Armenian Genocide News‏

TURKISH SCHOLAR TO OBAMA: RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE, LIBERATE TURKEY
HULIQ
March 25 2009
SC

U.S. President Barack Obama ahould should stand up to his promise
and recognize Armenian Genocide, thus liberating Turkey and restoring
justice.

One of the promises that the President Obama has made during
his campaign is to call the tragic events of 1915 as Armenian
Genocide. Turkey, while has started a process of reconciliation with
Armenia (details of which are kept secret) has taken active actions
to prevent President Barack Obama from keeping his promise. Turkey's
reconition of the Armenian Genocide will not only create justice, but
will also liberate Turkey from past that has come to haunt the nation.

According to the Armenian Weekly a prominent Turkish genocide scholar
Taner Akcam in his lecture titled "Facing History" and delivered
at the Clark University on March 19 Akcam sent a powerful message
to U.S. President Barack Obama, asking him to liberate Turks and
Armenians by properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Akcam continued, "All of the parties involved know very well what the
U.S. administration and Congress think about 1915. But Turkey asks them
to tell a lie only for one day. I have never understood why the Turkish
government extracts so much joy out of making the United States lie
for one day. I also find it completely dishonorable. Not only does this
lie fail to lead to a resolution, it needlessly locks up the debate."

Hence, Akcam argued, the importance of official U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide--"if the United States declares what it believes
to be the truth and stands behind it"--would not only gain it "some
self-respect on the subject, but it will liberate Turks, Armenians,
and itself in the process."

Akcam ended his lecture by asking Obama to stand up for truth. "I
believe that we will enter a new era where morality and real politik
will not be considered mutually exclusive, if President Obama should
put an end to this lingering problem and liberate everybody in the
process by an official acknowledgment of genocide," he said.

Professor Akcam grew up in Turkey, where he was imprisoned
for his participation in and fervent support for free press
publications. Following a dramatic escape, he later received political
asylum in Germany, where he earned a Ph.D. from the University of
Hannover and worked with the Hamburg Institute for Social Research.

In 2007, the Armenian Bar Association presented the Hrant Dink
Freedom Award to Professor Akcam as "a champion of historical truth
about the Armenian Genocide and for his courageous defense of liberty
and free speech." Akcam's life and work have been featured in four
critically acclaimed documentary films, and he is the author of 10
scholarly works, as well as numerous articles. His most recent book,
"A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish
Responsibility," (Metropolitan Books), was released in 2006.

ACA ADDRESSES ISSUES TO SECRETARY CLINTON
10:57:19 - 27/03/2009
LRAGIR.AM

On March 23, the Armenian Council of America (ACA) sent U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton a letter. In the letter, the ACA
addressed several issues of concern regarding U.S.- Armenia and
U.S.-Turkey relations.

Recently, Secretary Clinton visited the Republic of Turkey, and
President Barack Obama has an upcoming trip scheduled for April
5th. The letter stated, "President Obama's upcoming visit to Turkey,
especially in the month of April, is a unique opportunity for
the United States to encourage the Republic of Turkey to rectify
its historical past in order to develop a strong Armenian-Turkish
relationship and for the future of Turkish nation itself." Secretary
Clinton spoke on the telephone as well with Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian regarding current affairs. This April will mark the
commemoration of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and an
anticipated annual statement is expected from the White House. "The
Armenian Council of America appreciates the administration's
engagement on these issues and looks forward to positive statements
and fulfillment of their pledges reaffirming the American record on
the Armenian Genocide," stated ACA Board Member Peter Darakjian.

The Armenian Council of America is a grassroots organization dedicated
to work with both Democratic and Republican political leaders, offering
Armenian related news, analysis and resources for policymakers,
media, students and activists, advocating issues important to Armenian
Americans. The Armenian Council of America aims to strengthen U.S. -
Armenia and U.S. - Nagorno Karabakh ties, the development of programs
promoting sustainable economic growth and good governance in Armenia,
while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
March 27, 2009
Armenica
Uppsala, Sweden
Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden


To: The President of the United States of America March 26, 2009

"Mr. Minister, The persecutions of the Armenians have reached hair-raising
proportions and all points to the fact that the Young Turks want to seize
the opportunity, since due to different reasons there are no effective
external pressure to be feared, to once and for all put an end to the
Armenian question. The means for this are quite simple and consist of the
extermination [utrotandet] of the Armenian nation." - Per Gustaf August
Cosswa Anckarsvärd, Swedish Ambassador to Turkey, in his report to the
Swedish Foreign Minister Knut Wallenberg, July 6, 1915, Constantinople


Dear President Obama,

The above stated report is merely one of several which were recently found
in the Swedish National and Military Archives, confirming the reality
which has since long been established by the genocide scholars regarding
the events in the Ottoman Turkey during World War I. The world was far
from as hesitating as it is today in condemning the treatment of the
Armenians, demanding justice for the victims and punishment of those
guilty of "crimes against humanity and civilization", the very first
occurrence of the term in international circumstances. However, the soon
growing Kemalist movement put a stop to the demands for justice and the
clever politics of the Republic of Turkey have ever since held the world
conscience as hostage in exchange for economic and political gains.

In nine decades the Armenians and other affected minorities have lived
this reality on daily basis while the rest of the world just recently has
become aware of the "forgotten genocide of the 20th Century". The Armenian
Diaspora, a direct result of the 1915 Genocide, has during the last 90
years of its struggle for recognition, been called liars and
propagandists, smearing the Turkish reputation. But, what is more hurtful,
is the fact that the surrounding world, including USA, has indirectly
joined Turkey in labeling the victims as liars and propagandists, simply
by refusing to recognize what is a historical fact. As the prominent
Turkish Professor Taner Akçam pointed out recently, on April 24, the USA
annually joins Turkey in its lie, "denying for one day what they believe
the other 364 days of the year."

The Turkish denial has developed and evolved, changing shapes and
strategies during the past 94 years, adapting to the prevailing world
situation and argumentation. The most recent morphing has supplied Turkey
with the argumentation that the ongoing reconciliation process between
Armenia and Turkey must be left unharmed and that external interference,
such as an American recognition of the genocide, will jeopardize the
fragile process. By saying this, however, Turkey is rather stating that
history is a matter of negotiations. Taking into account the existing
consensus among the majority of genocide scholars, evident not only in the
massive bulk of research and publications, but also in the very
resolutions of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS),
the Armenian Genocide does not need revisiting or reconsideration. Thus,
neither USA nor any other country in the world should refrain from
recognizing the truth while the reconciliation process between Turkey and
Armenia continues and must go on. That process will not change the already
established fact about the Armenian Genocide. Furthermore, it is my firm
belief that no reconciliation process or any democratization process will
benefit from harboring lies and suppressing the truth.

Like the election campaigns of Your predecessors, the issue of the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and calling it by its true name, was
one of the issues You have addressed at several occasions, correctly
pointing out that "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about
the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend
to be that President." I hope that You will bring the change You promised
during the election campaign, breaking the tradition of Your predecessors
in failing to honor their campaign vows in this regard, and that You,
unlike the US Presidents before You, will tell the truth about the
Armenian Genocide in each and one of the 365 days of the year.

I wish You the very best in the tremendous challenges that You and Your
Administration are faced with in the current world situation, and I am
confident that You will fulfill our expectations regarding "The Change We
believe in."

Yours truly,

Vahagn Avedian
Historian and Editor in Chief, Armenica.org
Chairman of the Board
Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden

Armenian National Committee of Australia
South Australia Passes Armenian Genocide Motion

ADELAIDE: An Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia)
delegation was present as South Australian Parliament's Legislative
Council passed a motion recognising the Armenian Genocide as "one of
the greatest crimes against humanity".

The motion, introduced by the Hon. David Ridgway MLC (Leader of the
Liberal Opposition in Legislative Council) and seconded by the
Hon. Bernard Finnigan (Member of the Labor Government in Legislative
Council) went through unopposed, and sees the Upper House of South
Australia's parliament join the New South Wales parliament in
condemning "the genocide of the Armenians and all other acts of
genocide".

However this motion is unique, as it is the first to include
recognition of recently-uncovered material detailing the significant
humanitarian effort by the people of South Australia who aided the
victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide almost a century ago.

South Australians, as part of the global Near East Relief effort,
answered to calls for aid by donating clothing, money and
infrastructure - an orphenage in Lebanon which housed the child
survivors of the attempt by Ottoman Turkey to exterminate its
Christian-Armenian minority.

When introducing the motion a fortnight ago, a proud Mr. Ridgway said:
"I would like to recognise South Australia's role in the first major
international humanitarian relief effort. As was the case for the
genocide itself, that effort was not broadly publicised."

Mr. Ridgway added: "It goes without saying that such acts as the
Armenian genocide epitomise prejudices against race, religion and
culture. For most Australians those attitudes are difficult to
comprehend but, unfortunately, they remain commonplace in many
societies today."

Mr. Finnigan also addressed the house in seconding the motion: "In
light of growing international awareness of the Armenian genocide -
and given the horrific nature of the genocide itself - it is time for
we South Australians to do our part."

ANC Australia Political Relations Officer, Mr. Vache Kahramanian
commended Mr. Ridgway, Mr. Finnigan and their Legislative Council
colleagues for recognising what he described a "proud intertwining of
histories for Armenian-Australians".

He said: "It is fitting that South Australia is the first to honour
this significant moment in Australian history - the first time this
great nation came to the aid of a needy people a whole world away."

Mr. Kahramanian added: "It is important for nations like Australia to
recognise and condemn all acts of genocide, as some - like the
Armenian Genocide - remain unpunished."

Mr. Ridgway commended the Armenian-Australian community and ANC
Australia for their excellent leadership.

"I am grateful to be in an ongoing working relationship with the
Armenian community," he said. "The Armenian National Committee is
dedicated to a campaign which advocates recognition of the genocide,
and today's motion is also a tribute to its tireless efforts on behalf
of the Armenian community."

TURKISH BUSINESS LEADER ASKING OBAMA NOT TO RECOGNIZE

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Aztagdaily
26/3/2009

The chairwoman of Turkey's leading business association, Turkish
Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), sent a letter
to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to consider the possible
implications of recognizing Armenian Genocide, Hurriyet Daily News
reports.

Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag in the letter sent on March 24 staits,
that "the US and Turkey are determined to move forward for a more
intensified cooperation on several key issues under the vision of the
new American leadership. In an era when a strong US-Turkey alliance
is needed more than ever to address the challenges of the world's
most troubled regions such as the Middle East and the Caucasus,
straining bilateral relations through such initiatives will have
negative consequences beyond Turkey-US relations."

The leader of TUSAID hopes, that Barack Obama will find it useful
in promoting a more reasonable and less politicized way of debating
Armenian Genocide in the US.

Obama, both as a Senator and a presidential candidate, was an outspoken
advocate for proper U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. He
repeatedly called on former president George W. Bush to recognize the
genocide and expressed reservations over the firing of U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia John Marshall Evans for his remarks recognizing that
crime. In January 2008, Obama issued a campaign statement, noting that
"America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian
Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be
that President."

Last week, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), George Radanovich
(R-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) were
joined by 70 of their House Colleagues in the introduction of
Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.252) calling on the president
to recognize the Armenian Genocide. That resolution is identical to
the one introduced in the previous Congress, which was adopted by
the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 27 to 21, and had
over 200 co-sponsors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~