The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

[Artashes]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

Wow this is just funny.
http://www.todayszaman.com/national_...st_373217.html

ArmInfo's Survey: Belarus and France will be represented at highest level at events timed to Armenian Genocide Centennial

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=AD685DD0-C25E-11E4-A9290EB7C0D21663

Most of the countries invited to the Armenian Genocide Centennial events in Yerevan have not yet responded to the invitation for not having made up their delegations to Yerevan.

Talking to ArmInfo, Ambassadors of Switzerland, Georgia, Iran, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Japan, and Germany said Yerevan's invitation is still considered by the foreign ministries of their countries to determine the composition of delegations. Nevertheless, all the diplomats assured ArmInfo that their countries will send official representatives to the events timed to the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea told ArmInfo, the EU has not made up its delegation to the Genocide Centennial events in Yerevan. Meanwhile, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Andrey Sorokin said the delegation to Yerevan will be headed by Ilkka Kanerva, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The decision may be changed and the OSCE may be represented at the above events at a higher level.

Belarus has already made up its delegation. Talking to ArmInfo, Ambassador Stepan Sukhorenko said the president of Belarus will attend the events timed to the Armenian Genocide Centennial. France will also be represented at the highest level.

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin said Moscow has already made up its delegation. The diplomat did not reveal the composition of the Russian delegation, saying the country will be represented at an adequate level.

The survey revealed that some countries will not send any delegations to Turkey - the country is going to celebrate the centennial of the victory in the Gallipoli Battle on the same day - April 24. Others will send their delegations for political reasons. The diplomats say the centennials of the Armenian Genocide and the Gallipoli Battle are morally incomparable events.

To recall, UK, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have already accepted Turkey's invitation to the Gallipoli event and will be represented at the highest level. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles will attend the event.

So which is it, is this bs event cancelled or not?

[Haykakan]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

No Arty it is not canceled. The fn qween and prince of England will be there to boot.

[londontsi]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

No Arty it is not canceled. The fn qween and prince of England will be there to boot.

Although I do not want to be an apologist for the Brits,
the fact is the Brits ( and Auzis Kiwis ) are hostage to these events because of the large number of casualties and local war graves they have there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Campaign#Casualties

It represents a significant event in their historic calendar even though it was one big kock-up.

[Haykakan]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

Although I do not want to be an apologist for the Brits,
the fact is the Brits ( and Auzis Kiwis ) are hostage to these events because of the large number of casualties and local war graves they have there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Campaign#Casualties

It represents a significant event in their historic calendar even though it was one big kock-up.

Nah that is making excuses. They could have just sent a ambassador there and sent the queen or prince to Armenia. Britain has always wanted us dead and gone just to hurt Russia and to cozy up to the turk.

[Serjik]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

You see how these voritsaks are so ready to make excuses for western leaders but God forbid it comes to Armenian leader, it's all doom and gloom! It's amazing how low Armenians have fallen.

Nah that is making excuses. They could have just sent a ambassador there and sent the queen or prince to Armenia. Britain has always wanted us dead and gone just to hurt Russia and to cozy up to the turk.

[Mher]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

Britain has always wanted us dead and gone

lol what? historic examples?

[Haykakan]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

lol what? historic examples?

Look it up. Hell even wiki has plenty of examples.

[Mher]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

Look it up. Hell even wiki has plenty of examples.

I know Armenian history quiet well, I wanna see your explanation for it because I don't believe your claim is actually based on anything beyond your biased views. Russia has only been in the Caucuses for less than 200 years. That's a tiny fraction of our history. During that time the major British crime to our cause occurred in 1877-78 when they forced Russia to cede control of the Armenian Highlands after Russian victory. That wasn't so much to have us "dead and gone" but to prevent the enlargement of Russia. Beyond that, I can't think of many other examples. Meanwhile there are many instances of Russia doing much worse that literally left us dead and gone in our worst moments. Examples include suppression of the Armenian church and Armenian identity, in attempt to assimilate the population at the turn of the century in late 19th C. This cultural genocide led to the rise of many Armenian fedayees like Dro. Examples include the Russian Empire abandoning Armenia in 1917 in the worst of times by pulling back forces and leaving us to be wiped clean. Examples include the Bolsheviks arming and financing Ataturk's campaign to bring down Armenia while they invaded from the other side, succeeding in tearing down an independent Armenia, and then claiming oh look the Bolsheviks (implied to mean Russians) saved us and gave us stability- which was needed after they brought us down and created instability. Examples include giving away Kars, Nakhichevan, Artsakh, and Kirovabad to Azerbaijan and the Toorks. Examples include the likely giveaway of Zangazour(Syunik) to Azerbaijan if not for Njdeh's last ditch effort. Examples include the destruction of and rape of many Armenian political religious and cultural figures until Stalin's death. Examples include the 1988 Earthquake and its aftermath, which at a moderate 6.8 shouldn't have caused 10% of the damage it did if not for the perfect soviet top down economic system. Examples include 1991 ethnic cleansing of Shahumian region, and our Getashen, of its 17,000 Armenian super majority. Examples include Operation Goranboy in the summer of 1992 when the Russian Federation actively supported Azerbaijan as Artsakh was nearly wiped out.

I'm not here trying to argue for allegiance to the west. I'm here to argue for allegiance TO NO ONE. If you recommend strategic partnerships, and taking advantage of those partners for our cause as political dynamics evolve, that's very respectable. If you're here to suggest that some countries are inherently good, and other's are inherently bad, then there's much you have yet to learn. If you suggest that Armenia should always stand by a certain country because they'll alwaysbe inherently and consistently on Armenia's side, just because that's how they are, then I would say you live in a fantasy universe. Never be an idealist, never be so rigid to believe that one country, in your case Russia, is always good, while its enemies are evil. Russia's enemies aren't your enemies, and Russia's well being, shouldn't be your concern. That is unless you want to change your name to RussaHaykakan. Everything changes, momentum changes, allegiances change, strategic interests change. THE ONLY COUNTRY you should be always be unbending for is ARMENIA. The rest are moving parts, that we should change as they suit. If Right now Armenia needs to be in line with Russia for Armenian interests so be it. In the past 15 years Russia has helped Armenia greatly in prying away the Turks on both ends. For that however, Armenia has given up much of its sovereignty and national wealth and interests to Russia. However as usual, things always change, factors reverse, and countries rise, and fall. You don't know what's going to be in our interest as these things change, If in 10 years, its beneficial to tell the Russians to f-ck off, so be it. Hopefully soon enough, we are strong enough where we don't have to be on anyone's side and can demand respect, instead of begging for a patron. This isn't an unrealistic scenario and it only takes proper nation building, and some fortune in external factors.

[londontsi]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

Armenian community outraged it was not consulted on Hyde Park plaque of Genocidal dictator

http://anc.org.au/news/Media-Releases/Armenian-community-outraged-it-was-not-consulted-on-Hyde-Park-plaque-of-Genocidal-dictator

SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) has released contents from a letter it has addressed to the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. Mike Baird MP, the Minister for Communities and Citizenship, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, and the Deputy Chairperson of the ANZAC Memorial Building, on the issue of the placement of yet another Australian memorial dedicated to the first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Last month, a plaque was unveiled at the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park dedicated to the memory of Ataturk ahead of the Centenary of ANZAC Day. This is in addition to a Memorial that was erected many years ago at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The intent of the letter by ANC Australia was to ensure that the NSW Government and the ANZAC Memorial Trust marks the Centenary of Anzac Day in an honest manner with regards to a full and frank acknowledgement of the events that occurred during World War I.

The letter made specific reference to the heinous war crimes committed by Ataturk during World War I, including the genocide of Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks.

The letter read: “2015 marks not only the Centenary of Anzac Day but also of the Armenian Genocide. It is critical that during such an important period of modern history that facts are reported on correctly.”

“While Australian soldiers bravely fought along side the Allied Forces, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who later became idolised by Nazi Germany and Adolf Hilter for how he “liberated” Turkey, embarked on a course of pillaging the ethnic minatory groups of the Ottoman Empire.”

The letter added: “To erect memorials to Ataturk and to pay tribute to his legacy is to honour his legacy of rape, murder, dictatorship, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Not only does this memorial insult the memory and the victims of the Armenian Genocide, it is also a dishonour to the Australian forces who met their final fate during World War I.”

“It is important that we acknowledge the friendship that was formed in the years after the War between Australia and Turkey, which deserves recognition and support during this Centenary year of commemoration, but this friendship should not allow important historical facts to be cast aside.”

ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian revealed that plans presented to the NSW government to memorialise Ataturk within the grounds of Parliament House Peace Garden was defeated by lobbying after ANC Australia was made aware of it. He expressed disappointment that the NSW government did not consult with the Armenian-Australian community in advance of erecting this memorial.

Kahramanian said: “As Australians, we understand the importance of the ANZAC memory to Australia. However Ataturk, a self-proclaimed dictator, should not need be honoured for Australia to remember the heroics of Gallipoli.”

He added: “Our community expected to be consulted on such a plan, which would have allowed us to educate the decision-makers on all the facts at hand before taking such a step. To say we are disappointed is an understatement, and we look forward to the response to our correspondence.”

[Haykakan]

Re: The 100th Anniversary - and Events to Mark it

I actually agree with some of the things you say Mher but I think we drifted off topic for this thread.
Here is some interesting news. It is not too often that I can say anything nice about our clergy or its leaders but this happens to be a welcomed exception to the rule. I wish our politicians did something similar.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRIMATE OF THE ARMENIAN DIOCESE OF IRAQ ADDRESSES LETTER TO PRINCE CHARLES

16:18, 10 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Archbishop Avak Asadourian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Iraq, addressed a letter to Prince Charles after the news
was revealed that the Prince would visit Turkey on April 24 for the
commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Battle. The
letter reads:

"On April 24th, the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, the republic
of Armenia is going to organize a commemoration. On that very day, the
republic of Turkey has decided to commemorate the battle of Gallipoli
in which the Ottoman Empire fought against Britain and its allies.

Undoubtedly, this event is not about commemorating the battle of
Gallipoli. This is about exterminating the memory of a race and
showing how rewarding and gratifying this ultimate crime can be.

April 24th as a date is unrelated to Gallipoli: Nothing happened on
April 24th to warrant commemoration of this battle on this day in this
year. Turkey for the past hundred years did not celebrate this event
on April 24th. However, symbolically, commemorating this battle on
this day is most illustrative. It signifies triumph: the triumph of
the oppressor over the oppressed, the triumph of denialisim, savagery,
and murder over recognition, remorse, and civilization.

I am addressing this letter to you because, I learned that the British
Prime Minister declined to participate in the commemoration of the
centenary of the Genocide. According to Her Majesty's Ambassador
to Armenia however, the highest level of participation from HMG is
expected at the "Gallipoli event" organized in Turkey.

Your Royal Highness,

Please allow me to highlight the following:

The practices that took place during the Armenian Genocide from
cutting people's throats to burning people alive-en masse-to include
the most heinous ways of murder are employed today by IS-"Islamic
State." Hence, imagine, that in a century the British Prime Minister,
or any high-ranking British official for that matter, attends the
ceremony held by the successor (proud successor) of today's IS's of
al-Baghdady. Imagine that he or she snub the service dedicated to the
commemoration of those innocent people that were enslaved, beheaded,
burned alive, and ripped off their belongings, in the most barbarous
ways one can ever imagine. Multiply that by a factor that represents
the differences in number and the scope of tragedy that the Armenians
suffered, the total destruction that befell this ancient people,
and what the carnage that the actions of IS would inflict if it is
unhindered, i.e. if they were given a free hand then, you'll see
the issue as we see it. You will also see how those officials that
governed Great Britain a century' ago will look at this participation
in the same way that you will look on those who will represent Great
Britain in such commemoration in a hundred years.

Further, the term "crimes against humanity" was introduced by the
allies-including Britain-to describe the crimes the Turks committed
against Armenians. Prime Minister Lloyd George promised that, "Turks
are finally being called to account for the crimes they committed
against humanity," He also said:

Had it not been for our ... intervention, the great majority of
Armenians would have been placed .. , under the protection ." it was
entirely due to our minatory pressure . .. that Armenia was sacrificed
'" The action of the British Government led inevitably to the terrible
massacres of 1895-97, 1909, and worst of all to the holocausts of 1915
.. ' we were morally bound to take the first opportunity that came
our way to redress the wrong we had perpetrated, and in so far as it
was our power, to make it impossible to repeat the horrors for which
history will always hold us culpable. When therefore in the Great War,
the Turks forced us into this quarrel, and deliberately challenged
the British Empire to a life and death struggle, we realised that at
last an opportunity had been given us to rectify the cruel wrong for
which we were responsible ....

Sir Winston Churchill also called the Armenian Genocide a "holocaust."

He said "There is no reasonable doubt that this crime was planned and
executed for political reasons. The opportunity presented itself for
clearing Turkish soil of a Christian race ...." He ironically goes
on to say: "It may well be that the British attack on the Gallipoli
Peninsula stimulated the merciless fury of the Turkish Government.

Even, thought the Pan-Turks, if Constantinople were to fall and Turkey
lost the 'war, the clearance would have been effected and a permanent
advantage for the future of the Turkish race would be granted."

I also learned that during a parliamentary debate in 1918 in the
House of Commons, an MP said "This country owes a debt to Armenia,
because, after all, we more than forty years ago prevented Armenia
from being released '" from Turkish tyranny ...."

I am also certain that you can see why we are not jubilant for
Britain's decision to take part in the Turkish snub. Britain promised
to punish the perpetrators of Genocide. Today we are at loss to why
the victims are being punished. We are shocked to our very core: How
could the murder of a nation be so handsomely rewarding in the twenty
first century? I must raise the same question that Lemkin raised:
How come it is a crime to kill one man "but it is not a crime ... to
kill more than a million men?" I, as Lemkin a century ago, am shocked
by the world's failure not only to act but, to render a recognition
of the event that took place.

One might say that there are practical reasons for such appeasement
but, I assure you there are none. Turkey believes it is the inheritor
of the vanguard of righteousness and beacon for justice. Today,
it regards the Ottoman Empire as the most exalted empire that must
be recreated in one form or another. Turkey is actively working
to recreate the slaughter house. With that, goes hand in hand,
the venomous contempt to all the values of human civilization that
originated in Europe and became universal. These are core British
values, principles, and ideals. This makes Turkey a paradigmatic
threat. A threat that dreams about embarking on the same actions
should it muster the necessary means and, should the opportunity
avail itself. Therefore, how I see it, this appeasement is not very
different from the Munich pact.

More on the moral side: Turks are proud of what happened. The shame
according to Turks befalls Armenians, the victims. To this very day
the then elected Prime Minister of Turkey, now elected president,
apologizes before using the word Armenian when describing somebody. He
apologizes as if Armenian is the most profane insult of all. To this
day people gather in Turkey and chant that we will make mount Ararat
your grave. "You are all Armenians, You are all bastards," and "Today
Taksim, Tomorrow Yerevan: We will descend upon you suddenly in the
night." This happened in 2012. This took place in the presence of
Turkish Interior Minister at the time, among other leaders from the
ruling AK Party. The irony as well as the tragedy are inescapable.

Nothing shows the recklessness and impunity to which Turkey is
acting with more than this invitation on this date. Participation
in the events in Istanbul gives free hand, and a sense of impunity
to commit the worst atrocities, blame the victim, and walk away
victorious and vindicated. Instead of a letter, I can write volumes,
and even then I will not be able to do justice to this cause,. So,
I will leave it at this, knowing what a: humane person you are when
I met Your Royal Highness on November 19, 2014, and hinging my hopes
that Great Britain will live up to its values.

At the end, I feel compelled to conclude with Hitler's infamous and
ominous saying: "after all, who now remembers the annihilation of the
Armenians?" I very much hope that the Prince of Wales will remember
so, when he recalls history. I also hope that you'll remind Britain.

Indeed, it is hurtful that Britain, among all, needs to be reminded."

http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/03/10/primate-of-the-armenian-diocese-of-iraq-addresses-letter-to-prince-charles/