LOUSSAPATZ 935 2012 05 19

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ÂÆô 935 Þ2 ́2Â 19, 2012

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Russia’s Medvedev Upbeat On ‘Special’ Ties with Armenia Putin Calls for Integration of the Former Soviet Space as Part of

Commonwealth of Independent States

Commonwealth of Independent States summit in Moscow

MOSCOW -- Russia’s newly appointed Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev sounded optimistic about the future of his country’s “special” relationship with Armenia as he met with President Serzh Sarkisian in Moscow late on Tuesday.

“First of all, I would like to welcome you and in my new capacity express confidence that we will continue good cooperation ... especially given the special, allied relations between our coun- tries,” he told Sarkisian at the start of the meeting.

In televised remarks, Medvedev also congratulated Sarkisian on the landslide victory scored by the ruling Republican Party of Armenia in the May 6 parliamentary elections.

“I hope that it will be a necessary condition for the steady and productive development of Ar- menia as a state and, of course, the accomplishment of a large number of socioeconomic tasks set by you,” he said. “Naturally, the Russian Federation will contribute to these processes by all means. We remain good friends and allies.”

Sarkisian similarly said that Russian-Armenian relations will grow stronger after Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin and his replacement by Medvedev.

Sarkisian flew to Moscow to attend an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and and the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). He held no separate talks there with Putin, who was inaugurated as Russia’s president last week.

During these summitts, Vladimir Putin voiced the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy among which the first were the integration of the former Soviet space as part of the CIS and the CSTO and the prospect of establishing a Eurasian Union. Putin does not hide that this union is an attempt to recreate the Soviet Union.

“I want to reiterate that the countries of the Commonwealth are our most intimate - in the true sense of the word - strategic partners. Virtually all aspects of interaction with you are vital for our country,” said Putin, making opening remarks at the CIS summit.

Russia may manage to “convince” Armenia not to develop too deep integration processes with the European Union by means of another loan.

Another argument in favor of Armenia’s integration in the post-Soviet space is its membership in the CSTO. The leaders of this six-member defense alliance adopted a declaration that reflects their collective approach to key issues of international security, said President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev at the enlarged meeting of the CSTO summit.

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European Union Calls on Armenia

to Correct Flaws of May 6 Elections in

BRUSSELS -- Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Pol- icy, and Štefan Füle, European Commission Vice President, have publicized the European Neighborhood Policy Package, which includes a report on Armenia.

“In general, Armenia has also made a progress in the spheres of democracy and human rights defense," the report says.

The report calls on authorities to correct the flaws reported in the May 6 parliamentary elec- tions, before next February’s presidential election. The EU also wants to see a full investigation into the deaths resulting from March 1, 2008 clashes that resulted from the last presidential elec- tion.

The report also calls on Armenia to adopt amendments to the legislation on broadcasting in compliance with the recommendations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and ensure pluralism in the broadcasting media.

In a related development, the election victory of Armenia’s ruling party is credit positive as it “will ensure a degree of political stability and policy continuity,” according to Moody’s.

“Key challenges for the new Armenian government lie in managing the geo-politically sensi- tive region of Nagorno Karabakh, over which Armenia and Azerbaijan are in disagreement, and of the closed border with its neighbor country, Turkey,” analysts at the investors’ service said, accord- ing to Bloomberg.

Armenia is rated Ba2 with a negative outlook at Moody’s, the second best junk rating.

US House Appropriations Committee Calls for at Least $5 Million in Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh $40 Million in Aid to Armenia

WASHINGTON, DC -- The US House Appropriations Committee released the details of its draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which calls for "at least" $5 million in assistance to Nagorno Karabakh and includes "not less than" $40 million in assistance to Armenia.

Overall funding in the Appropriations Bill was reduced by 5 percent when compared to last year. In addition, bilateral assistance was cut by $1.1 billion, and is $3 billion below the President's request for FY 2013. However, despite these reductions and the continued downward trend, funding for Armenia was specifically highlighted, and remains consistent with the FY 2012 enacted level of $40 million.

In addition to the $40 million, parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan was also maintained in the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) accounts and reflects the Administration's request of $2.7 million in FMF and $600,000 in IMET funding to each country.

When compared to the Administration's budget request, which reduced funding by 18 percent across-the-board in Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia countries, the Committee's draft Bill is a wel- comed development. The Administration's request for Armenia, including military assistance (FMF and IMET), totaled $35.843 million.

The Appropriations Bill also restated the six customary exemptions for humanitarian and other assistance to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Section 907 was enacted in 1992 and requires the Government of Azerbaijan to take "demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offen- sive uses of force" against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Upon passage by the House Appropriations Committee, the Bill must next clear the full House of Representatives and then be reconciled with its counterpart in the Senate.

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OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Concerned Over Recent Incidents Along the Frontlines

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs meeting with President Sarkisian in Yerevan

YEREVAN -- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Robert Bradtke of the United States, Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, and Jacques Faure of France) and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) traveled May 11-14 to Yerevan and Baku, where they met with Presidents Serzh Sarkisian and Ilham Aliyev. The Inter- national mediators gave no indication of progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and is- sued the following statement.

“The Co-Chairs continued their discussions with the sides on how to implement the commit- ments made by Presidents Aliyev and Sarkisian in their January 23 joint statement in Sochi, includ- ing to "accelerate" reaching agreement on the Basic Principles as a framework for a comprehensive peace settlement, to work on the mechanism to investigate ceasefire violations, and to develop hu- manitarian contacts. The Co-Chairs expressed their concern over recent incidents along the front- lines, and urged the sides to exercise restraint and refrain from retaliation. The Co-Chairs welcomed the sides' reaffirmation of their commitment to seek a peaceful settlement,” the statement runs.

“The Co-Chairs also discussed with the sides the development of confidence-building meas- ures in the military and people-to-people spheres to enhance trust and strengthen implementation of the 1994 ceasefire. In addition, the Co-Chairs discussed the importance of assessing and preserving at-risk sites of Armenian and Azeri cultural and historical value, in order to protect the shared heri- tage of the region's peoples while negotiations continue toward a final and lasting peace. The Co- Chairs plan to continue discussions with the Foreign Ministers of the two countries in the near fu- ture,” the statement concluded.

Central Electoral Commission Issues

Final Vote Results

YEREVAN. – The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia has announced the final results of the May 6 parliamentary elections.

The final CEC tabulation shows that the total number of eligible voters was 2,501,597.A total of 1,573,053 voterwent to the polls on May 6 (about 62.3 percent).

The proportional election (party, bloc list) National Assembly votes are distributed as follows: Republican Party of Armenia – 664,640 (44.02%) Prosperous Armenia Party – 454,673 votes (30.12%) Armenian National Congress – 106,903 (7.8%)

Heritage Party – 86,996 votes (5.76%) ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party – 85,550 (5.67%) Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party – 83,123 (5.51%)

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Communist Party of Armenia – 15,895 (1.5%) Democratic Party of Armenia – 5,577 (0.37%) United Armenians Party – 2,946 (0.2%) The number of inaccuracies was 3,355.

In the final analysis the Republican Party will have 69 seats in the 131-member National As- sembly of the next convocation (40 from party-list and 29 from single-mandate elections). Prosper- ous Armenia will control 37 seats (28 plus 9). The Armenian National Congress will have 7 seats. Dashnaktsutyun and Orinats will have six mandates each (both having won five seats through the party-list vote and one through single-seat elections). Heritage will have five lawmakers. One seat in the legislature will be held by a non-partisan candidate who managed to win in a single-mandate race.

Armenian Church Collapses in Tbilisi After Heavy Flooding

TBILISI -- Georgian officials say five people were killed in Tbilisi overnight by raging flood- waters after torrential rains caused the Kura River to burst its banks causing major propert demages. Two Armenian churchs sustained major demages in the wake of the heavy flooding. 18-century Surb Nshan Church has collapsed and the wall of the Moghnetsots Surb Gevorg Church in

Ortachala district in Tbilisi, collapsed too. The belfry of Surb Nshan is completely collapsed. The arches of the belfry were decorated with

frescos of Armenia’s renowned Hovnatanyan painters. Saint Nshan, built in the early 18th century, has been in need of restoration since October 2002

because of a fire, when walls cracked from water sprayed on the flames. Another major fire broke out at Saint Nshan Church in January, with firefighting resulting in the collapse of the church’s southeastern part.

Surb Nshan and Moghnetsots Surb Gevorg are among the six churches in Tbilisi that are a sub- ject of dispute between the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox churches.

The floods also caused a cut to electricity in several Tbilisi neighborhoods.

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Dersim Massacre’s Armenian Survivor Demands Apology from Turkish Parliament for her Suffering

ISTANBUL -- Fatma Yavuz, an 80-year-old Armenian survivor of the 1937-1938 Dersim (to- day’s Tunceli, Turkey) Massacres, sent a letter to the Turkish parliament’s subcommittee on the Dersim affair, wrote about the suffering she endured, and demanded an apology for all this.

The elderly Armenian told that she was given to a Turkish family, during the Dersim Massa- cres, and this family was very cruel to her.

“I learned only in 1995 that the fact of my being Armenian was kept secret for 57 years, and I learned my real [Armenian] name at the age of 78,” Fatma Yavuz wrote in her letter, and demanded that their seized lands be returned, her relatives be found, and a formal apology be made.

To note, Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan had stated that, if necessary, he would apologize and is apologizing for the Dersim Massacres, on behalf of the state.

The Turkish authorities had quelled the Dersim uprising with bloodshed and eradicated thou- sands of villages. In line with different sources, up to 100,000 people lost their lives during the Dersim Massacres.

Also, thousands of 1915 Armenian Genocide survivors, who had found shelter in Dersim’s vil- lages, were subjected to a second genocide in 1938.

Radikal Interviews Fatma Yavuz (Salihan Kiremijian)

The Turkish Radikal has interviewed Salihan Kiremijian who turns out to be the only Armenian to speak of the tragedy after many years' silence.

“The ethnic Armenian girl, Salihan, is one of the witnesses of the Dersim pogroms. She was five or six at the time of the exile, and her name had already changed to Fatma,” says the paper.

According to the publication, Fatma was married off at age 13. Her three cousins are also said to have been forcibly converted to Islam.

She was silent on her Armenian origins for many years, and even her grandchildren thought her to be a Kurd.

“Salihan broke the Halivor monastery’s 72-year silence, thus letting her children study her roots. They first found relatives scattered here and there, and later met people who had survived the Dersim massacres, sharing the same fate,” Radikal adds.

It says further that studies in 30 provinces had helped find 150 other “lost daughters”.

“Every new story is of interest to us, but what Salihan recounted is really very sad. So far, we have found women of Alevi, Kurdish and Yezid origins, but Salihan appears to be the only Armenian in the region,” says the pa- per.

In the interview which lasted about three hours, the “lost daughter of Dersim” detailed her life, admitting with difficulty that she is an Armenian.

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She spoke of the ordeals she experienced after being adopted by a family in Beysehir. “I later settled in another family. But there too, I was subjected to violence. When I was 13, I was finally married to a man of 35, who converted me to Islam. I was still a child, homeless, jobless and without anyone to take care of me. And I raised my children in such condition,” the woman told

the paper. Salihan said she didn’t remember her being an Armenian well, but did everything possible to

conceal the fact. “My children knew about it in 1995. We worked very hard to find my family but had no suc-

cess. As early as in 2010, my daughter found out that my surname had been changed, and I knew about the village I came from. We learned that my father was an Armenian who served as a priest in the Halivor Monastery. And I learned that he had died in exile,” she said.

Salihan Kiremijian still suffers from the dim recollections her childhood torments. She is now raking up the past and has even turned to the court to return the seized property of her father, Ha- kob Kiremijian, and demand an apology from the Turkish state.

Conference to Explore

Armenian, Turkish Films

Salt Galata will be hosting Sweet Confusion, a comparative project that explores Armenian and Turkish cinematography of the 60s in collaboration with AICA Armenia, Anadolu Kültür, Interna- tional Armenian Cinema Center, Armenia-Turkey Cinema Platform and tranzit.at. The conference attempts to reread the socio-political and cultural paradigms of two geopolitically estranged con- texts, which, throughout the 1960s, were in the process of self-definition and positioned themselves by determining and shaping the “other” through the complex correlation of cultural and political systems.

Sweet Confusion, which is supported by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, USAID, Erste Stiftung and Allianz Kulturstiftung, was conceived in the framework of the international research project “Sweet 60s.” The project explores, through contemporary artistic and theoretical perspec- tives, the unknown, underestimated and hidden contexts and territories of the 1960s that were omit- ted from the meta-narrative of the “romantic revolutionary epoch.”

Hrach Bayadyan, Keti Chukhrov, Zeynep Dadak, Siranush Dvoyan, Dimitris Eleftheriotis, Vigen Galtsyan, Ahmet Gürata, Nazareth Karoyan, Nadire Mater and Fatih Özgüven will be present- ing during Sweet Confusion. The films that will be screened as part of the program include Barev, es em (Hello, it’s me!), Erankyun (Triangle), Menq enq, mer sarery (We and our mountains), Hayrik (Daddy), Vesikali Yarim (My Prostitute Love) and Bir Gecelik Gelin (One Night Bride), Hurriyet Daily News reports.

“The Ancient Armenian Book in Amsterdam” Exhibition Opens at the National Library

YEREVAN -- An exhibition titled “The ancient Armenian book in Amsterdam” was opened at the Armenian National Library today within the framework of celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing.

The most notable events in the history of Armenian printing of the 15th century took place in Amsterdam. In 1660 Matheos Tsareci from Etchmiadzin established an Armenian publishing house in Amsterdam. From 1664 it was headed by Voskan Yerevantsi. His student Matheos Vanandetsi published Khorenatsi’s “Armenian History” here in 1695. In 1695 the same publishing house also put out the first geographic map "Hamataratz Ashkharatsuits"

Fortunately, a few issues published in Amsterdam have been preserved and brought to Arme- nia. They are now kept at the National Library of Armenia. These exceptional items are on display within the framework of “The Armenian ancient book in Amsterdam” exhibition.

Turkish Journalist Shares Her Impressions of Armenia

A group of Turkish reporters, sponsored by the ‘Hrant Dink’ Foundation arrived in Armenia to cover the May 6 parliamentary elections. Among them was reporter from Yeni Safak newspaper Hilal Kaplan who shared her impressions of the visit in her column of the newspaper.

‘There is a country far away, but when you reach it, you feel it is not so far as it seems. The biggest market there is called Malatia, the famous restaurant is named Ayntap, the names of dis- tricts are Arabkir and Marash, a famous radio station is called Van. This country is Armenia,’ Kap- lan wrote, saying that at least one of the ancestors of 70% of the population came to Armenia from Anatolia.

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Kaplan recollected her last evening in Armenia, the last supper she enjoyed with Salbi Ghazaryan, the roots of who are in Kayseri and Sivas. ‘Recollections are strange things; they do not belong to you only but pass from generations to generations. Unfortunately, my grandmother’s rec- ollections were not so good, but I am convinced she would have enjoyed sitting here with you. I wish she was here,’ Salbi Ghazaryan said at the supper.

‘While Mrs Salbi’s eyes were filling with tears, I was thinking of the importance of 1915 for the two nations. For Armenians the main factor was the trauma they got, and we have lived in the country built on that trauma and our ancestors knew it. The majority of them preferred to be silent, a small part of them whispered about it in our ear. Many of my friends who have arrived here with me knew about the Armenian houses in their villages, some of them guessed their grandmothers knew Armenian,’ Kaplan wrote.

During the same dinner, the Turkish reporters listened to Stepan Galoshyan who arrived in Ar- menia from Turkey in 1980.

He was born in Malatya in 1932. He lost his father in the early age. Galoshyan served in Turk- ish army, afterwards moved to Istanbul with his mother and family. His father’s grave is in Malatya, mother’s in Istanbul but he feels good in Armenia.

‘Throughout my whole visit I felt that here everyone realizes that ‘good things’ happen in Tur- key too. One person was present at the opening of St. Cross church on Akhtamar Island in Van, the other heard about the reconstruction of St. Kirakos Church in Diyarbakir, the third one was inspired with hope after the April 24 rally in Taksim square in Turkey, the other person is glad with the re- turn of properties to ethnic minorities...,’ she wrote.

‘We are returning from Armenia with positive memories. I think with the growth of such memories, our unbearable pain will ease...’ Kaplan concluded.

International Academics Praise Zoryan Institute's Scholarly

Work and Plead for Support

Some 50 international scholars of Genocide and Diaspora Studies have issued a formal statement, which appeared in the latest issue of the journal Genocide Studies and Prevention (Vol. 6, No. 3), endorsing the work of the Zoryan Institute in systematically combating the pol- icy of denial by the Turkish State and keeping the truth of the Armenian Genocide at the fore- front of attention of scholars, educators, opinion and policy-makers, and the public at large.

Attached the text of the declaration, along with the names of the participating scholars.

We, the undersigned scholars, wish to express publicly our great appreciation for the Interna- tional Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies and its parent organization, the Zoryan In- stitute (“the Institute”), for their thirty years of academic work in the field of genocide and human rights studies. In the face of the continuing problem of genocide in the twenty-first century, the In- stitute is to be commended for its service to the academic community and is recognized by scholars for providing leadership and a support structure in promoting the cause of universal human rights and the prevention of genocide.

We urgently call upon all foundations and organizations worldwide concerned with these is- sues, as well as individuals committed to preventing this heinous crime, to provide financial support for this world class academic institution. If the Institute is to continue its invaluable scholarly and educational undertakings, (see below), it must secure its financial foundation by raising funds for an endowment and its annual operations.

For the past thirty years, the Institute has maintained an ambitious program to collect archival documentation, conduct original research, and publish books and periodicals. It also conducts uni- versity-level educational programs in the field of Genocide and Human Rights Studies, taking a comparative and interdisciplinary approach in its examination of the Jewish Holocaust, the Cambo- dian Genocide, and the Rwandan Genocide, among others, using the Armenian Genocide as a point of reference. In the process, using the highest academic standards, the Institute has strived to under- stand the phenomenon of genocide, establish the incontestable, historical truth of the Armenian Genocide and raise awareness of it among academics and opinion-makers.

For the past ten years, the Institute has run an annual graduate-level university course on geno- cide and human rights, now offered in partnership with the University of Toronto. The course pro- vides training and support for younger scholars entering the field and helps to prepare the next gen- eration of genocide specialists. This program fills a big gap in the university curriculum. It is unique in treating genocide not only as a historical, political, legal and psychological study, but also by centering it within the study of human rights and by focusing on prevention.

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During the last six years, in partnership with the International Association of Genocide Schol- ars, the Institute has published Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal (GSP). Its mission is to deepen our understanding of the phenomenon of genocide, create an awareness of it as an ongoing scourge, and promote the idea of the necessity of preventing it. This highly respected journal has quickly become a leader in its field. GSP is co-published as the voice of the Interna- tional Association of Genocide Scholars. This interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal is a resource for students, researchers, educators, practitioners, and governmental policy makers and a significant forum for scholarly discourse.

The Institute also publishes the award-winning Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies, now in its twentieth year, dedicated to the multidisciplinary study of the history, culture, social structure, politics and economics of both the traditional diasporas – Armenian, Greek, and Jewish – and those transnational dispersions which in the past three decades have chosen to identify them- selves as ‘diasporas.’ These encompass groups ranging from the African-American to the Ukrainian- Canadian, from the Caribbean-British to the new East and South Asian diasporas.

In an era of rapid globalization, the formal and informal power of border-crossing civil society networks is increasingly pertinent for policy-makers, business leaders, scholars and civil society. In this context, diasporas matter a great deal. They include a range of ethnic communities formed from various categories of people, such as political and war refugees, (im)migrants, and ethnic and racial minorities that have maintained a sense of collective identity away from their homeland, and they operate exemplary transnational networks between host states and homelands. While the present and potential importance of diaspora communities is gradually being recognized, the challenges they pose and the opportunities they represent for both their host countries and homelands are neither well enough understood nor sufficiently addressed. Diaspora strives to address these issues and more.

It is amazing that such an enormous effort and so many tangible results have been achieved by this institute over the past thirty years without the resources of a large university or government backing. The Institute draws heavily on volunteer efforts—all the editors of its journals are volun- teers, for example, but the costs of publishing and printing are unavoidable. This work can only be achieved through the systematic and continued efforts of independent scholars, teachers, profes- sional editors and translators, and support staff, which requires an organizational structure and ap- propriate financial resources. The challenge now is to guarantee the continuation of the Institute’s invaluable scholarly and educational work. This will happen only if the Institute secures the re- quired funding from those most concerned, worldwide.

We, the undersigned scholars, therefore, appeal to the global community, foundations, organi- zations, business leaders, and national and international institutions to show their tangible and gen- erous support for this highly respected academic institution. We are keenly aware that the Armenian Genocide has not seen justice done, and the truth of this genocide continues to be denied. It is thus a moral responsibility that academic work continues to shed light on the Armenian Genocide and promote awareness of it through publications and university courses. It is equally a moral responsi- bility for the Armenian community worldwide, whose heritage of suffering has always driven the concern for other groups across the globe, to support this work generously. What better way to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide than by bringing out the truth of this history; what bet- ter way to redeem their great suffering than to prevent other groups today from bearing the same horrific burden.

Please show your support by sending your donation today to the Zoryan Institute, which is a registered charity in both the US and Canada. Donations will receive official income tax deductible receipts. We thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

One and Half Million Good Turks with a Conscience

ODETTE BAZIL When Eric, my youngest son, was seven we sent him from London - where we live - to Tehran,

together with his two elder brothers Robert and Edwin, to spend part of their holidays with their re- spective grand-parents and also (and this was really my husband's and my main purpose) to learn better Armenian, be in Armenian-speaking society, access closely their Armenian roots through our family ties and attend and get involved with the various events undertaken by the Armenian organisations who were in charge of promoting our culture, traditions and history in the lives of the young Armenian teenagers in Tehran, many of whom not being registered in Armenian schools were exposed, daily, to non-Armenian culture and education.

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One of our son's visits coincided with the Easter Holiday which often falls in the month of April. As it happened, that year, on 24th April, Eric had been taken by my mother to the Ararat Sta- dium, where a monumental Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide Ceremony, Vigil, Requiem and Cultural Programmes had taken place. While holding his hand as not to lose him in that huge crowd, my mother had explained to Eric that these 20.000 Armenians were gathered in that Stadium to re- member the death of the one and half million Armenians who had been killed by the Turks in 1915, while they were living in their own homes and on their own soil.

Eric had been affected so badly by this that immediately after returning home, he had insisted to talk to me. I called him with apprehension and just by hearing my voice, he burst into tears, told me what he had seen and made this remark: "Mum, I saw today 20.000 Armenians together, I sang today with 20.000 Armenians. You could hear us everywhere. There were many, many; it was a big-big crowd! Mum if 20.000 were so many, then how many more were that one million and half Armeni- ans?"

Indeed. How big is a crowd of one and half million people? Often we repeat the statistics revealed by the research of International historians: one million

and half Armenian victims of the genocide! We repeat automatically that number because it is carved in every Armenian's heart and memory. But do we stop and think? Do we try to visualise the trail of death stretching from house to house, school to school, square to square, town to town? If the voice of 20.000 Armenians singing together the National Anthem during a Remembrance Ceremony had been "heard everywhere" according to my little boy, then the voices of one million and half Armenians who had cried together, yelled together and sobbed together in 1915 under the yatagans, the bayonets and the guns of the Turks must have been heard in all the Turkish towns, all the Turkish schools, all the Turkish squares, echoing everywhere under the Turkish skies. The whole Turkish population must have heard them.

What did the Turkish man, woman, mother, child, cleric, doctor, teacher, nurse or any ordinary Turk think and do when they heard those cries, when they saw those rivers of blood, those villages and hamlets set on fire with their flames shooting high, like the arms of the victims elevated to the skies in prayer, seeking help and comfort? They must have been affected. They must have felt guilty and they must also have been scared for it is scary and disturbing to witness the death of an innocent human be- ing and realise that by keeping silent, one becomes an accomplice to the crime ... or were their hearts as devoid of mercy, justice and pity as those of the ones who had signed the death sentences? I cannot believe that! I cannot believe that the hearts of the entire Turkish population were devoid of mercy and compassion. The Armenian genocide was the work of the Ottoman government of 1915 and not the people of 1915! It was that government who had planned what Winston Churchill - referring to the events of the time - had called "the Holocaust of an entire Nation and Race "It was the Ottoman government of 1915 who had forced its military, its employees and its staff to obey and execute its or- ders, often being reduced to free criminals from their jails and trust them with its vile and sinister pro- ject, knowing well that these criminals would - willingly - commit any crime for the price of their free- dom and maybe secretly concerned that the ordinary Turkish people could not be trusted entirely with committing these killings .

Ordinary people must not be judged by the actions of their governments and I am sure that there must have been Turks who have tried to help, who have felt the injustice and the enormity of the crime, who have told their children about what they have witnessed and have written somewhere in their secret diaries about the murder of an Armenian neighbour, a fellow labourer, a shopkeeper, a banker, a teacher ... a friend.

I am calling on those Turks: the ones who, knowing the truth, acknowledge publicly that wrong has been done and that crime has been committed. I am calling on all those Turks who - lately - had the courage and decency to hold the posters which claimed their solidarity with the Turkish - Armenian journalists and their Armenians compatriots in Turkey. I am calling on those Turks who have a con- science to stand up, to tell the truth, to research and expose the documents which have legalised these

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crimes and to encourage their own children, their families, their relations, their pupils and their col- leagues to join them in their campaign.

I am calling on that one and half million good Turks, men and women and ask them not to be afraid of the authorities retaliation as even Turkish jails cannot house such large number of protesters. I am calling on those good people of Turkey urging them to stand up, to speak up and ask justice for the one and half million innocent victims who were murdered so cruelly: I am asking one good Turk with a conscience to do one good deed for one innocent Armenian victim.

I am calling on the Turkish shepherd who, having found a human bone in the fields knows that it belongs to an Armenian victim, on the peasant who can locate accurately the "mass graves "where thousands of Armenians are buried, on the teacher who knows that entire pages relating to the Armenian genocide are missing from its pupils history books, on the passer-by who lifts its head and looks at the Armenian Churches with sorrow knowing well why they are empty, on the clerk who knows exactly where the secret documents which have ordered the Armenian geno- cide are filed and kept, on the Turkish Parliamentarian who denies a historic fact knowing it to be true and real, but - all the same - denies that truth just to keep its seat and remain in power and on all those who comply with the deceitful lies of denial, too afraid to speak and worried to lose their comfort and their benefits.

As the great Turkish historian Taner Akcam is rightly advocat- ing, it is clear now that the revolution of recognition of the Armenian genocide, of penance and acceptance of guilt by the Turkish govern- ment for the actions of their ancestors has to come from within Tur- key, from the ordinary Turkish man/woman in the street, from its own population, from the civilised and educated youngsters who have to open the channels of correspondence and interaction through the Internet first with their own colleagues and friends in Turkey, then with Armenian youngsters in Armenian universities and schools, with Armenian people and organisations in the Armenian Diaspora and with International Organisations who have in their possession the cor- respondence and the documents which prove and expose the veracity of the Armenian genocide .

Since times immemorial, revolutions have aimed to remove self-promoted ruling tyrants, re- place them with elected representatives of the people and establish the will of the people and democ- racy.

In Turkey - if achieved peacefully by the Turkish people - this revolution of recognition of the Armenian genocide will bring closer two neighbours estranged from each other because of that geno- cide and its denial, will dismantle the segregating barbed wires which separate them, will present Tur- key and its people in a more advantageous light of democracy and protection of Human Rights and will facilitate it's ascension and admission to the European Union. Let the process begin. Please. Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

Armenians in Egypt: Dwindling Yet Resilient in a Country in Turmoil

Taner Akcam

By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier

I just returned from a fascinating trip to Egypt. The Primate of the Armenian Church had invited me on

behalf of the Diocesan Council to deliver the keynote address at the annual commemoration of the Arme-

nian Genocide. I accepted the invitation with some trepidation given the on-going turmoil in Egypt since

the toppling of the 40-year despotic rule of Pres. Hosni Mubarak.

Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanyan had reassured me that the situation in the country was peaceful, and that the

community was looking forward to my visit, as they have been reading my weekly columns in local Arme-

nian newspapers.

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Upon my arrival in Cairo, I visited the Diocesan headquarters and the Armenian Embassy where I en-

countered a familiar face. Amb. Armen Melkonian, an old friend, had served as the Consul General of Ar-

menia in Los Angeles a decade ago. After a pleasant lunch with the Primate and the Ambassador on a res-

taurant-ship on the Nile, I spent the afternoon at a massive shopping mall in Cairo buying new clothes as

my suitcase was left behind in London by British Airways. I refrained from purchasing items that carried

the "Made in Turkey" label.

Cairo is a highly congested city of 17 million. It takes more than an hour to travel a short distance. Most

traffic lights do not work and no police are seen in the streets. The most shocking site in Cairo is the "City

of the Dead" -- a cemetery where tens of thousands of people live among the tombs. Amazingly, thousands

of satellite dishes are perched on the tombs! One wonders how the destitute residents of the cemetery can

afford satellite TV?

In the evening of April 28, I spoke at the Armenian Genocide commemoration in Cairo on the topic of

"Genocide Recognition or Pursuit of Justice?" The next day, I traveled to the historic city of Alexandria

where I delivered similar remarks at the commemorative event organized by the Armenian community.

Returning to Cairo, I participated in a town-hall meeting on May 2, during which community members

questioned me on contemporary Armenian issues. The inevitable question that almost always comes up

during my talks, not surprisingly was also raised in Cairo and Alexandria: "Do Armenians lose their rights

for genocide restitution after 100 years?" My answer was a firm NO.... There are no statutes of limitation

on the crime of genocide under international law!

One of the highlights of the trip was the reception dedicated to the printing of my Arabic book in Cairo,

originally published in Beirut, titled: "The Armenian Genocide: The World Speaks Out -- 1915-2005,

Documents and Declarations." The book signing ceremony was held at the Armenian Embassy in the pres-

ence of representatives from other Embassies, members of the Egyptian media, scholars from local univer-

sities, Armenian community leaders, and members of the clergy. Brief remarks were made by Amb. Melk-

onian and Prof. Mohammad Rifa’at al-Imam who wrote the introduction to the Egyptian edition of the

book, followed by my concluding comments. While in Cairo I gave a number of interviews published in

Arabic, English, and Armenian in the local press.

I had the pleasure of visiting colleagues at Housaper and Arev Armenian newspapers. I also paid a heart-

breaking visit to the Kalousdian School which was days away from shutting its doors due to a shortage of

students after serving the educational needs of the community for more than 150 years. The Kalousdian

School will be merging with the Noubarian School in Cairo.

While the Armenian community is safe in Egypt, it is struggling to cope with the uncertainties of a coun-

try slowly transitioning from military to civilian rule. The newly formed Parliament, dominated by the

Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists, may be disbanded and replaced with a more representative body. Later

this month, Egyptians have the opportunity to elect a president who could take bold initiatives to begin

healing their ancient and glorious country’s many ills.

In recent years, a large number of Armenians left Egypt for greener pastures in the United States, Canada

and Australia. Yet, those who have remained are doing their utmost to cling to their language, religion and

ethnic traditions. Fortunately, local Armenian organizations can benefit from vast real estate holdings be-

queathed to them decades ago by Armenians who were wealthy businessmen and high ranking Egyptian

government officials.

It is incumbent on the Government of Armenia and Armenians worldwide to extend a helping hand to their

compatriots in Cairo and Alexandria and not allow these once vibrant communities to turn into ghost towns

with extensive resources that only a few would enjoy.

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John V. Basmajian, (June 21, 1921 – March 18, 2008)

A Canadian academic and scientist. He was known for his work in rehabilitation science, specifically in the area of electromyography and

biofeedback.

John V. Basmajian, OC, O.Ont (June 21, 1921 – March 18, 2008) was a Canadian academic and scientist. He was known for his work in rehabilitation science, specifically in the area of electromyography and biofeedback.

Born in Istanbul of Armenian parents, he came to Canada in 1923. The family settled in Brant- ford, Ontario. During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps with the rank of Captain. After the war, he received his M.D. in 1945 from the University of Toronto.

In 1949, he accepted a position as a lecturer in anatomy at the University of Toronto. He was appointed an Assistant Professor in 1951, an Associate Professor in 1951, and a full Professor in 1956. In 1957, he took the position of Professor and Head of Anatomy at Queen's University where he would remain until 1969. While residing in Kingston, Ontario he was Chairman of the Kingston Board of Education and was involved in the founding of St. Lawrence College. From 1969 to 1977, he was Di- rector of Neurophysiology at the Georgia Mental Health Institute in Atlanta. He also was a Professor of Anatomy, Physical Medicine, and Psychiatry at Emory University. Returning to Canada, he was a Professor of medicine at McMaster University from 1977 until 1986, when he was appointed Emeritus

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Professor of Medicine and Anatomy. He was President of the North American Society of Anatomists for one term. While at McMaster University he also served as the Director of Chedoke Centre for Re- habilitation Medicine.

Basmajian was a true giant in the world of health care research and clinical interventions. He was actively involved in founding numerous professional societies and his books, published by Wil- liams and Wilkins, were printed at a level that a best-selling novelist would dream of—exceeding a million copies, overall, in many languages. He was also an inventor of medical equipment but refused compensation for all of these. He was always a quiet philanthropist, being more concerned about how his contributions were benefiting others, rather than the recognition he might gain for his generosity. His life's work has improved the lives and welfare of millions of people worldwide and has created countless careers in medicine and rehabilitation therapy.

For most of his career he was an in-demand keynote speaker and lecturer as the guest of uni- versities, governments and medical societies all over the world. When earthquakes struck in his native Armenia, he volunteered to teach and work with the doctors of brain injury victims.

Dr. Basmajian was a very early pioneer in the field of biofeedback, performing some of the ear- liest studies, using fine-wire EMG (Electromyographic) instrumentation to demonstrate that subjects could voluntarily control muscles, even at the single motor unit level, which is controlled by a single neuron in the spinal cord. He later authored a book on biofeedback, which, for several decades, was the definitive text on the subject.

Today, with the advent of computers, the biofeedback techniques he pioneered are being ap- plied to a wide variety of interactive programs designed to help individuals with neurological disor- ders.

In 1991, he was awarded the Order of Ontario. In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his "his pioneering work in electromyography, which had a significant impact on the de- velopment of biofeedback techniques". John Basmajian died on the morning of March 18, 2008. He was survived by his wife Dora and his three children Haig, Nancy and Sally, their spouses Lynn, Mark and Kevin, and his grandchildren, Mathew, Colin, Jocelyn and Peter.

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