Thursday 30 June 2016

Armenian News... A Topalian... What Turkish Deputy said about the Pope


On BBC Radio 4 Sunday p[rogram at 7:15am,the first major 

feature was on the Pope's visit to Armenia and his ure of the 
word genocide. It also included a reference to the insult levied 
by the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister that the Pope has the 
mentality of a Crusader.


Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
June 25 2016
Pope says ‘never again’ to tragedies like ‘Armenian genocide’

A somber Pope Francis, "with pain in my heart," paid tribute on June
25 to the Armenians killed in 1915, an event which he has labelled a
“genocide,” risking Turkey's ire.

Francis, on the second day of his trip to Armenia, made an early
morning stop at the Tzitzernakaberd, the "Genocide Memorial and
Museum," a towering granite needle flanked by an eternal flame on a
hillside overlooking the Armenian capital.

There, visibly moved, he took part in a prayer service along with
President Serzh Sargsyan and leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

"Here I pray, with pain in my heart, so that never again will there be
tragedies like this, so that humanity does not forget and knows how to
overcome evil with good," he wrote in the guest book in Italian.

On June 24 night in a speech to the president, the government and
diplomats, Francis departed from his prepared text to use the word
"genocide," a description that infuriated Turkey when he said it a
year ago.

As of June 25 morning there was no official reaction from Turkey,
which last year recalled its ambassador to the Vatican after the pope
used the “genocide” term. The envoy was kept away for 10 months.

Turkey accepts many Christian Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire
were killed in clashes with Ottoman forces during World War I, but
contests the figures and denies the killings were systematically
orchestrated and constitute a genocide. It also says many Muslim Turks
perished at that time.

"There is no reason not to use this word in this case," Vatican
spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters on June 24 night.
"The reality is clear and we never denied what the reality is."

At the June 25 morning ceremony, Francis chatted with descendants of
Armenian orphans who were sheltered at the papal summer residence
south of Rome at the start of the 20th century.

"May God grant the beloved Armenian people and the entire world peace
and consolation. May God protect the memory of the Armenian people.
Memory should not be diluted or forgotten. Memory is a source of peace
and the future," he wrote in the guest book.

After the memorial service the pope flew to say a Mass in the
provincial city of Gyumri, near the border with Turkey and within
sight of Mount Ararat, where the Bible says Noah's Ark landed after
the Great Flood. 


Daiiy Sabah, Turkey
June 25 2016
Pope's remarks on 1915 Armenian deaths not related to 
historical facts, Deputy PM Canikli says
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli criticized on Saturday
Pope Francis's comments on the deaths of Armenians in1915 during 
his recent visit to Armenia, saying that the Pope's remarks have no
relation to the truth and they reflect the mentality of crusaders.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Giresun province in the
Black Sea region, Canikli said: "First of all, it is unfortunate that
the Pope made such comments. Unfortunately, just like how the 
U.K.'s separation from the EU has exposed, or as it is seen in this
situation, the activities of the Pope and the papacy bear the traces
and reflections of the crusader mentality.
 The same goes for the
Pope's remarks, as well."

"It is not an impartial remark. It has no relation to reality,"
Canikli said and added that the truth about the so-called 
'genocide' is known by everyone, including the Armenians 
themselves.
Canikli also recalled the recent motion passed by the German
parliament on recognizing the 1915 events as genocide, saying these
are political decisions that have no relation to historical facts.

"These comments are political explanations and are based on religious
factors," he added.

Those claiming that the events were 'genocide' accuse the Ottoman
government of 1915 of allegedly carrying out "systematic genocide"
against Armenians, as well as other Christian minorities.

Turkey denies the alleged genocide, but acknowledges that there were
casualties on both sides during the events taking place during World
War I.

According to Turkey's viewpoint, deaths of Armenians in eastern
Anatolia in 1915 occurred after some sided with invading Russians and
revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians
resulted in numerous casualties.

Turkey describes the 1915 events as a tragedy for both sides.

Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of
historians from Turkey and Armenia plus international experts to
tackle the issue. 


armradio.am
Vatican denies Pope has ‘Crusades’ mentality over Armenian 
Genocide
26 Jun 2016 

The Vatican is strongly denying Turkish claims that Pope Francis has adopted a “mentality of the Crusades” by recognizing the Ottoman-era slaughter of Armenians as “genocide,” the Associated Press reports.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said nothing in Francis’ texts or words during his Armenian trip showed any hostility to Turkey and in fact were infused with calls for Armenia and Turkey to build bridges of peace and reconciliation.

“The pope is not doing Crusades,” he said Sunday. “He has said no words against the Turkish people.”

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli called Francis’ comments “greatly unfortunate” and said they bore the hallmarks of the “mentality of the Crusades.”


Kansas City Star
June 25 2016
Pope visits Armenia's closed border with Turkey on last day

Pope Francis is wrapping up his trip to Armenia with a liturgy in the
Apostolic cathedral celebrated by his Orthodox hosts and a visit to
Armenia's closed border with Turkey.
By NICOLE WINFIELD and AVET DEMOURIAN
Associated Press
YEREVAN, Armenia

Pope Francis is wrapping up his trip to Armenia with a liturgy in the
Apostolic cathedral celebrated by his Orthodox hosts and a visit to
Armenia's closed border with Turkey.

Francis has said he would love to see the border reopened, given his
longstanding call for countries to build bridges, not walls, at their
frontiers.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in support for its ally and
ethnic kin, Azerbaijan, after the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted
into a full-scale war in 1992. The blockade has worsened Armenia's
economic problems.

On Sunday, Francis is due to release a dove of peace near the border
at the Khor Virap monastary. The monastary is one of the most sacred
sites in Armenia and lies in the shadow of Mount Ararat, where
according to legend, Noah landed his ark.

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