International Genocide Denial

[Hovik]

THE ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO ITALY ARGUES AGAINST ITALIAN HISTORIAN

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18. ARMINFO. "Corriere della Sera", An Italian
newspaper published the article of a historian Sergio Romano, entitled
"The Jewish Genocide and the Armenian Massacre: Two Different
Things". According to the State Commission for Organization of Events
on Armenian Genocide, the publication appeared as an answer to a
question of a "Corriere della Sera" reader, "Is the Genocide of 1,5
million Armenians a satisfactory reason to prevent Turkey's membership
in the EU, while Germany is accepted in spite of the murder of 6
million Jews?"

Sergio Romano, the author of the article, tried to distinguish the
Turkish and German crimes against humanity: "the Jews did not pose a
threat against the German State, whereas the Armenian national
liberation movement menaced the existence of the Ottoman Empire".

Mr. Romano, a famous Italian historian lectured History of
International Relations at a number of universities in Italy and
Europe. In 1985-1989 he was appointed the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Italy to Russia. In his letter, addressed to
"Corriere della Sera", Ruben Shugarian, the Armenian Ambassador to
Italy, stated that classifying crimes against mankind as "unjustified"
and "justified" is very dangerous. The only difference between the two
crimes is that Germany has accepted the responsibility for the crime
committed and that Turkey still persists and denies the fact.

[Hovik]

Iran Leader Escalates Holocaust Rhetoric

Iran Leader Escalates Holocaust Rhetoric
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer




Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad escalated his anti-Israeli rhetoric Wednesday, calling the Holocaust a "myth" used by Europeans to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Islamic world.

"Today, they have created a myth in the name of Holocaust and consider it to be above God, religion and the prophets," Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in the southeastern city of Zahedan.

His remarks drew swift condemnation from Israel, Germany and the European Commission. Germany said the remarks would affect upcoming negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad last week questioned whether the Nazi destruction of 6 million European Jews during World War II occurred and said Israel should be moved to Europe. He also provoked an international outcry in October when he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

But Wednesday was the first time he publicly denied the Holocaust. Touring southeast Iran, Ahmadinejad said that if Europeans insist the Holocaust happened, then they are responsible and should pay the price.

"If you committed this big crime, then why should the oppressed Palestinian nation pay the price?" Ahmadinejad asked rhetorically.

"This is our proposal: if you committed the crime, then give a part of your own land in Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to them so that the Jews can establish their country," he said, developing a theme he raised in Saudi Arabia last week.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the remarks "shocking and unacceptable." He said the German government had summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires to make "unmistakably clear" its displeasure.

"I cannot hide the fact that this weighs on bilateral relations and on the chances for the negotiation process, the so-called nuclear dossier," Steinmeier said, referring to European talks with Iran on its nuclear program.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said: "The repeated outrageous remarks of the Iranian president show clearly the mind-set of the ruling clique in Tehran and indicate clearly the extremist policy goals of the regime.

"The combination of fanatical ideology, a warped sense of reality and nuclear weapons is a combination that no one in the international community can accept," Regev added, referring to allegations that Iran is developing nuclear bombs.

In Brussels, Belgium, European Commission spokeswoman Emma Udwin said the president's comments were "completely unacceptable."

"We feel very strongly that Iran is damaging its own interests with these kind of remarks," she said.

Ahmadinejad said the West had harmed Muslims, invaded their countries and plundered their wealth.

"If your civilization consists of aggression, making oppressed people homeless, suffocating the voices of justice and bringing poverty to a majority of the world's people, we say loudly that we hate your hollow civilization," he said.

Ahmadinejad has been unapologetic about taking Iran on a more openly defiant course, insisting on Iran's right to develop its nuclear program — which it insists is peaceful — and often using rhetoric reminiscent of the 1980s heyday of the Islamic Revolution.

The president's views sharply conflict with those of predecessor Mohammad Khatami, a moderate who used to call for dialogue among civilizations and promoted a low-key understanding with the United States that stopped short of diplomatic relations.

Inside Iran, Ahmadinejad's remarks have been criticized by some of his conservative allies, who fear he is hurting the country's image. Moderate Iranians have called on the ruling Islamic establishment to rein in the president.

But Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the ultimate say, has backed Ahmadinejad's calls for Israel's elimination.

Ahmadinejad criticized the United States for refusing to sell Iran spare parts for its civilian planes as part of its long-standing embargo against the country.

Iran has suffered a series of plane accidents — most recently on Dec. 6, when an aging U.S.-made military transport plane crashed into a tall building in Tehran, killing 115 people. Iranian officials have blamed Washington for the crashes, saying they are partly caused by the difficulty in obtaining spare parts.

"No country is authorized to impose spare-part sanctions against another country. Nothing can justify this," Ahmadinejad said Wednesday.

Ahmadinejad said the denial of spare parts was a reason why Iran would not trust Western promises to give it nuclear fuel. The country is currently at loggerheads with the West over its insistence on enriching uranium to fuel its first nuclear reactor, which is due to start generating electricity next year.

The Europeans, with U.S. backing, do not trust Iran to have its own enrichment process since highly enriched uranium can be used for nuclear warheads. Europe has offered to sell enriched uranium for the reactor, but Iran has rejected this.

The United States is pushing to have Iran referred to the U.N. Security Council, where it could face sanctions for violating a nuclear arms control treaty.

Ahmadinejad said that if Iran gave in on the nuclear dispute, there was no guarantee the West might not refuse to sell nuclear fuel in the future.

"I assure you that we won't step back one inch from our nuclear rights," the president told the crowd, drawing chants of "Death to America!"

Iran is due to resume negotiations on the nuclear issue with envoys from Britain, France and Germany starting Dec. 21 in Vienna, Austria.

[1.5 million]

Mr Romano is absolutly right - I agree 100%. However where he is incorectly presenting the issue is in equating genocides - this is not at all the issue - it is denials which are at issue. Germany can be admited because they have admited and made restitutions. Turkey - has denied and never repented. Additionally they maintain an overly racist posture toward minorities and minority status that has its basis in the same attitudes that cause them to falsify thier own history and deny the Genocide that they perpetuate. Thus the Armenian genocide in Turkey is still occuring while the Holocaust in Germany is long over.

[Hovik]

On the article about last night's Holocaust Memorial Day commemmoration
in Cardiff

PRESS RELEASE
Wales-Armenia Solidarity
Contact: E. Williams
Cardiff, Wales
Tel: 07870267447
Email: [email protected]

Wales-Armenia Solidarity

On the article about last night's Holocaust Memorial Day commemmoration
in Cardiff

Our members were left with no option but to make a dignified
interruption of the proceedings at The Milleniunm Centre following
Tony Blair's speech.

Once again he missed a historic opportunity to recognise the genocide
on behalf of the UK government and follow the lead given by the
National Assembly of Wales members(2002) and Cardiff City council
(made public on HMD 2005)

We believe that his omission was an insult not only to the martyrs and
victims of 1915 but also to the political leaders of Wales (the host
nation of Britain's 2006 HMD event) who have shown staunch support for
Genocide Recognition. The cause of Armenia, for centuries under
hostile rule has always struck a chord in the hearts of Welsh people.