputies.

"It will be it with this legislative device, and the dignity of all their descendants and the whole of our fellow-citizens will be now taken into account in a republican way with the rules, the values which govern our country", Alexis Govciyan added.

He expressed his relief after the rejection by the deputies of the amendment of Patrick Devedjian who excluded from the field of the law work of the historians."Such an amendment could have represented an air drainage for a whole series of negationnists who under cover of historical work could enter this breach", it estimated.

Questioned on the examination of the private bill to the Senate, compromise because of the opposition of the government, Alexis Govciyan answered that its organization was goingto "explore"� in the days which come the various possible ways "with the political leaders."

The vote was applauded upright by the representatives of the Armenian community who followed the debates since the platforms of the public.

Behind the Palate-Bourbon, a hundred demonstrators of Armenian extraction accomodated the vote by an outburst of joy.

The Turkish delegation come to attend the debate left the hemicycle without making statement.

http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=25561

Génocide arménien : les Arméniens de France saluent un "jour historique"

jeudi 12 octobre 2006, Stéphane/armenews




Le président du Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes de France Alexis Govciyan a salué jeudi un "jour historique" pour les Français d’origine arménienne après le vote par les députés de la proposition de loi punissant la négation du génocide de 1915.

"La mémoire des victimes est enfin totalement respectée", a-t-il déclaré à l’Associated Press après avoir assisté au vote des députés.

"Elle le sera avec ce dispositif législatif, et la dignité de tous leurs descendants et de l’ensemble de nos concitoyens sera maintenant prise en compte de manière républicaine avec les règles, les valeurs qui régissent notre pays", a ajouté Alexis Govciyan.

Il a exprimé son soulagement après le rejet par les députés de l’amendement de Patrick Devedjian qui excluait du champ de la loi les travaux des historiens. "Un tel amendement aurait pu représenter un appel d’air pour toute une série de négationnistes qui sous couvert de travaux historiques pouvaient entrer dans cette brèche", a-t-il estimé.

Interrogé sur l’examen de la proposition de loi au Sénat, compromis en raison de l’opposition du gouvernement, Alexis Govciyan a répondu que son organisation allait "explorer" dans les jours qui viennent les différentes voies possibles "avec les responsables politiques".

Le vote a été applaudi debout par les représentants de la communauté arménienne qui suivaient les débats depuis les tribunes du public.

Derrière le Palais-Bourbon, une centaine de manifestants d’origine arménienne ont accueilli le vote par une explosion de joie.

La délégation turque venue assister au débat a quitté l’hémicycle sans faire de déclaration.

[Siamanto]

Re: Armenian Genocide in the news. Recent and noteworthy articles and news.

BLOCHER'S REMARKS CAUSE A STORM IN SWITZERLAND

Swiss Info, Switzerland
Oct 5 2006

The Swiss justice minister has attacked Swiss anti-racism laws that
have led to investigations against two Turks for allegedly denying
the 1915 Armenian massacre.

Christoph Blocher made his comments during an official visit to Turkey
on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Turkey's adoption
of the Swiss civil code. His words raised a storm of protest back home.

"Article 216 bis [of the Swiss penal code] gives me a real headache,"
the justice minister told the media, referring to Swiss anti-racism
legislation adopted in 1994 to prevent revisionist views about the
Holocaust.

"No one would have imagined that this law would have resulted in
proceedings against a prominent Turkish historian," he said, following
his talks with his Turkish counterpart, Cemil Cicek.

Blocher added that the justice ministry would be "examining what it
could do to prevent this situation from re-occurring", and that it
was up to parliament and the government to decide on any possible
changes to the law.

In 2005, Swiss authorities launched criminal investigations against
the historian Yusuf Halacoglu, the president of the Turkish History
Organisation, and the politician Dogu Perincek for allegedly making
comments in Switzerland denying the 1915 Armenian massacre.

Armenians say around 1.8 million of their people were killed. Turkey
disputes this, putting the figure closer to 200,000. Under Swiss law
any act of denying, belittling or justifying genocide is a violation
of the country's anti-racism legislation.

Scolding

Blocher's remarks in Turkey met with sharp criticism back home.

Georg Kreis, president of the Federal Commission against Racism,
criticised Blocher for once again ignoring the separation of executive
and judicial powers.

"As a Swiss citizen I find it disturbing to learn from the foreign
press that changes to Swiss legislation are being considered,"
he noted.

Christophe Darbellay, president of the centre-right Christian
Democrats, was equally vexed: "It's strange to see a justice minister
go to another country, which is not exactly a model for human rights,
to criticise a Swiss parliamentary decision."

The heads of two other two parties in government - the centre-right
Radical Party and the centre-left Social Democrat party - also
criticised Blocher's statement. Blocher's own rightwing Swiss People's
Party - the fourth party in government - declined to comment.

"We regret such irresponsible statements," said Sarkis Shahinian,
co-president of the Switzerland-Armenia association. The justice
minister, he said, makes a mockery of Switzerland by "giving the
worst-possible revisionists the red-carpet treatment".

Regarding the Armenian question, which has dogged Swiss-Turkish
relations over recent years, Blocher said that it was not up to
politicians to comment, alluding to decisions by canton Vaud's
parliament and the House of Representatives, which have both voted
to recognise the Armenian genocide.

"We are convinced that the solution of an international commission
of historians [to shed light on the 1915 massacre] is a good one,"
he added.

During the official visit the Swiss justice minister also held
"extremely open" discussions with Cemil Cicek on asylum and the fight
against terrorism.

Anti-terrorism collaboration is said to have helped improve relations
between the two countries. Bern has recently handed over to Ankara a
suspected terrorist, and three other Turkish citizens also accused
of terrorism are being held in Switzerland pending extradition,
declared Blocher.

Earlier in the day the justice minister gave a speech at Ankara
University to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the adoption of
the Swiss civil code by Turkey, in which he underlined the solid,
long-standing historical ties between both countries.

Later he met Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, and before
leaving Ankara laid flowers at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,
the founder of modern Turkey.

CONTEXT

Despite having a long history, Swiss-Turkish relations have recently
been strained. 2005 was an "annus horribilis":

In March 2005 Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey visited
Turkey and raised the sensitive issue of the massacre of Armenians
in Turkey early last century.

In June the Swiss public prosecutor launched a criminal investigation
against a Turkish historian in Switzerland who had denied the genocide,
a violation of Switzerland's anti-racism laws.

In July Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, described the Swiss
investigation as "unacceptable" and "absolutely contrary to the
principle of free speech".

In August the Turkish authorities postponed a visit by Swiss
Economics Minister Joseph Deiss citing agenda problems of his Turkish
counterpart.

In November Switzerland beat Turkey in a vital World Cup playoff match,
triggering ugly scenes between players.

KEY FACTS

80,000 Turks live in Switzerland.

In 2004, Swiss exports to Turkey were worth SFr1.9 billion ($1.45
billion), 17% more than in 2003.

Swiss imports from Turkey in 2004 came to $410 million.

Among Swiss firms established in Turkey are Novartis, Nestle, ABB,
Ciba, Roche, Givaudan and Syngenta.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg164139.html