Loussapatz - The Dawn - 33-ՐԴ ՏԱՐԻ, ԹԻՒ 1021 ՇԱԲԱԹ, 22 ՓԵՏՐՈՒԱՐ 2014

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REMEMBERING GURGEN MARGARYAN: 10 YEARS AFTER THE BRUTAL MURDER

YEREV AN -- Armenian De- fense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and other High-ranking military officials paid tribute to the memory of Arme- nian Officer Gurgen Margaryan, who was brutally killed by Azerbaijani Ramil Safarov during NATO- sponsored English language courses in Budapest.

“Ten years have passed, and we have come here to pay tribute to the Armenian Officer. He was killed on- ly for being Armenian, and the mur- derer has confessed he had been pre- pared to kill an Armenian,” Seyran Ohanyan said.

The Defense Minister also visit- ed Yerablur Pantheon and laid flow- ers at Gurgen Margaryan’s grave.

Later he visited Margaryan’s family and talked to his parents. On this occasion the “Azerbaijan: Crime and Racism without Borders” video-footage in Russian and English

has been released as part of the “Common Genocide” project.” The film presents the story of the brutal murder, the axe-killer’s extradition to Azerbaijan and his glorification.

The Hungarian version of the video will be posted on the web in the near future. The “Common Genocide” project is being realized by the Public Relations and Information Department of the President’s Staff.

On February 19, 2004 Lieutenant of the Armenian Armed Forces Gurgen Margaryan was hacked to death, while asleep, by a fellow Azerbaijani participant, Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, in Budapest during a three-month Eng- lish language course in the framework of NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace program.

In 2006, Safarov was sentenced to life imprisonment in Hungary with a minimum incarceration period of 30 years. He was extradited on August 31, 2012 to Azerbaijan where he was greeted as a hero, pardoned by Azerbaija- ni President Ilham Aliyev despite contrary assurances made to Hungary, promoted to the rank of major and given an apartment and over eight years of back pay.

Following Safarov’s pardon, Armenia severed diplomatic relations with Hungary.

MOSCOW ALSO HONORS MEMORY OF ARMENIAN OFFICER GURGEN MARGARYAN KILLED BY AZERBAIJANI RAMIL SAFAROV

Panorama.am -- In the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral of Armenian Apostolic Church in Moscow served a Requiem Mass for Gurgen Margaryan who was killed by Azerbaijani Ramil Safarov.

The Mass, held on February 16, was attended by the representatives of the Union of Armenians of Russia, public organization of "Russian-Armenian cooperation", the community organizations of Moscow, the cultural as- sociation "Ararat", etc. Upon the completion of the Mass the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers at the cross- stone in the courtyard of the temple complex was held.

On the same day dead-office for Gurgen Margaryan was served at Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (St. Hovhannes Mkrtich) in Paris. Employees of the Armenian Embassy in France, the NKR representatives, mem- bers of Armenian Organizations in France and local Armenian community were present at the service. Upon com- pletion of the church-service those gathered there marched to Yerevan Park in Paris, where, on behalf of the Arme- nians of Armenian Republic, NKR and France laid wreaths and flowers at the monument to Komitas. The proces- sion was headed by the RA Ambassador to France Vigen Chitechyan.

23

TURKISH FM DENIES POSSIBLE OPENING OF ARMENIA BORDER

BAKU -- Turkey’s foreign minister has ruled out the possibility of opening his country’s border with Armenia, citing the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a major impediment to such a move.

Ahmet Davutoglu dismissed the reports about a progress in the Turkey-Armenia relations at a news conference held after the meeting with his Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts in Baku, the APA News Agency reported.

“Turkey’s position is clear; there is no change. The border with Armenia will not open unless the Karabakh conflict is resolved,” he was quoted as saying.

Frozen conflicts are an obstacle to establishment of peace in the Caucasus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said to reporters.

He said that all parties must do their utmost to resolve the frozen conflicts.

Meanwhile, political analyst Mubariz Ahmedoglu slammed the OSCE Minsk Group mediation efforts, with 4 fundamental documents for peaceful settlement as the only merit of their 22 years of work, Novosti-Azerbaijan re- ported.

"Currently, the Co-chairs are unable to either offer a new concept for peaceful settlement or even defend the ones offered by their more successful predecessors," Ahmedoglu said.

He went on to criticize the activity of the U.S. Co-chair James Warlick as "unbalanced and stupid," with the latter "having taken no effort to study the history of the conflict."

BRITISH MPS VISIT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Along the lines of their visit to Armenia, members from the British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union, led by Head of Group John Whittingdale, on Tuesday paid a visit to the Ar- menian Genocide Memorial in capital city Yerevan.

The British guests placed flowers to the Geno- cide Monument, and paid respects to the innocent vic- tims of the genocide, informs the Armenian National Assembly press service.

The British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union members also met with director Hayk Demoyan of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. Demoyan gave the guests information about the Armenian Gen- ocide, and showed them documentaries and docu- ments on this tragedy.

Subsequently, the British MPs shared their impressions with the members of the media.

“The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is drawing near, and we plan to mark it in Great Britain. It is very important that what occurred is never forgotten, and that’s why we are here,” Whittingdale specifically not- ed.

“The entire civilized world must unite to acknowledge the terrible crime that occurred in Western Armenia. [But] I am filled with pride to the fact that the Armenians have never been defeated,” UK House of Commons member Stephen Pound said, in particular, for his part.

On the issue of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Pound noted that he delivered a respective report in the House of Commons, earlier this month. In his view, the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group are progressing at a slow pace, and the British government needs to do lot more on this matter. Stephen Pound also stated that the Nagorno-Karabakh issue must be raised at the UK parliament time and again.

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ARMENIA TO OPEN CONSULATE GENERAL IN ERBIL

BAGHDAD -- Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has paid an official visit to Iraq on February 16- 17.

During the official visit, Minister Nalbandian met with Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Iraqi counter- part Hoshiar Zebari..

Greeting the Armenian Foreign Minister, the PM said his country was interested in the deepening of cooperation with Armenia in all possible domains. Minister Nalbandian, in turn, hailed the centuries-old relations between the two friendly nations and states and added that his visit was aimed at the further development of ties.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the expan- sion of the legal framework, promotion of cooperation in the fields of trade, education, healthcare, agriculture and others, establishment of direct air communication between Armenia and Iraq and the activity of the Inter- Governmental Commission.

The Armenian Foreign Minister informed the Iraqi PM about the intention to open the Consulate General of Armenia in the city of Erbil. He also presented the Armenian Government’s decision to ease visa requirements for Iraqi citizens, voicing hope that it will help intensify the business ties.

Speaking about the Armenian community of Iraq, the Prime Minister said: “Armenians have worked and cre- ated here for centuries. Despite the hard conditions, the Iraqi Armenians continue to work for the sake of Iraq’s prosperity.”

CHINA CONSIDERS ARMENIA A RELIABLE PARTNER, OFFICIAL SAYS

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- China considers Armenia a reliable partner, a Chinese official said in Yerevan.

Zhou Li, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the CPC Cen- tral Committee, said the goal of his delegation's visit to Armenia is strengthen- ing of contacts with the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA).

“Yesterday we met with the Armenian officials: deputy speaker of the parliament, prime minister, foreign minister, the minister of education and deputy chairman of RPA,” Zhou Li told reporters.

The delegation will meet with the Secretary of the Armenian National Se- curity Council Arthur Baghdasaryan on Saturday.

The guests presented results of work of the third plenum of Communist Party's Central Committee that focused on the issues of foreign policy and economic cooperation.

“We want to thank Armenia's leadership for supporting the course of united China. We are also grateful for the great support on international and regional issues,” he said.

Zhou Li noted that China supports peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“We hope that our countries and the parties can strengthen political trust as well as trade and economic con- tacts in the new historical period of development,” he emphasized.

In response to the Armenia News – NEWS.am's question, Zhou Li noted that China's interest in the construc- tion of the Iran-Armenia railway was not discussed during the visit.

Zhou Li noted also noted that China would like to see Armenia a part of economic zone of the new Silk Road.

“We have told about the idea of creating an economic zone in the Silk Road that was initiated by China last year. The new Silk Road starts in western China and reaches the European states,. We hope that the Silk Road will become a free channel of economic contacts between the states,” Zhou Li told reporters in Yerevan.

He noted that he had discussed with the Armenian colleagues the ways of strengthening cooperation in tourism and trade as well as growth export from Armenia to China.

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GREAT POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN-CHINESE RELATIONS ON SECURITY

YEREV AN/NEWS.am -- Armenian National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan, who is also Chairman of the coa- lition government’s junior member, Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law) Party, received a delegation from the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The delegation was led by Zhou Li, Vice-Minister of the Interna- tional Department of the CPC Central Committee.

“A high level of political relations is formed between our countries, and Armenia is interested in further deepening bilateral relations with China,” Baghdasaryan said, in particular.

He also underscored the need to develop security matters between Armenia and China, and noted that there is great potential for this objec- tive.

In turn, Zhou Li conveyed to the Armenian NSC chief the warm greetings by his Chinese counterpart.

“Armenia is one of China’s most trusted partners, and we highlight the development and expansion of bilateral ties,” he added.

Subsequently, the interlocutors discussed cooperation between the two countries, and the prospects for their development.

In addition, Arthur Baghdasaryan asked Zhou Li to convey to Meng Jianzhu, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Politics and Law Commission, his invitation to visit Armenia. They reflected on regional matters, too.

The parties also discussed the developing cooperation between the Orinats Yerkir Party of Armenia and the Communist Party of China.

WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan on Monday received a delegation of the World Bank headed by execu- tive director Frank Heemskerk.

During the meeting, Tigran Sargsyan highly assessed bilateral cooperation with the World Bank underscoring importance of further devel- opment.

“A number of projects in different areas were implemented in Armenia with the help of WB,” PM said.

Premier Sargsyan briefed the WB representa- tive on social-economic situation in the country, noting that the government continues institutional reforms to overcome the existing challenges.

Frank Heemskerk said he is happy to see that Armenia is rated among the states with lower middle income. He also noted country's success in Doing Business report, expressing readiness to provide further

assistance. The interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation.

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ARMENIA-BASED CHINESE SCHOOL WILL BE ONE OF THE LARGEST SCHOOLS OUTSIDE CHINA

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Chinese secondary school in Armenia will become one of the largest schools outside China, Education Minister Armen Ashotyan told reporters during a joint briefing with the head of Chinese delega- tion.

The delegation headed by Zhou LI, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Com- mittee, is on an official visit to Yerevan.

“The school where Chinese language will be taught has been chosen. The experts from China will visit Arme- nia to conduct architecture and ecological study of the new project. We want to build a new school in 1.5-2 years,” he said.

RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA EXPLAINS NEW MIGRATION RULES

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- The Russian Embassy in Armenia gave clarifications on the new migration rules in Russia.

Embassy Migration Policy Officer Svetlana Stepanova informed, at a press conference on Friday, that the limitations on the foreign country citizens’ duration of stay in Russia have undergone changes.

Those who arrive in Russia following the coun- try’s recently adopted new visa procedure, which sets a ninety-day time limit for migrants and migrant workers to stay in Russia, must be registered and is- sued a work permit, or an official document. But this requirement does not apply to foreign students, and those undergoing medical treatment in Russia.

The Embassy official also noted that these persons may not leave the country in both cases, and added that, as of January 1, the foreign students are allowed to work in Russia without a respective permit.

MODERNIZATION OF GARNI OBSERVATORY IS UNDERWAY - ARMENIAN MINISTRY

YEREV AN/NEWS.am -- Earthquake resistance of buildings in Yerevan remains one of the most serious chal- lenges for the Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Nikolay Grigoryan, deputy head of rescue service, said new buildings are being constructed in accordance with new requirements and are relatively stronger. But, there are still a number of unfit buildings.

According to the clarified information, the strength of seismic hazard in the capital city is estimated at 8 points as compared to 7 points during the Soviet period.

The Ministry official said activities on modernization of the Garni observatory are underway. They exert consid- erable efforts to turn the observatory in a large international research center. The Ministry is working with colleagues from Japan, France, Germany and Russia and with inter- national organizations.

Grigoryan said Armenian scientists made progress on making long-term earthquake forecasts. He also under- scored importance of introducing the earthquake alert system through mobile operators.

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JOINT ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN EMERGENCY CENTER TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am -- In the current year, the focus of Armenian Emergency Ministry will be on formation of crisis management centers in provinces, crea- tion of 911 service in provinces, relaunch of Stepanavan and Kapan airports and establishment of small aviation, deputy head of Rescue Service of Armenian Emergency Ministry Major General Nikolay Grigoryan told reporters in Yere- van.

According to Mr. Grigoryan, this year, Armenia and Russia will establish a joint humanitarian center on emergency situations. Russia will provide equip- ment, vehicles and a helicopter worth a total of about AMD 12 million.

“We will have a center of regional significance which will be able to pro- vide emergency assistance to our neighbors as well,” he said.

In addition to this, Grigoryan said, three rescue units will be formed in Armenia – in Syunik, Shirak and Yere- van with the assistance of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).

ARMENIA DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE TURKEY ANY PRIVILEGES AFTER CU ACCESSION – ECONOMY MINISTRY

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Armenia does not want to give Turkey any privileges after Armenia’s Customs Union (CU) accession.

Deputy Minister of Economy Garegin Melkonyan stated the above-said on Tuesday, responding to the query posed by Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Melkonyan recalled that the CU has a GSP agreement on trade prefer- ences with Turkey (as opposed to a GSP+ procedure which Armenia has received from the European Union (EU)).

“Under the conditions of this procedure, the CU easily imports a variety of products from Turkey. But at our negotiations with the Joint Economic Committee, we argue the position that Armenia should not apply these privi- leges with respect to Turkey,” he stated.

He noted that Turkey does not apply for Armenia those privileges that are envisioned by the GSP+ procedure of the EU.

“The EU has specified for Armenia zero or a low rate of customs for a number of imported goods. Since Tur- key is a one common customs area with the EU, it likewise is obligated to accept them; but it does not do that. Tur- key continues to unilaterally fulfill its commitments before the EU. Hence, our position,” Garegin Melkonyan con- cluded.

RED CROSS VISITS ARMENIAN ELDERLY CAPTIVE IN AZERBAIJAN SOLELY ONCE

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- Three weeks have passed since Mamikon Khojoyan’s falling prisoner in Azerbaijan, and during that time the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers in Baku were able to visit him only once.

As reported earlier, Mamikon Khojoyan, 77, a resident of Verin Karmiraghbyur vil- lage of Armenia’s Tavush Region, was held captive by Azerbaijan on January 28. He suffers from mental illness.

Nonetheless, the aforesaid fact did not obstruct Azerbaijan from attempting to pre- sent the old man as an “infiltrator.” And, perhaps, it appeared before the eyes of the Azerbaijani MOD staff that the alleged infiltrator was armed, too.

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BLACK CLOUDS GATHERING AROUND ARMENIAN DRAM? – NEWSPAPER

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- The Armenian national currency, the dram, is showing signs of devaluation against the US dollar in re- cent weeks, Zhamanak daily reports.

“The buying rate is lower, and the selling is conducted at high- er numbers. [But] this fluctuation is not significant and it has sea- sonal character.

“In all likelihood, the dram will depreciate in the second half of February of this year and in March, too. This is primarily due to the fact that the foreign private remittances [to Armenia] sharply fall in the first months of the year, since the bulk of the [Armenian] migrant workers still have not gone to Russia. And it is in February

and in March that the migrant labor season begins. It is therefore logical that those leaving change their drams be- fore leaving.

“Nonetheless, there are factors that give reason to assume that the dram may depreciate more than gaining val- ue this year. The maintenance of, or the drop in, the oil prices, [and] the subsequent inevitable deterioration of the Russian economy reduce the quantity of the dollars being transferred to Armenia; that is, our compatriots find it hard to make a lot of money in Russia against the backdrop of the slowdown in the economic growth of that coun- try,” Zhamanak writes.

NKR PRESIDENT: SETTLEMENT IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT ARTSAKH’S PARTICIPATION IN ALL STAGES OF TALKS

STEPANAKERT -- On 19 February President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan visited the NKR Foreign Ministry and partook in a consultation summing up the activities of the struc- ture in 2013 and outlining the 2014 action plan.

Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan, representa- tives of the Ministry’s different departments deliv- ered corresponding reports.

The President noted in his speech that Artsakh Republic would further conduct comprehensive, balanced foreign policy based on complementarity with influential states and power centers.

According to Bako Sahakyan the destructive policy of Baku is the biggest hindrance on the way of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement, which also threatens maintenance of regional peace and stability.

Referring to the peaceful settlement process, President Sahakyan underlined that the NKR would be consistent in activities towards restoring the full-fledged negotiation format, making it clear that comprehensive settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict would be impossible to achieve without full participation of the official Stepanakert at all stages of the negotiations.

Touching upon the international recognition process of the Artsakh Republic the President noted there positive developments, adding that it’s both inspiring and binding. It’s inspiring because it demonstrates that recognition process of ArtsakhRepublic is moving forward and testifying that Artsakh is a full-fledged democratic state and at the same time laying foundations for the republic’s international recognition. It’s binding because the positive dy- namics needs to be maintained in the future.

President Sahakyan gave corresponding instructions for the efficient organization of activities, elimination of shortcomings inside the foreign ministry, adding that the state in its turn would do.

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THE 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KARABAKH MOVEMENT MARKED IN THE FRENCH CITY OF VIENNE

Noyan Tapan -- On February 15, an event dedicated to the 26th an- niversary of the national-liberation struggle of Artsakh took place in the French city of Vienne. It was initiated by the Armenian Culture House of Vienne.

Chairman of the France-Karabakh Friendship Circle, MP from Loire François Rochebloine and the Circle member, Mayor of Vienne Jack Remilier presented the Friendship Circle, its goals and activities to the audience.

During the event, Artak Herikian’s film Our Artsakh was shown, af- ter which the current situation in Artsakh and the positive changes in the

country, testifying to the stable development of Artsakh, were touched upon. Permanent Representative of the NKR to France Hovhannes Gevorgian, Vice-Consul of the Republic of Ar-

menia in Lyon Vaner Harutyunian, representatives of Armenian organizations of Vienne and the region of Rhone- Alpes, journalists and public figures were present at the event.

ARMENIAN WOMAN TO RUN FOR MAYOR IN TURKEY

ISTANBUL/NEWS.am -- Turkey’s newly founded Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) nominated Armenian woman Nivart Bakircioglu as mayoral candidate for Bakirkoy Municipality of Metro- politan Istanbul.

Bakircioglu told Agos Armenian weekly of Istanbul that she was following with great enthusiasm the activities of the new party, which has Armenian members, too.

“Subsequently, the party proposed me to run for mayor in Bakir- koy, to which I replied positively. It’s very important to live in peace and equality,” she said.

Nivart Bakircioglu also informed that she was born in Adiyaman in 1974, but she spent her childhood in Iskenderun.

“We live in Istanbul’s Bakirkoy for the past fifteen years. My grandfather was a forcibly Islamized Armenian. When Agos started to be published, the process began for the return to our [Armenian] identity,” Nivart Bakircioglu noted.

TURKEY’S RULING PARTY MP AND MAYORAL CANDIDATE VISIT ARMENIAN CHURCH

NEWS.am -- Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP Orhan Karasar, the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Iskenderun, Seyfi Dingil, and several other officials paid a visit to the Forty Martyrs Ar- menian Church of Iskenderun.

In the run-up to the forthcoming local government elections, Dingil is actively visiting various social, political, and religious organizations in the city, reports Iskenderunhaber website of Turkey.

The guests were welcomed by Church pastor, Fr. Avedis Tabasyan, chairman Garbis Kisadur of the Church Fund, and vice-chairman Mikael Tabas.

ty.

At the meeting, the guests were informed about the needs of the local Armenian community. Seyfi Dingil promised that, if elected, he will do good things for Iskenderun and the local Armenian communi-

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REP. SCHIFF TO HOST CAPITOL HILL EVENT HONORING AMERICA’S RELIEF EFFORTS TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON, DC -- On March 3, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a lead sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution (H.Res.227), will host a Capitol Hill event honoring America's relief efforts to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, a campaign that helped launch a century of unparalleled U.S. leadership in meeting humanitarian needs around the world. This event will serve to educate Capitol Hill lawmakers, staff and the community about America’s efforts to help Ar- menians after they were targeted for genocide, and the continuing need to provide relief to those suffering around the globe.

The spirit of American care and compassion for the victims of the Armenian Genocide is perhaps best sym- bolized by the Armenian Orphan Rug, a work of art crafted by young survivors and gifted to the White House by the Near East Relief – a charitable organiza- tion inspired by President Wilson and chartered by an Act of Congress. Regrettably, this symbol of American generosity has yet to be released for display by the White House, which caused the cancellation of a planned Smithsonian Institution exhibit of the Rug in December of 2013. It is our hope that the White House will agree to provide the rug for this event, but in the absence of a commitment, the event will go forward nonetheless.

“America’s role in helping Armenian survivors of the first genocide of the 20th Century is a story worth telling and remembering,” said Rep. Adam Schiff. “It’s also important to remind policymakers of the significant role the United States played in assisting the victims of the Ottoman Empire during the dark days of World War I. The Ar- menian Genocide, which occurred almost 100 years ago, was an event of such catastrophic significance that all na- tions have a duty to educate their citizens on what took place. Events like this – highlighting America’s important humanitarian role – can only help to convince my colleagues of the importance of finally recognizing the Armenian Genocide.”

In a letter to the President last year urging the display of the rug, Schiff and 32 other Members of Congress wrote: “The Armenian Orphan Rug is a piece of American history and it belongs to the American people. For over a decade, Armenian American organizations have sought the public display of the rug and have requested the White House and the State Department grant their request on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, Armenian Americans have yet to have their requests granted. We urge you to release this American treasure for exhibition.”

The Armenian Orphan Rug measures 11' 7" x 18' 5" and is comprised of 4,404,206 individual knots. It took Armenian girls in the Ghazir Orphanage of Near East Relief 10 months to weave. The rug was delivered to Presi- dent Coolidge on December 4, 1925, in time for Christmas, with a label on the back of the rug, which reads "IN GOLDEN RULE GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT COOLIDGE." According to Missak Kelechian, an expert on this topic, the gift of the Armenian Orphan Rug was widely covered in U.S. media, including in the New York Times in 1925 and the Washington Post in 1926. Additional information about the history of the Armenian Orphan Rug is available in Dr. Hagop Martin Deranian's book, "President Coolidge and the Armenian Orphan Rug," published on October 20, 2013, by the Armenian Cultural Foundation.

More information about the speakers and event will be available in coming weeks, and it is currently sched- uled for Monday, March 3rd at 5:00 pm in 2103 Rayburn House Office Building (subject to change).

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ITALY’S LAST SURVIVOR OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PASSED AWAY

On Saturday, Febru- ary 16, Sergio (Sarkis) Mu- sceghian, the last survivor of the Armenian Genocide in Cerchiara di Calabria Italy, died aged 98, Jean Eckian informs from Paris.

Born on November 4, 1916, Sergio was taken and raised by Italian missionar- ies in an institute in Rho- des while walking in the streets of Constantinople at the age of four. He lived much of his life between Puglia and Calabria where he ended his days.

In his eulogy to Sarkis, Cerchiara Mayor Antonio Carlomagno paid tribute to the man “of great dignity and moral rectitude.”

“Community of Cerchiara di Calabria had the pleasure and honor of meeting during memorial moments of this great tragedy of the Armenian people, still waiting for justice in history. We were honored to meet with him and the history of his people,” said Mayor Antonio Carlomagno.

In the last years of his life, Sarkis Musceghian devoted much of his time to discuss the fate of the Armenian people, especially during the commemorations of the 24th April. “I cannot miss an opportunity to speak of the fate of my people,” he used to say.

A monument (khatckar) in tribute to the memory of the victims of the genocide of Armenians of 1915 was erected in Musceghian’s native village Nor Arax (Bari) in January 2013.

NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF GAGKASHEN IN ANI

A new film prepared by the Research on Armenian Architecture NGO tells about the Armenian Church of Saint Gregory of Gagkashen in Ani, the replica of Zvartnots Temple – the masterpiece of Armenian architecture. The Church has been under the threat of destruction for about 900 years now. The film will premiere tomorrow at the Union of Architects.

It is thought that King Gagik (who reigned from the year 990 to 1020) chose the architect Trdat (the man who designed the cathedral of Ani) to build his “millennium” church, and it was probably erected between the years 1001 and 1005.

The structure was never very stable, and in 1013 strengthening had to be carried out – including the addition of a substantial amount of extra masonry around the middle two columns of each apse, converting them into piers. These consolidations were unsuccessful and the church collapsed shortly afterwards.

In the 13th century houses were built around and over the ruins, using some of the fallen church’s masonry. Later the ruin site became covered with earth, and at the end of the 19th century all that was visible were some walls on a tall mound.

The ruins were excavated in 1906 by Nikoli Marr. His excavations revealed the plan of the church and recov- ered many objects of worship, including a bronze candlestick and a chandelier.

Asked whether there is need to built the replica of the Temple of Zvartnots today, expert of monuments Samvel Karapetyan said “We have not reached that level yet.”

32

“ARMENIA, AUSCHWITZ AND BEYOND” AT AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY

BEL AIR -- Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and in conjunction with the 44th Annual Scholars’ Confer- ence on the Holocaust and the Churches, a special program, Ar- menia, Auschwitz and Beyond, will be presented Monday evening, March 10, 2014, on the Familian Campus of the American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Drive, in Bel Air. The Program begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the Public, with the entire community invited. Admission is free but reservations are required – please call 310/440.1279. The Program will be held at the Gindi Auditorium in the Main Building (Ziegler Administration Building) with adjacent complimentary parking available using the Lot 1 entrance.

The Program’s featured speakers are Professor Richard Hovannisian, University of California, Los Angeles, Stephen Smith, University of Southern California, and Professor Michael Berenbaum, American Jewish University, Dr. Richard Hovannisian is Professor of Modern Armenian History, a past holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair at UCLA and currently Chancellor’s Fellow at Chapman University in Orange County. The re- cent recipient of the UCLA Alumni Association’s “Most Inspiring Teacher” award, he is internationally acclaimed for his advancement of Armenian Studies. His extensive scholarly publications have placed the Armenian Genocide into broader Near Eastern, Europeans and Russian contexts.

Dr. Stephen Smith, is the Executive Director of the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education, as well as the UNESCO Chair on Genocide Education. A theologian by training, he continues to be involved in memorial projects around the world and lectures widely on issues relating to the history and collective response to the Holocaust, genocide and crimes against humanity. He recently presented the keynote speech at the United Nations on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Michael Berenbaum, a world authority on the History of the Holocaust, is Professor of Jewish Studies at the American Jewish University and Executive Director of the Sigi Zering Institute, a think tank exploring the ethical and religious implications of the Holocaust. He was involved with the creation of the United States Holocaust Me- morial Museum in Washington, D.C. and, as Project Director, played a major role in its permanent exhibit; he has subsequently consulted on and designed museums on three continents. He is also an award-winning producer and historical consultant for numerous acclaimed films on the Holocaust.

About the Annual Scholars Conference:

Founded by Franklin H. Littell and Hubert G. Locke in 1970, The Annual Scholars’ Conference on the Holo- caust and the Churches (http://ascconf.org/) is an interdisciplinary, international, interfaith, intergenerational con- ference. It provides a forum for scholars to report the latest findings in Holocaust research, ensuring the valuable lessons of the Holocaust remain relevant for today’s world.

The Conference is hosted by different educational institutions around the country. This year, the American Jewish University is the Host Institution, with President Robert Wexler serving as the Honorary Chairman. Dr. Berenbaum is the 2014 Conference Chairman.

The Annual Scholars’ Conference is supported in part by individual donors, along with grants from the Con- ference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany and Verbe et Lumière.

For more information, contact Marcia Sachs Littell, Vice President of the Annual Scholars Conference, at scholarsconf@aol.com or 610.667.5437 or 610/952.3314.

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POLISH-ARMENIAN COMMUNITY SENDS LETTER TO SWISS AMBASSADOR ON PERINCEK CASE

YEREVAN/NEWS.am -- The Armenian organizations of Poland on Fri- day sent a letter to Lukas Beglinger, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Poland, and concerning the notorious case involving Dogu Perincek.

“Solely one year before the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the Eu- ropean Court of Human Rights [ECtHR] insidiously had 1.5 million Armeni- ans killed yet again.

“On October 10, 2013, Switzerland decided to strengthen its relations with Turkey. The same Switzerland, however, still has time, until March 17 of this year, to appeal the ECtHR judgment, which paves the way for the denial of crimes against humanity.

“For the sake of European values and justice, the Swiss government shall not be subjected to the false and fraudulent Turkish political and economic

pressures,” the letter specifically reads. The European Court of Human Rights had ruled in favor of Armenian Genocide-denying Turkish politician

Dogu Perincek’s lawsuit that was filed against Switzerland. The said judgment by the ECtHR was made on the grounds of freedom of speech. In 2008, a Swiss court had convicted Perincek for denying the Armenian Genocide. Dogu Perincek is Chairman of the socialist Workers’ Party of Turkey. In addition, he heads the Talat Pasha organi- zation, which actively fights against the Armenian Genocide’s recognition in Europe.

SCHOLARS CALL FOR REEXAMINATION OF ECHR JUDGMENT ON GENOCIDE DENIAL CASE

Panorama.am -- Concerned genocide scholars issued an open letter highlighting “historical and conceptual in- accuracies” in the European Court’s decision on Dogu Perinçek v. Switzerland, and called on the government of Switzerland to request a reexamination of the Court’s judgment, The Armenian Weekly reports.

Below is the full text of the letter, released on Feb. 14.

An Open Letter to: Madame la Conseillère fédérale Simonetta Sommaruga Cheffe du Département fédéral de justice et police (DFJP) Palais fédéral ouest CH-3003 Berne

After having read the European Court’s decision on Dogu Perinçek v. Switzerland (ECHR. 370, 230, 17 De- cember, 2013) we, as concerned genocide scholars, believe it imperative to respond to historical and conceptual inaccuracies that are articulated in the decision, and we believe those inaccuracies have serious ethical and social significance.

We do not take issue with the notion of freedom of expression; something that scholars agree is most often an essential part of open, democratic society. We are, however, concerned about elements of the Court’s reasoning that are at odds with the facts about the historical record on the Armenian genocide of 1915 and at odds with an ethical understanding of denialism.

The decision asserts that: 1) “genocide as a precisely defined legal concept was not easy to prove”; 2) “the Court doubted that there could be a general consensus as to the events such as those at issue, given that the histori- cal research was by definition open to discussion and a matter of debate, without necessarily giving rise to a final conclusion or to the assertion of objective and absolute truths”; the court uses the phrase “heated debate” in refer- ring to the current political context surrounding the Armenian genocide.

First, it is the overwhelming conclusion of scholars who study genocide (hundreds of independent scholars, who have no affiliations with governments, and whose work spans many countries and nationalities and the course of decades) that the Ottoman mass killings of Armenians conforms to all the aspects of Article 2 of the U.N. CPPC definition of genocide.

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In 1997, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), the major body of scholars who study genocide, passed a resolution unanimously recognizing the Ottoman massacres of Armenians as genocide. The In- ternational Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) prepared an analysis for the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) in 2003, stating that “the Events [of 1915] include all of the elements of the crime of geno- cide as defined in the Convention (UNCPPCG).

In 2000, 100 leading Holocaust scholars signed a petition in The New York Times affirming the events of 1915 were genocide and urging worldwide recognition. An Open Letter from the IAGS to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, in June, 2005, enjoined the Turkish government to own up to “the unambiguous historical record on the Armenian genocide.” The only three histories of genocide in the 20th century that genocide-studies theorists (such as William Schabas) agree on are the cases of the Armenians in Turkey, in 1915; the Jews in Europe, in 1940–45; and the Tutsis in Rwanda, in 1994. The destruction of the Armenians was central to Raphael Lemkin’s creation of the concept of genocide as a crime in international law, and it was Lemkin who coined and first used the term Ar- menian Genocide in 1944.

The idea put forth by the Court that crimes of genocide may only apply to the events in Rwanda and at Sre- brenica because they were tried at the ICC is incomplete. Crimes of genocide have been assessed as historical events by scholars for decades now, and both the crimes committed against the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915 and those committed against the Jews of Europe by the Nazis in the 1940s were deemed genocide by Lemkin. As legal scholars have noted, crimes of genocide can be tried retroactively, and William Schabas has pointed out that in the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem, in 1961, the word genocide was used retroactively to designate crimes committed against the Jews.

Further, under Article 10, “the Court clearly distinguished the present case from those concerning the negation of the crimes of the Holocaust. . . . because the acts that they had called into question had been found by an interna- tional court to be clearly established.” We would note that the perpetrators of the Holocaust were prosecuted at the Nuremberg Trials (1945–46), not for the crime of genocide, but for “crimes against humanity,” even though Rapha- el Lemkin had previously created the term “genocide.” The Armenian case, contrary to the Court’s assertion, does have a clear legal basis for its authenticity. First, “crimes against humanity” was the very phrase coined by France, the United Kingdom, and Russia in their 1915 joint declaration in response to the massacres of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government. After WWI, the Ottoman government convened military tribunals (1919–20) to try 200 high-level members of the military and government for premeditated mass murder of the Armenian popula- tion. The ICTJ decision of 2006 also affirms such a legal basis.

The Court also decided, on the basis of Article 17 (prohibition of abuse of rights), that “The rejection of the le- gal characterization as ‘genocide’ of the 1915 events was not such as to incite hatred against the Armenian people.” Yet the ECtHR states (para 19) that “the negation of the Holocaust is today the principal motor of anti-Semitism.” We would note similarly that the denialism of the Armenian genocide in Turkey resulted in the assassination of Armenian Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, and has resulted in violence to others in Turkey.

In referring to the Armenian genocide as “an international lie,” Mr. Perençik reveals a level of extremism that belies all sense of judgment. We believe that the Court makes a misstep when it privileges Turkey’s denialism (a country with one of the worst records on intellectual freedom and human rights over the past decades) as a “heated debate.” As the IAGS has written in an Open Letter on denialism and the Armenian genocide (October, 2006), “scholars who deny the facts of genocide in the face of the overwhelming scholarly evidence are not engaging in historical debate, but have another agenda. In the case of the Armenian Genocide, the agenda is to absolve Turkey of responsibility for the planned extermination of the Armenians—an agenda consistent with every Turkish ruling party since the time of the Genocide in 1915. Scholars who dispute that what happened to the Armenians in the Ot- toman Empire in 1915 constitutes genocide blatantly ignore the overwhelming historical and scholarly evidence.”

As noted genocide scholar Deborah Lipstadt has written: “Denial of genocide whether that of the Turks against the Armenians, or the Nazis against the Jews is not an act of historical reinterpretation . . . . The deniers aim at con- vincing innocent third parties that there is another side of the story . . . when there is no other side.” We believe that the Court’s decision and reasoning contributes to denialism and this has a corrosive impact on efforts for truth and reconciliation, and ethics.

We believe it important that the government of Switzerland request a reexamination of the Court’s judgment in this case.

Sincerely,

Taner Akçam, Kaloosdian/Mugar Professor, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University

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Margaret Lavinia Anderson; Professor of the Graduate School (Current); Professor of History emerita; Uni- versity of California – Berkley

Joyce Apsel, Master Teacher of Humanities, New York University; Past President, International Association of Genocide Scholars

rael

Yair Auron, head, Department of Sociology, Political Science and Communication, The Open University of Is-

Peter Balakian, Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities, Colgate University

Annette Becker, Professor of History, University of Paris, Ouest Nanterre La Defense; senior member, Institut Universitaire de France

Matthias Bjornlund, archival historian; Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS), Copenhagen Donald Bloxham, Professor of Modern History, University of Edinburgh Hamit Bozarslan, Director, EHESS, Paris Cathy Caruth, Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor of Humane Letters, Cornell University

Frank Chalk, Professor of History; Director, Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies

Israel Charny, Past President International Association of Genocide Scholars; Director, Institute on the Holo- caust and Genocide, Jerusalem

Deborah Dwork, Rose Professor of History; Director of the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University

Helen Fein, Independent Scholar; former executive director of Institute for the Study of Genocide (New York)

Marcelo Flores, Professor of Comparative History; director, The European Master in Human Rights and Genocide Studies, University of Siena

Donna-Lee Frieze, Prins Senior Fellow, Center For Jewish History, New York City; Visiting Fellow, Alfred Deakin Research Institute, Deakin University, Melbourne.

Wolfgang Gust, Independent Scholar, Director armenocide.com.de Hamburg

Herbert Hirsch, Professor of Political Science, Virginia Commonwealth University; co-editor, Genocide Stud- ies International

Marianne Hirsch, William Peterfield Trent Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Professor in the Institute for Research on Women, Gender, and Sexuality; Columbia University

Tessa Hofmann, Prof. h.c. Dr. phil, Frie Universitat Berlin, Institute for East European Studies

Richard Hovanissian, Professor Emeritus, Armenian and Near Eastern History at the University of California, Los Angeles; Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Chapman University and the University of California, Irvine

Raymond Kevorkian, Historian, University of Paris-VIII-Saint Denis Hans-Lukas Kieser, Professor of Modern History, University of Zurich Mark Levene, Reader in Comparative History, University of Southampton, UK Robert Jay Lifton, MD; Distinguished Professor Emeritus, The City University of New York Deborah Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies, Emory University Wendy Lower, John K. Roth Professor of History, Claremont McKenna College Robert Melson, Professor Emeritus, Purdue University; Past President, International Association of Genocide

Scholars Donald E. Miller, Professor of Religion; Director, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of South-

ern California A. Dirk Moses, Professor of Global and Colonial History, European University Institute, Florence and Senior

Editor, Journal of Genocide Research. James R. Russell, Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies, Harvard University Roger W. Smith, Professor Emeritus of Government, College of William and Mary; Past President, Interna-

tional Association of Genocide Scholars Leo Spitzer, K.T. Vernon Professor of History Emeritus, Dartmouth College Gregory Stanton, Research Professor in Genocide Studies and Prevention, George Mason University; Past

President, International Association of Genocide Scholars Yves Ternon, Historian of modern genocide, independent scholar, France Henry C. Theriault, Professor of Philosophy, Worcester State University; Co-Editor-in-Chief, Genocide Stud-

ies and Prevention Eric D. Weitz, Dean of Humanities and Arts and Professor of History, The City College of New York/Graduate

Center

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ARMENIA &TURKEY CLASH OVER GENOCIDE

AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

Foreshadowing next year’s Centennial commemorative events, the Armenian Genocide issue was discussed

for the first time at the UN Security Council on January 29.

Armenia’s Ambassador Garen Nazarian, addressing the main topic of the Security Council session, ‘War, its

Lessons, and the Search for a Permanent Peace,’ began his remarks with a subtle hint to Turkey on UN’s peace-

making role: “to forge a deeper reconciliation among peoples, based on a shared narrative and memory of a trou-

bled past. Often this process entails more than simply adopting declarations and resolutions, visiting and laying

down flowers at victims’ memorials or signing agreements or protocols and shaking hands. To be lasting, recon-

ciliation may require the settling of the past, recognition and acceptance of responsibility for committed crimes.”

Regarding lessons learned from the Armenian Genocide, Amb. Nazarian specifically mentioned that the “rec-

onciliation process could be delayed for decades or even generations. This was the first modern genocide perpe-

trated under the cover of the First World War.” Armenia’s representative went on to insist that “ending impunity for

heinous mass atrocity crimes is vital for restoring justice and normalcy.”

Amb. Nazarian also outlined the steps necessary for proper reconciliation between nations: “successfully rec-

onciled societies and nations usually undergo an extensive process of restoring justice, including reparations to vic-

tims and their heirs in order to re-establish their national dignity and identity. It is also imperative to speak with one

voice against the distortion of history, the denial of historical crimes, and negationism.”

In his response, Turkey’s UN representative Halit Cevik, not surprisingly, focused on the future rather than his

country’s bloody past. Without realizing that he was condemning his own country, the Turkish delegate insisted

that “those responsible for the most serious crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes, must be

held accountable.” Amb. Cevik then went on to repeat his government’s worn-out denials, claiming that “allega-

tions of genocide regarding the 1915 events have never been legally or historically substantiated. In this same vein,

there is neither political nor legal consensus as to the nature of those events.... We believe that deriving animosity

from history by trying to imprint on others an incriminating and one-sided view of the past, and calling for selective

compassion, is not the proper way of respecting the memory of many Turks, Armenians, and others who lost their

lives during the First World War. It is therefore important to face history in its entirety, and through impartial scien-

tific examination of historical records and archives, so that the right lessons may be drawn from history and the

common fair memory can be reached.”

Amb. Nazarian, in his right of reply, expressed deep regret to hear the Turkish representative’s “distorted ex-

planations about the undeniable fact of the Armenian Genocide which took the lives of 1.5 million Armenian chil-

dren, women and men living in the Ottoman Empire during the regime of Young Turks.... It began on April 24,

1915, and went on until 1923 -- the systematic and planned slaughter of the entire nation.”

Describing in detail the deportations and massacres culminating in genocide, Amb. Nazarian asserted that “this

crime has been recognized by a number of [UN] member states and international organizations, including the

United Nations and its subsidiary body -- the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of

Minorities.”

In a second reply to Amb. Nazarian, Turkey’s representative became more subtle in his denialism: “We did not

say that nothing happened in 1915. These events do not fit in the description of genocide which was defined in the

[UN] Convention of 1948. Now, an Armenian delegation is raising that the 1915 events are genocide in the absence

of any resolution or any decision of the International Court. So how do you expect us...,” before he could finish his

statement, his cell phone rang, interrupting him in mid-sentence.

It is very likely that more such confrontations will take place with Turkey leading up to the Centennial of the

Armenian Genocide. Turkish officials do not seem to realize that the more they deny and counter the Armenian

activities, the more they help publicize the Genocide and the just demands of the Armenian people. Meanwhile,

thanks to the Turkish delegation’s two responses to Amb. Nazarian’s statements, the Armenian Genocide was ex-

tensively discussed at the UN Security Council for the first time ever!

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SARF LECTURE ON THE SYRIAN ARMENIAN CRISIS AT DIOCESE RAISES $30,000

BURBANK -- The Executive Committee of the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF) pro- vided an opportunity to the public to learn about the situation facing the Syrian Armenians by tak- ing advantage of visits by Bishop Armash Nal- bandian from Damascus and Dr. Krikor Adanal- ian from Aleppo. The lecture was held on Febru- ary 10, 2014, at the Western Diocese Kalaydjian Hall in Burbank, California.

The event, emceed by Executive Committee Secretary Sona Madarian, started with a slide show depicting the deteriorating living condi- tions of the Armenian community due to the on- going destruction in Aleppo. The background music “Der Vogormia” (God Beseech Us) set the somber mood.

Dr. Krikor Adanalian from Aleppo presented an analytical evaluation of the history of the ancient Armenian community in Syria, the role of politics in the ongoing chaotic situation and the socio-economic hardships being endured by the community. He praised the unity, perseverance, and resilience of the Armenian community under the capable and bold leadership of the Prelate, Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian. Dr. Adanalian praised the Diaspora communities for extending a hand and concluded his message with optimism for the future.

The Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Damascus, Bishop Armash Nalbandian gave a general over- view of the current situation and the medical, educational, and financial assistance being provided by Armenian churches, political parties, and humanitarian organizations working together through the Syrian Armenian Commit- tee for Urgent Relief and Rehabilitation, which disperses the assistance received from the Diaspora in an integrated fashion. His Grace reported the number of Armenian casualties, injuries, and damage to churches and national insti- tutions, in addition to thanking the Diaspora communities for their support. Bishop Nalbandian had accompanied leaders of Catholic, Coptic and Syriac Churches to Washington DC, where he met with US Senators to discuss the crisis faced by Christian minorities in Syria.

SARF Executive Committee Chairperson Zaven Khanjian called on the Armenian people to collectively con- tinue their assistance and aid to Syrian Armenians, to sustain the survival of the “Mother Diaspora” community.

Prelate Archbp. Moushegh Mardirossian thanked the organizing committee and commended the keynote speakers. Recalling his recent visit to Lebanon to meetings at the Catholicosate presided over by His Holiness Aram I, the Prelate noted that great emphasis was given to the crisis in Syria and that meeting participants directly communicated with Arch. Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Aleppo, to receive first hand information on the situation. The Prelate stated that after hearing the reports of the evening's speakers, and witnessing the Syrian-Armenian community's spirit of determination and strong faith, “we leave here hopeful and renewed in our commitment to continue our ongoing support.”

Diocesan Primate Archbp. Hovnan Derderian, who had envisioned the program and graciously provided the facilities for the event, called upon the faithful to act according to the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to extend a helping hand to Armenians in dire need. “Let us heed to our sacred Christian values and give to those who seek food and shelter,” said His Eminence. “Let our Christian spirit be reflected through our generosity,” he added.

The clergy, which included representatives of the Minister to the Union, Rev. Joseph D. Matossian of the Ar- menian Evangelical Union, and representatives of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy and Apostolic Churches, collec- tively prayed and blessed the gathering.

The program moved so many hearts that over $30,000 was raised. A delightful reception, organized by St.

Leon Armenian Cathedral’s Ladies Guild, was held after the event.

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