Armenian News... A Topalian... Survivors of the Armenian Genocide

New York Times
Survivors of the Armenian Genocide
22 April 2016 
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/survivors-of-the-armenian-genocide/?emc=eta1&_r=0 

asbarez.com
Paylan Resurrects 1915 Massacred Ottoman Armenian Deputies
21/4/16
ANKARA—Turkish-Armenian parliament member Garo Paylan, who represents
the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), resurrected the memories of the
13 Armenian members of the Ottoman General Assembly who were massacred
on April 24, 1915 as he commemorated the 101st anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide Thursday at the Turkish Parliament.

In his address to Parliament, Paylan read the names and displayed the
photographs of several Armenian politicians killed, arrested, or
exiled in the Armenian Genocide, including Krikor Zohrab (Istanbul),
Bedros Haladjian (Istanbul), Nazaret Daghavarian (Sivas), Garabed
Pashaian (Sivas), Ohannes Seringiulian (Erzurum), Onnik Tersekian
(Van), Hampartsum Boyadjian (Kozan), Vahan Papazian (Van), Hagop
Babikian (Tekirdağ), Karekin Pastermadjian (Erzurum), Kegham Der
Garabedian (Mush), Hagop Boyadjian (Tekirdağ), and Artin Boshgezenian
(Aleppo). Paylan also detailed the fate of each Armenian politician
during the Armenian Genocide.

During his address, which he began with the Armenian greeting 

“Pared tsez,” Paylan condemned the murder of the politicians and 

said that the Turkish state should come to terms with its history. He

also condemned the fact that several places in Turkey are named after the
organizers and perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide. “Can you imagine
going to Germany and walking on avenues named after Hitler?” Paylan
asked.

Paylan held up the photographs of each massacred Ottoman lawmaker of
Armenian descent and read aloud their names and places of birth, and
in Armenian proclaimed Աստուած հոգին լուսաւորէ—May God Bless Their
Souls

He later tweeted a similar message with photographs of the martyred
Ottoman Armenian Deputies. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Delivers Statement on 

Armenian Genocide
Statement by the Prime Minister to the Armenian-Canadian 

Community

  
On this day, we mark the 101 st commemoration of the tragic loss 

of life of the Armenian population during the waning days of the 

Ottoman Empire in 1915. 

Both the Senate of Canada and the House of Commons have 

adopted resolutions referring to these events as genocide. 
We preserve the memory of those who lost their lives, and those 

who suffered during this genocide and pay our deepest respects 

to their descendants, including those who now call Canada home. 

In solemnly acknowledging this event, let us use this moment as 

an opportunity to look forward and strenghthen our collective 

resolve to ensure such acts are never again repeated. 

While we must never forget the lessons of history, we must also 

be reminded that past injustices do not serve our communities if 

they divide us. Canadians of all backgrounds and faiths stand 

together in reaffirming our collective commitment to the values 

of pluralism, human rights, and diversity. 

On this anniversary, please join me in my hope for a peaceful future 

based on tolerance, respect, and reconciliation.

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada


Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
April 22, 2016 

Today we solemnly reflect on the first mass atrocity of the 

20th century  —the Armenian Meds Yeghern—when one and 

a half million Armenian people were deported, massacred, and 

marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman empire. 

As we honor the memory of those who suffered during the dark days 

beginning in 1915—and commit to learn from this tragedy so it may 

never be repeated—we also pay tribute to those who sought to come 

to their aid. One such individual was U.S. Ambassador Henry 

Morgenthau, Sr., who voiced alarm both within the U.S. government 

and with Ottoman leaders in an attempt to halt the violence. Voices 

like Morgenthau’s continue to be essential to the mission of atrocity 

prevention, and his legacy shaped the later work of human rights

champions such as Raphael Lemkin, who helped bring about the 

first United Nations human rights treaty.

This is also a moment to acknowledge the remarkable resiliency 

of the Armenian people and their tremendous contributions both 

to the international community as well as to American society. 

We recall the thousands of Armenian refugees who decades ago 

began new lives in the United States, forming a community that has 

enormously advanced the vitality of this nation and risen to prominence 

and distinction across a wide range of endeavors. At a moment of 

regional turmoil to Armenia’s south, we also thank the people of 

Armenia for opening their arms to Syrian refugees, welcoming 

nearly 17,000 into their country.

As we look from the past to the future, we continue to underscore 

the importance of historical remembrance as a tool of prevention, 

as we call for a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts, which 

would serve the interests of all concerned. I have consistently stated 

my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. 

I have also seen that peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a 

foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and 

reckoning with painful elements of the past. We continue to welcome 

the expression of views by those who have sought to shed new 

light into the darkness of the past, from Turkish and Armenian 

historians to Pope Francis. ‎ 

Today we stand with the Armenian people throughout the world in 

 recalling the horror of the Meds Yeghern and reaffirm our ongoing 

 commitment to a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Armenia. 

Statement of the Prime Minister the United Kingdom to the 

Armenian community 

Start 

End


Wall Street Journal
April 22 2016
Obama Avoids ‘Genocide’ in Commemorating Armenian Deaths
By Byron Tau


In his annual statement on the mass death of Armenians at the hands of
the Ottoman Empire in 1915, President Barack Obama once again declined
to use the term “genocide” — breaking a campaign promise he made eight
years ago.

In his commemoration on the mass killings, which may have claimed as
many as 1.5 million lives, Mr. Obama paid homage to the victims and
vowed to “to learn from this tragedy so it may never be repeated.”

His lengthy statement released Friday, however, did not use the term
“genocide” — the source of a major geopolitical dispute between Turkey
and Armenian about the historical context of the massing killings.

It also violates a campaign promise Mr. Obama made in 2008, when he
said in a statement released by his campaign that “as president I will
recognize the Armenian Genocide.” As a U.S. senator, Mr. Obama also
supported a congressional resolution recognizing the killings as
genocide.

But Turkey — a key U.S. ally and strategy partner at the crossroads of
the Middle East and Europe — has long objected to the use of the term
genocide. Turkey has argued the issue of whether the killings were
genocide isn’t for modern-day governments to decide, contests the
number of deaths and argues those killed were casualties of a larger
armed conflict, which was an outgrowth of World War I.

“The president has consistently stated his view of what occurred in
1915, and his views have not changed,” a senior administration
official said. “The president and other senior Administration
officials have acknowledged as historical fact and mourned the deaths
of 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred or marched to their deaths
in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. They have stated that a full,
frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in our all interests,
including Turkey’s, Armenia’s, and America’s.”

Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the Armenian National
Committee of America, criticized the White House’s decision to again
avoid the use of the term “genocide” in a statement.

“It seems President Obama will end his tenure as he began it, caving
in to pressure from Turkey and betraying his commitment to speak
honestly about the Armenian Genocide,” said Mr. Hamparian.

The decision also drew a rebuke from Rep. Adam Schiff, a California
Democrat who has long pushed the U.S. government to label the killings
a genocide.

“For a president who knows the history so well, who spoke so
passionately about the genocide as a Senator and Presidential
candidate, and who has always championed human rights, the choice of
silence and complicity is all the more painfully inexplicable.
Remaining silent in an effort to curry favor with Turkey is as morally
indefensible as it will be ineffectual,” said Mr. Schiff in a
statement. 

Russian Armenian News Agency
April 21 2016
Parliament of Sicily recognized Armenian Genocide
On April 21, the Sicilian Regional Assembly unanimously recognized the
Armenian Genocide, reports the Press Service of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry. Thus, Sicily has become the 105th regional structure of
Italy to recognize the Armenian Genocide at the level of local
governments.

By the adopted resolution Sicily expresses its support and solidarity
with the struggle of the Armenian people for the recognition of the
historical reality. The document was presented by deputies Kordaro
Salvatore, D’Azero Antonino¸ Papale Alfio Grasso and Bernadette
Felice.

The agreement on the resolution was reached at the end of November of
2015 at the meeting of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of
Armenia to Italy Sargis Ghazaryan with Chairman of the Regional
Council of Sicily Giovanni Ardizzone.

The Sicilian Parliament is one of the oldest parliaments of the world
(founded in 1097) and compared with the parliaments of other
autonomous regions in Italy it has the most extensive powers.

Up to this date, the Armenian Genocide of 1915 has been recognized by
22 countries. The first country to officially recognize it was Uruguay
in 1965. The Parliament of Italy recognized the Armenian Genocide in
2000.