Defending Armenian Interests in the UK‏

Armenia Solidarity Press Release
c/o the Temple of Peace
07718982732
eilian@talktalk.net

The "Man of Straw" appeases Turkish Prime Minister
who proposes to deport 100,000 Armenians from Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyan Erdogan used his recent visit to London

to threaten 100,000 Armenians in Turkey with collective deportation in order to

make a political point on the 1915 Genocide. That a government of a candidate

to join the EU might propose the forced collective expulsion from its territory of

a specified nationality ought to be unthinkable in the 21st century. Yet that course

was casually advanced on 16th March by the Turkish Prime Minister, against

Armenian migrants, many of them grand- children of Armenian Genocide

survivors deported during 1915-23 from their homeland now in Turkey.

The visit came a few weeks before debates scheduled in the House of Lords
(29 March) initiated by Baroness Cox asking the British government to

reconsider its stance on the Armenian Genocide, and in the House of Commons

(30th April) to consider an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day proposed

by Andrew Dismore MP. It came after the Turkish government failed to stop the

US House of Representative committee and Swedish parliament votes in favour

of remembering the Armenian victims of genocide.

The response of Justice Minister Jack Straw on Tuesday 16th March defies

belief in its naivety and cynicism. He suppressed any comment on the threats

that would befit a cabinet minister of a Western democracy with any claim to

ethical standards. He presumed the outcome of the House of Commons by

assuring Turkey's prime minister that the UK Parliament would not pass a

resolution recognizing the Ottoman-era killings of Armenians as genocide,

(CNNTürk report).

"The chance of this becoming law is zero," Straw said, (according to CNNTürk's

Web site). "I can assure everyone on this issue." “Even If it is approved, an

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day will not be established in the country."

“The English government and the opposition do not support this draft," Straw

said.

What Straw failed to mention is that a majority of Labour MPs support the motion,

as well as a majority of all MPs who are eligible to express their opinions freely.

This is known from signatures to previous Early Day Motions recognising the

Genocide. Sources close to the government say that the Cabinet is much divided

on the issue. Even the Foreign & Commonwealth Office describe the behaviour

of the Turkish government as “neuralgic”, yet a British minister can only comfort

a government with such a frame of mind. The contrast between the US and

Swedish fortitude and the Man of Straw’s pliability could not be starker.

The Justice Minister apparently is prepared to ignore the recent legal opinion of

Geoffrey Robertson QC as well as the collective view of the International

Association of Genocide Scholars.

We appeal to MPs and Peers to put pressure on the Prime Minister to clearly

repudiate the disreputable statement of the Justice Minister and to reprimand him

for Armenian Holocaust Denial. We know of course that this was not simply a

faux-pas, as Mr Straw's is influenced by the Turkish embassy in the UK

(source: FCO) and a strong pro-Turkish Israeli lobby in Parliament (source:

Channel 4).

Another of Straw's outrageous comments was " Our biggest mistake after the

First World War was to dismember the Ottoman Empire" ignoring the death and

destruction of entire ethnic groups at that time.

Anyone of any decency, let alone a government minister, should better understand
the consequences of genocide denial. Not confronting the truth ensures that the old

problems fester and make the resolution of current relationship issues between

Turkey and Armenia even more difficult. Trying to change history by denial inevitably

means that the lessons being promoted for example through Holocaust Memorial

Day cannot prevent future atrocities.

Finally but not less important Mr. Straw dishonours the memories of the wretched

civilian victims of 1915,

The possible date of an election, 6 May, will play into Jack Straw’s hands as the bill

may not complete its parliamentary course. This could mean that his deplorable

behaviour stands as the official stance of this country, and that clearly is unacceptable.

Parliament should assert itself unequivocally to reverse this gift to Turkish propaganda

that is already being deployed. In so doing, Parliament should have due regard to the

original British Government position in 1915 on the genocide, a “Crime against

Humanity”, as well as the views of David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, Raphael

Lemkin and many others.

Their first opportunity for Parliament to remove the stain of Genocide Denial will be a

positive response in the Genocide debate in the House of Lords on the 29th March.

Relationships between countries and peoples cannot be built on lies.

Armenian Legal Initiative UK
legalinitiative @armeniangenocide.info

Mike Hancock MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

22 March 2010

Dear Mr Hancock

Our attention has been drawn to an article in the Azeri press attached to this letter

(“Armenia is like a headless chicken who doesn’t know where to run”, Day.az,

19 March 2010). Could you confirm or otherwise whether this accurately reflects

what you did say and therefore your views. If it does not, could you please write to

your correspondent correcting his report and let us know how you would like to portray

yourself.

We have also taken the liberty of passing a copy of the text to the “notorious” Baroness

Cox.

A number of sections in this report are highlighted and we would like you to consider

the following:

1 “The possibility of approval of dubious historical facts”
Please read the enclosed legal opinion by Geoffrey Robertson QC who analyses the

available independent information on the Armenian Genocide and comes to firm

evidence based legal conclusions on this subject. These carry the weight of a respected

experienced jurist and an expert on crimes against humanity. This document is the latest

in the series of legal and historical opinions by leading experts including the International

Association of Genocide Scholars, the foremost authority on this period of history. If you

are open-minded, it should remove your doubts and give you an understanding as to why

the US and other countries are recognising the true nature of the genocide.

2 “They [the Armenians] have evidently lost control over the situation they

face today”
This opinion should also give you a clue as to why the Armenians reacted in the way they

did when the Sumgait and Baku pogroms were initiated and after which the Armenian fled

Azerbaijan. They also took note of the earlier eviction of the Armenians from Nakhichevan

and how the Azeri army was filmed from Iran destroying medieval stone crosses in an

attempt to erase evidence of Armenian civilisation there.X

3 “In Britain, there is a lot of sympathy for the fact that a country is deprived

of part of its territory.”
As you should know, the core of the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan concerns

the status of Karabagh and the self-determination of the Karbaghi people. You should not

presume the outcome of this delicate complex process, and neither does Britain.

If you do wish to be of some assistance to both parties, could you please use your good

offices to promote the proposal by President Sarkissian that the two countries sign a

non-aggression pact to build trust on the two sides of the border.

Yours sincerely


Others may wish to write to this MP after reading the following article:

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIAN: ARMENIA IS LIKE A HEADLESS CHICKEN

WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO RUN
Today
March 19 2010
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Mike Hancock, Member of the British Parliament, member
of the PACE Monitoring Committee and Committee on Political Affairs.

Azerbaijan and Turkey say there is a direct link between settlement of the
Karabakh conflict and normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. Do you
agree with this approach, or you think that these two issues should be
considered separately?

The problem is that these two issues are difficult to separate from each
other. This is very, very difficult situation. The U.S. Congress decision on
so-called "Armenian genocide" caused a strong anger of Turkey. In my
opinion, Americans have done very big mistake, and they will feel sorry
about this. I hope that President Obama will be able to use his influence to
prevent the ratification of this document.

This caused understandable concern in Turkey, since the U.S. returned to
possibility of approval of dubious historical facts.

This is only part of the problem. In my opinion, Armenia is like a headless
chicken that runs around in circles. They really do not know where to run.
And the more they pull, the less viable is their country. They are more
concerned about what happened a hundred years ago. They have evidently lost
control over the situation they face today.

Armenia's economy is limited and it is actually mixed with that of Russia.
Unemployment reigns in the country amid growing external debt.

I believe that the Russian will soon realize the futility of investing money
in Armenia in terms of its interest.

The sooner the Armenian side understands that the solution to the Karabakh
conflict meets its economic interests (I am not talking about political and
historical interest), the sooner it will realize that it is neighbour of a
prosperous country that can make it as successful as it is itself.

Those who say that people like the current Armenia President, who
personally, by force of arms, participated in the occupation of Azerbaijani
lands can't give them back, seem to be right. Does it mean that the progress
in the settlement process can be achieved only by changing the Armenian
leadership?

In my opinion, it would be very nice if it was possible. But it is better to
know the mood of your enemy. Britain is a classic example of this. We had to
make friends with our enemies, particularly in Northern Ireland. Today one
of the senior officials in Northern Ireland is the man who headed the
campaign of terrorism against Britain, killing thousands of people. More
people were killed in 30 years than in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The only way to achieve a political solution is to bring these people to
your side. Sometimes you have to sit next to your enemies, the people who
conducted aggression against you, though it is unpleasant.

Britain had done so in many parts of the world: in Northern Ireland, Cyprus,
India and other countries. We always had to learn that if you want to solve
the problem peacefully, you should be ready to talk even with those who are
your worst enemy.

As you know, there is strong Armenian lobby led by notorious Baroness Cox in
the British Parliament. Do the activities of such persons influence foreign
policy of the UK in regard to the Karabakh problem?

I am pleased to say that not at all. Baroness Cox is a voice in defense of
Armenia. I also try to raise voice in defense of Azerbaijan in the British
Parliament. And I will continue to do so. The British Parliament hosted an
event devoted to the Karabakh events in late February, and I was pleased to
see how many members of parliament signed a petition. In Britain, there is a
lot of sympathy for the fact that a country is deprived of part of its
territory.

The British have special feelings for the people who lost something very
precious, including the Azerbaijanis of Armenia, who are unable to return to
their homes.

By the way, today UK has more sympathy and respect for Azerbaijan than you
think.

So, we conducted a series of events in the Chamber of Commerce. I was
pleased to see how many people visited them. We arranged a photo exhibition
which was visited by many people, including Baroness Cox.

In total, there were nearly 70 people, which is good for the Chamber of
Commerce. There were also wide-ranging debates.

Baroness Cox sees the problem from only one angle. This is wrong. I hope
that this approach will change soon. The sooner she arrives in Baku, tries
to speak and understand the people here, the better she will understand the
depth of wounds in their hearts. I think currently she does not realize it
in full.

Do not you think that the EU and the United Kingdom could play a more active
role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict?

Yes. I think that your current president is the best that Azerbaijan could
have at present. He knows Europe, he is personally acquainted with many
European politicians due to his previous activities in PACE.

He makes a lot of visits and has an excellent command of English. I myself
recently listened to his speech in English in London that lasted about an
hour. I felt that he was the right man with whom everyone in Europe would
like to work.

This is a person who needs support. Azerbaijan is rich not only in natural
resources, but also the culture and mentality of the local population to
create a sort of bridge to Europe. I think it would be very foolish on the
part of Europe do not pay much attention to South Caucasus and Azerbaijan in
particular.

I believe that Europeans need to understand that it is better to work with
Azerbaijan than to show a negative attitude towards it. So, I do not like
criticism of Azerbaijan, in particular, from the opposition inside the
country, which itself avoids the election. I do not know whether they have
their political agenda, because it seems that it all consists of one word
"No". It does not help the country.

You have a government and it is legal whether someone likes it or not.

You have a president with a broad mandate, the president is popular, and is
popular because he has no alternative. In my opinion, he tries to do what is
best for Azerbaijan.

http://www.today.az/news/politics/64470.html