International Genocide Recognition

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JEWISH RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: CHIEF RABBI OF ISRAEL

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 22. ARMINFO. The Jewish religious community
recognizes the Armenian Genocide, Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger
said at the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan today.

He said that despite the position of the Israeli authorities the
Israeli religious community acknowledges the fact of the Armenian
Genocide and mourns for its innocent victims together with the
Armenian people.

Metzger laid flowers to the memorial and sang a Jewish prayer. Then he
visited the Armenian Genocide Museum and left a note in the guests'
book.

Metzger is visiting Armenia on the invitation of the president
of the World Armenian Congress Ara Abrahamyan who believes that
Armenian-Israeli relations need intensification especially in the
economy.

[Hovik]

President Kocharian's Statement In Slovenia Important For Turkey

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN'S STATEMENT IN SLOVENIA IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #215
25/11/2005

Rabbi Metzger's Visit to Genocide Memorial a Step Toward Genocide
Recognition.

At a press conference that followed his meeting with Slovene President
Janez Drnovsek in Ljubljana on 22 November, President Robert Kocharian
stated that Armenia never spoke against Turkey's membership to the EU.

The same day Yona Metzger, Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Yuri Stern,
Knesset delegate and chairman of Armenian-Israeli Parliamentary Group,
visited the Memorial of Armenian Genocide Victims in Yerevan and
laid wreaths on behalf of the Chief Rabbi, Israeli parliament and
All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress.

Though President Kocharian's Slovenian visit has nothing to do with
Rabbi's visit to the Memorial, the President's statement and Rabbi
Metzger's public recognition of the Armenian Genocide directly
concern Turkey. Thus, it was not surprising when the Turkish mass
media responded to these events.

In particular, CNN-Turk quoted Rabbi Metzger as saying: "Jewish
community defines the massacre of the Armenians in 1915 as genocide."

In view of the Israeli government's reluctance to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, Metzger's visit to the Genocide Memorial,
his statement about calling things by their names and ultimate
recognition of the fast of the Genocide are a great event and not only
for Armenia. Not less important, this time for Turkey, was President
Kocharian's statement made in Ljubljana.

Olli Rehn, EU Enlargement Commissioner, questioned whether accession
talks with Turkey should keep going. CNN-Turk informs that Commissioner
Rehn having in view charges that famous novelist Orhan Pamuk, publisher
Fatih Tas, editor of Agos newspaper Hrant Dink and journalist Burak
Begdil face pointed emphasized the importance to remove barriers on
the way of freedom of speech in Turkey. Meanwhile he warned Ankara
that otherwise they will freeze accession talks.

It's hard to say whether freedom of speech will ever triumph in
Turkey. But one thing is clear: the EU goes for Turkey's European
integration because of the geopolitical role that the latter
plays. Contrary to the countries of Eastern Europe with their American
orientation, Turkey opens before EU doors to Middle East and secures
its penetration to the South Caucasus. The New Neighborhood policy was
most likely launched bearing in mind Turkey's accession. Armenia as
being participant of this policy could not reject Turkey's accession
as that would mean rejection of the New Neighborhood project.

[Hovik]

Chief Of Greek Land Armed Forces Staff Commemorates Victims Of Armenian Genocide

CHIEF OF GREEK LAND ARMED FORCES STAFF COMMEMORATES VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Armenpress
Nov 29 2005

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Lieutenant-General Nikolaos Duvasi,
the chief of staff of Greek land forces, who is heading a military
delegation that has arrived today here on a three-day official visit,
laid today a wreath to the Genocide Monument in Yerevan to commemorate
1.5 million Armenians killed by the government of the Ottoman Turkey
between 1915-1923.

Nikolaos Duvasi and members of the Greek delegation also visited a
nearby Genocide Museum that has a rich collection of documents and
materials proving that the mass slaughter of Armenians was planned
and executed by the Ottoman government.

"In my mind I went back to the history of my homeland and I can see
a great similarity in our both nations' history and our historical
path. It was a great honor for me to visit the Memorial and the
Museum,' the General wrote in a special book. He also referred to
the mass killings of Pontos Greeks and Assyrians in the same years,
committed by the Turkish government.

"We must remember those days because that way we can have belief and
have hope in new future. Armenians and Greeks went through fire and
have built a strong bridge of cooperation and brotherly relations,"
the General told Armenian journalists.

[Hovik]

The First Genocide: It Was Committed Against Armenians

THE FIRST GENOCIDE: IT WAS COMMITTED AGAINST ARMENIANS

Newsday, NY
Dec. 10, 2005

Armenian communities, which include significant numbers in the New
York metro area, have long been anguished over Turkey's refusal to
admit its role in the 1915 massacres of Armenians in the waning days
of the Ottoman Empire. At long last, Armenians should take some grim
satisfaction at reports of an increasing willingness among Turks to
acknowledge what their government has steadfastly denied: Ottoman
Turks committed the first documented genocide in human history.

As Turkey adopts democratic reforms to bolster its application
for membership in the European Union, its government is allowing
open discussions about the genocide for the first time, including a
conference in Istanbul organized by a group of historians and other
academics.

The term "genocide" - systematic massacres aimed at wiping out an
entire ethnic group - was first used after the Armenian atrocities,
precursors of the 20th Century's worst nightmares. Such was the stigma
attached to genocide after the Holocaust in Nazi Germany that Turkish
leaders suppressed any move to acknowledge the Armenian massacres.

That may change now, not least because Turkey wants to be included
in the EU, a considerable economic advantage. Its EU application
may be held up if Turkey doesn't acknowledge its responsibility in
that genocide, as Germany has for the Holocaust and Japan for its
atrocities in the Pacific during World War II. It's time for Turkey
to let the light in.

[Hovik]

What's wrong with Turkey?

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Anca Welcomes Speaker's Decision To Schedule Vote On Cambodian Genocide Resolution

ANCA WELCOMES SPEAKER'S DECISION TO SCHEDULE VOTE ON CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION AND CALLS ON HIM TO ALLOW VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 14 2005

WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed on December 13 Speaker
Dennis Hastert's decision to schedule a vote this week on the Cambodian
Genocide Resolution, H.Con.Res.238, a measure honoring the victims
of this crime and welcoming the establishment of an international
criminal tribunal to bring to justice its perpetrators.

"We join with our friends in the Cambodian American community in
welcoming Speaker Hastert's decision to bring legislation on the
Cambodian Genocide to a vote on the House floor," said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. "We welcome the timely adoption of this
important measure in support of a just resolution of this horrific
crime, and in this same spirit, once again call on the Speaker to
bring Armenian Genocide legislation to the House floor at the first
opportunity."

Speaker Hastert has, in the past twelve months, scheduled House floor
votes on five separate pieces of legislation dealing with specific
instances of genocide in Cambodia, Darfur, Ukraine, Bosnia, and the
Holocaust. In the last Congress, the U.S. House adopted legislation
recognizing the Rwandan Genocide. The Speaker has not, however,
agreed to allow a vote on legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, despite the fact that these measures, collectively, enjoy
the backing of over 170 cosponsors and were overwhelmingly adopted
by the International Relations Committee.

Listed below are the genocide-related resolutions that Speaker Hastert
has scheduled for votes on the floor of the U.S. House within the
past year:

Cambodian Genocide: On December 14, 2005, the U.S. House is scheduled
to vote on the Cambodian Genocide Resolution, H.Con.Res.238, a measure
welcoming efforts to secure a just resolution of this crime against
humanity. (At the time of its adoption, this measure will have 34
cosponsors.)

Darfur Genocide: On July 11, 2005, the U.S. House adopted a resolution,
H.Res.333, regarding the genocide currently taking place in the Darfur
region of Sudan. (At the time of its adoption, this measure had 26
cosponsors.) The ANCA supports the adoption of a stronger measure,
the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, H.R.3127, which is currently
under consideration at the Committee level.

Holocaust: On January 25, 2005, the U.S. House adopted a resolution,
H.Res.39, urging educators to teach the lessons of the Holocaust
in order to prevent future genocides. (At the time of its adoption,
this measure had 78 cosponsors.)

Ukrainian Genocide: On November 16, 2005, the U.S. House adopted a
resolution, H.R.562, recognizing the Ukrainian Famine Genocide and
authorizing for the creation of a monument honoring its victims. (At
the time of its adoption, this measure had 36 cosponsors.)

Bosnian Genocide: On June 27, 2005, the U.S. House adopted
a resolution, H.Res.199, regarding the genocide in Bosnia and
Herzogovina from 1992 to 1995. (At the time of its adoption, this
measure had 39 cosponsors.)

[Hovik]

Lithuanian Seimas Recognized Armenian Genocide

LITHUANIAN SEIMAS RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Pan Armenian
16.12.2005 18:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ December 15 the Lithuanian Seimas with majority
of votes adopted the resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide in
Ottoman Turkey in 1915. The Lithuanian parliamentarians qualified
the carnage of the Armenian people as genocide and called upon the
Turkish leadership to acknowledge the historical fact. To note,
the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by 15 states including
Russia, France, Canada as well as over 30 U.S. states. The voting
took place at 18:18 (Moscow time). 55 out of 141 participated in the
discussion. The document was adopted with 48 votes "for", 0 "against"
and 3 abstentions, reported IA Regnum.

[Hovik]

France Considers Opportunity To Review Law On Armenian Genocide

FRANCE CONSIDERS OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW LAW ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Pan Armenian
09.01.2006 19:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Debate has started in France over a number of laws
touching the history, including those censuring crimes against humanity
and making denial of historical facts a penal action. As reported by
CNN-Turk TV Channel, there is an opportunity to pass new legal acts
that will in fact deny the laws adopted earlier that censured the
Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey early past century and Jewish
Holocaust in World War II.

Specifically, according to French Parliamentary Speaker Jean-Louis
Debre, a special commission is formed to eliminate the connection
between legal acts and historical events. Earlier a group of 19
historian scholars proposed withdrawing the article condemning the
Armenian Genocide in Turkey from legislation. They consider that
"articles of the law in question limit scientific discussion."

French President Jacques Chirac has also presented his viewpoint on
the occasion. In his words, France has to transform its legislation
to promote creation of a positive image of the colonial past of the
country in the text-books." It should be noted that in 2001 the French
Parliament adopted a law qualifying the events in Turkey in 1915 as
a Genocide of Armenians. The French Parliament also passed another
law, which qualified the transatlantic slave-trade as a crime against
humanity, reported IA Regnum.

[Hovik]

2005 Was Important For International Recognition Of Armenian Genocide

2005 WAS IMPORTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Pan Armenian
10.01.2006 22:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2005 Lithuania, Holland, Venezuela and Poland
joined the countries, which recognized the Armenian Genocide, Armenian
FM Vartan Oskanian stated at today's news conference on the results
of the MFA activities in 2005. In his words, Russian State Duma again
reaffirmed the resolution on recognition of the Armenian Genocide
adopted earlier.

Argentinean Senate passed two statements denouncing the Armenian
Genocide, German Bundestag adopted a special resolution on the events
in 1915 and Germany's involvement in these. US State of Kansas also
passed a respective decision. According to the Armenian FM, the problem
of the Armenian Genocide being withdrawn from the topics "banned"
in Turkey was a direct consequence of the process of international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 2005. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip
Erdogan proposed forming a commission of historians at a Turkish
Parliament session past year, while a conference scientists recognizing
the Armenian Genocide was organized at Bilgi University in Turkey.

In V. Oskanian's words, the need to properly acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide is becoming more specified in the course of Turkey's accession
to the EU as a demand "to put up with own history." The provision
was mentioned in the European Parliament Report on Turkey's Progress
dated 28 September 2005. The Armenian FM remarked the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide was marked at the international level in
2005. V. Oskanian highlighted the scientific conference Ultimate
Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Human Rights and Genocide in Yerevan in
April. Scholars, experts and political scientists from 20 countries,
including Turkey, took part in it.

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Armenia And Germany: 90 Years After Genocide Conference Held In Germany

ARMENIA AND GERMANY: 90 YEARS AFTER GENOCIDE CONFERENCE HELD IN GERMANY

Pan Armenian
11.01.2006 21:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A scientific conference titled Armenia and Germany:
90 Years after Genocide was held in Wittenberg German city at the
turn of 2005.

The event started with a funeral prayer in an Armenian church in
Germany.

Martin Luter University professor, director of the Mesrop Center for
Armenian Studies Hermann Goltz made an opening speech. Stages of
creation and development of resolutions on the Armenian Genocide,
introduced before the Bundestag April 21 and June 16, as well as
expected developments were discussed during the conference. Bundestag
Deputy representing the Christian-Democratic and Social Democratic
Parties Christoph Bergner, Green party Deputy Marialuis Bek, Second
Secretary of the Armenian Embassy in Germany Victor Biagov and others
delivered speeches. Hermann Goltz made a report on activities of
Johannes Lepsius favorable for Armenians. Hermann Goltz simultaneously
acquainted those present with documented details of the Armenian
Genocide.