ARMENIAN NEWS.... If a British minister is to be present in Gallipoli, then a minister of at least the same rank of seniority should be present in Armenia on that day
If a British minister is to be present in Gallipoli, then a minister of at
least the same rank of seniority should be present in Armenia on
that day
The UK community must demonstrate its strength of feeling even
though it is a small in number.
If you need inspiration, get it from the spirit of Ruth Barnet's letters
that follow. She was requested not to mention the Armenian
Genocide in the Brent HMD commemoration, but she made a point
of doing just that.]
news.am
UK AMBASSADOR: PM CAMERON REGRETS HE CANNOT
BE IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 24
06.02.2015
YEREVAN. - British PM David Cameron has received an invitation to
visit Yerevan on the centennial of the Armenian Genocide on April 24,
UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach told reporters on Friday.
"He replied to say that he understood the huge importance of the
centenary year for Armenia and Armenians all over the world, and he
regretted he wasn't able to be here in person," the diplomat said.
However, the Church of England is sending representatives, Ambassador
Leach said, adding that she would be able to confirm the details a
little bit later.
Asked whether Cameron will visit Turkey for the events marking the
100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Battle, the diplomat said she
had no information about it, but there will be certainly high level
British involvement, because many soldiers died in Gallipoli.
Ambassador Leach was also asked to comment on the rumors in Turkish
media, according to which Prince Charles will be among the guests. The
Ambassador she had no information confirmed, but she had seen the
rumors in Turkish media.
"If I am invited, and I very much hope that I will be, I will of
course visit Tsitsernakaberd," she added.
panarmenian.net
TURKISH NGOS URGE WORLD LEADER TO GO TO YEREVAN,
YEREVAN. - British PM David Cameron has received an invitation to
visit Yerevan on the centennial of the Armenian Genocide on April 24,
UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach told reporters on Friday.
"He replied to say that he understood the huge importance of the
centenary year for Armenia and Armenians all over the world, and he
regretted he wasn't able to be here in person," the diplomat said.
However, the Church of England is sending representatives, Ambassador
Leach said, adding that she would be able to confirm the details a
little bit later.
Asked whether Cameron will visit Turkey for the events marking the
100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Battle, the diplomat said she
had no information about it, but there will be certainly high level
British involvement, because many soldiers died in Gallipoli.
Ambassador Leach was also asked to comment on the rumors in Turkish
media, according to which Prince Charles will be among the guests. The
Ambassador she had no information confirmed, but she had seen the
rumors in Turkish media.
"If I am invited, and I very much hope that I will be, I will of
course visit Tsitsernakaberd," she added.
panarmenian.net
TURKISH NGOS URGE WORLD LEADER TO GO TO YEREVAN,
NOT GALLIPOLI ON APR 24
February 6, 2015
PanARMENIAN.Net - 5 Turkish NGOs urged world leaders "not to accept
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's invitation to Gallipoli on April 24
but to visit Yerevan instead for commemoration of the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide," Bianet.org reports.
Previously, President Erdogan announced that in 2015 Turkey will
commemorate the defense of Gallipoli - a ceremony usually observed
on March 18 - on April 24. He also invited the world leaders to the
northwestern province of Canakkale to join the ceremony
The associations (Human Rights Association (IHD)'s Commission Against
Racism and Discrimination, Izmir Assyrian Friendship, Culture and
Solidarity Association, Nor Zartonk, www.suryaniler.com Culture
Platform and Zan Social, Political, Economic Research Foundation)
issued a statement protesting Erdogan's invitation at IHD Headquarters
in Istanbul, Bianet reports.
"April 24 is marked worldwide as the Armenian Genocide Remembrance
Day," IHD Vice Chairperson Meral Cıldır said in a statement.
"As the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide draws near, we, groups
and peoples that struggle against the denial of the Genocide, protest
the president's invitation and urge the world leaders to visit the
Genocide memorial in Yerevan instead of Gallipoli in Canakkale.
Following the press statement, IHD Vice Chairperson Eren Keskin said
the following: "The mentality that founded the Republic of Turkey is
the very mentality that committed the Armenian - Assyrian Genocide
in 1915. For us, 24 April 2015 is of huge importance. We want to face
our history. We don't want our children to be told lies. We know that
the Genocide is still not openly mentioned by many countries, but we
are asking a show a bit of conscience. The Turkish invitation mocks
the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. Go to Yerevan where the
real pain is."
For a century Armenians have mostly talked among themselves about the Genocide. Arguably, the world would have been far more aware of Turkey's horrendous crime had Armenians disseminated outwards the facts of their great calamity rather than keep accounts of the crime within their community walls. Ruth Burnett, a Londoner who's not of Armenian descent, a reader of Keghart.com, can teach Armenians a lesson in the necessity of outward looking. --Ed.
"What Is the British Government Doing...?"
Ruth L. Barnett, B.Sc ., W. Hampstead UK, 14 January 2015
Ruth L. Barnett is a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist & BAPPS registered supervisor and a Holocaust survivor. She declined an invitation to the HMD national event on principle though she gives a more dip,somatic reason
Letter to Glenda Jackson a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She first became a Member of Parliament in 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn.
Dear Glenda
I don't expect you necessarily to read German but I am pretty sure you will get the gist of what these events are about that AGA (a German NGO) is publicising.
My first question is what is the British government doing about the anniversary April 24th of 100 years of denying justice to the Armenians and other Christians systematically slaughtered by the Ottoman Turks during and after WWI? Our government has the documents, Hansards and the 'Blue' book report that it commissioned during the war on what was happening in Anatolia, in its own archives. Quibbling over whether or not it was genocide does not alter the fact that the Armenians are still denied justice, are still without access to and memorials at the killing sites and acknowledgement of their community's history.
My second question is how many of our MPs have actually read what is in the government archives about this?
So far I know of no event at all by any organisation in Britain to acknowledge and raise awareness of a grave injustice done to the Christians of Anatolia -perpetrated by the Ottomans, encouraged by their Allies, and promised justice by Britain and France - who both reneged on it. Sussex University is planning to organise a conference on this later in the year but not definite.
My third question is whether the government finds this sort of long-term denial acceptable in the light of the seriousness of Holocaust denial, the current rise of hostility towards vulnerable minority groups and the violent intolerance of radicalised terrorist groups?
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely
AGA Group recognition-Against Genocide , International Understanding
February 6, 2015
PanARMENIAN.Net - 5 Turkish NGOs urged world leaders "not to accept
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's invitation to Gallipoli on April 24
but to visit Yerevan instead for commemoration of the 100th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide," Bianet.org reports.
Previously, President Erdogan announced that in 2015 Turkey will
commemorate the defense of Gallipoli - a ceremony usually observed
on March 18 - on April 24. He also invited the world leaders to the
northwestern province of Canakkale to join the ceremony
The associations (Human Rights Association (IHD)'s Commission Against
Racism and Discrimination, Izmir Assyrian Friendship, Culture and
Solidarity Association, Nor Zartonk, www.suryaniler.com Culture
Platform and Zan Social, Political, Economic Research Foundation)
issued a statement protesting Erdogan's invitation at IHD Headquarters
in Istanbul, Bianet reports.
"April 24 is marked worldwide as the Armenian Genocide Remembrance
Day," IHD Vice Chairperson Meral Cıldır said in a statement.
"As the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide draws near, we, groups
and peoples that struggle against the denial of the Genocide, protest
the president's invitation and urge the world leaders to visit the
Genocide memorial in Yerevan instead of Gallipoli in Canakkale.
Following the press statement, IHD Vice Chairperson Eren Keskin said
the following: "The mentality that founded the Republic of Turkey is
the very mentality that committed the Armenian - Assyrian Genocide
in 1915. For us, 24 April 2015 is of huge importance. We want to face
our history. We don't want our children to be told lies. We know that
the Genocide is still not openly mentioned by many countries, but we
are asking a show a bit of conscience. The Turkish invitation mocks
the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. Go to Yerevan where the
real pain is."
For a century Armenians have mostly talked among themselves about the Genocide. Arguably, the world would have been far more aware of Turkey's horrendous crime had Armenians disseminated outwards the facts of their great calamity rather than keep accounts of the crime within their community walls. Ruth Burnett, a Londoner who's not of Armenian descent, a reader of Keghart.com, can teach Armenians a lesson in the necessity of outward looking. --Ed.
"What Is the British Government Doing...?"
Ruth L. Barnett, B.Sc ., W. Hampstead UK, 14 January 2015
Ruth L. Barnett is a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist & BAPPS registered supervisor and a Holocaust survivor. She declined an invitation to the HMD national event on principle though she gives a more dip,somatic reason
Letter to Glenda Jackson a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She first became a Member of Parliament in 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn.
Dear Glenda
I don't expect you necessarily to read German but I am pretty sure you will get the gist of what these events are about that AGA (a German NGO) is publicising.
My first question is what is the British government doing about the anniversary April 24th of 100 years of denying justice to the Armenians and other Christians systematically slaughtered by the Ottoman Turks during and after WWI? Our government has the documents, Hansards and the 'Blue' book report that it commissioned during the war on what was happening in Anatolia, in its own archives. Quibbling over whether or not it was genocide does not alter the fact that the Armenians are still denied justice, are still without access to and memorials at the killing sites and acknowledgement of their community's history.
My second question is how many of our MPs have actually read what is in the government archives about this?
So far I know of no event at all by any organisation in Britain to acknowledge and raise awareness of a grave injustice done to the Christians of Anatolia -perpetrated by the Ottomans, encouraged by their Allies, and promised justice by Britain and France - who both reneged on it. Sussex University is planning to organise a conference on this later in the year but not definite.
My third question is whether the government finds this sort of long-term denial acceptable in the light of the seriousness of Holocaust denial, the current rise of hostility towards vulnerable minority groups and the violent intolerance of radicalised terrorist groups?
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely
AGA Group recognition-Against Genocide , International Understanding
Association
*****
Letter to Professor Norbert Lammert who has served as President of the German Bundestag since October 2005. On 22 October 2013, the Members of the Bundestag re-elected him to the top parliamentary post. In terms of protocol, he ranks second only to the President of the Federal Republic.
COMMEMORATION OF THE OTTOMAN GENOCIDE AGAINST ITS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE
Dear Prof. Lammert ,
As a London supporter, I am deeply disappointed to learn from AGA that the German Federal Government has so far made no significant contribution to reconciliation between Armenians and Turks, an issue to which AGA has devoted so much time and energy. Furthermore, the government continues to avoid its responsibility, as German officers were with the Ottoman military that perpetrated the genocide, to recognise the Ottoman acts as constituting the crime of genocide as defined by the United Nations General Assembley in 1948. I would emphasise that this UN definition was based on the word 'genocide' coined by Raphael Lemkin in relation to the Ottoman Genocide. That the Ottoman Genocide was perpetrated before the UN accepted genocide as a crime in International Law does not in any way detract from the fact that it was genocide.
April 24 th 2015 will be the centenary of the horrific massacre by the Young Turks of the spiritual, intellectual and economic leaders of the Armenian community in Constantinople (now Istanbul)by beheading and exhibiting the severed heads in public to terrorise the rest of the community. This was the beginning of the genocide in which approximately two million Christians were murdered by planned eviction from their homes, death marches into the desert,and deliberate killings. Do you not agree that it is time to face the whole issue of genocide by acknowledging the Ottoman Genocide and commemorating the victims of this genocide that created impunity for the perpetrators of the Holocaust and all the genocides that have been allowed to take place since?
International Conference
The omission of commemoration of the Ottoman Genocide is a form of denial that has manifestly toxic effects not only in the continuing conflict between the Turkish and Armenian communities today,but also makes a substantial contribution to the tension between current European communities and their minorities. Failure to face the whole issue of genocide, and its long term negative effects on the welfare and cohesion of communities, underlies the increasing problems of rising anti-Semitism, intolerance towards minorities, especially migrants, Roma and asylum-seekers,and the growing indifference to the suffering of persecuted people.
I have written a book, “Love, Hate and Indifference: the slide into Genocide” that will be published in January 2015 by the UK National Holocaust Centre in Laxton, in which I put a strong case for humanity to face the whole issue of genocide and wake up to the toxic effects of continued indifference and denial.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely
Letter to the CEO of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, London
COMMEMORATION OF THE OTTOMAN GENOCIDE AGAINST ITS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE
Dear Olivia Marks-Woldman,
Thank you for your invitation to the UK Commemorative Event on Holocaust Memorial Day January 27 th 2015. I would very much like to accept your invitation but I consider it more appropriate for me to contribute than to attend in the audience of commemoration events. I will be contributing in the Jewish Museum and Brent Civic events that day.
I would like to commend the HMD Trust on its programme covering remembrance of “the millions of people killed in the Holocaust,Nazi Persecution and the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur”. Furthermore, I appreciate the importance, as you state,to mark two important anniversaries in 2015 “- the 70 th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 20 th anniversary of the Genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia.” There is also a third very important anniversary in 2015 – the centenary of the Ottoman Genocide against its Christian people. Ommission of this genocide and failure to commemorate it does not sit well with the excellent slogan the HMDT has chosen for 2015 - “Keep the Memory Alive”.
April 24 th 2015 will be the centenary of the horrific massacre by the Young Turks of the spiritual, intellectual and economic leaders of the Armenian community in Constantinople (now Istanbul)by beheading and exhibiting the severed heads in public to terrorise the rest of the community. This was the beginning of the genocide in which approximately two million Christians were murdered by planned eviction from their homes, death marches into the desert,and deliberate killings. Do you not agree that it is time to face the whole issue of genocide by acknowledging the Ottoman Genocide and commemorating the victims of this genocide that created impunity for the perpetrators of the Holocaust and all the genocides that have been allowed,by lack of intervention, to take place since?
The actions of the Ottoman 'Young Turks' constitute the crime of genocide as defined by the United Nations General Assembley in 1948. I would emphasise that this UN definition was based on the word 'genocide' coined by Raphael Lemkin in relation to the Ottoman Genocide. That the Ottoman Genocide was perpetrated before the UN accepted genocide as a crime in International Law does not in any way detract from the fact that it was genocide.
The omission of commemoration of the Ottoman Genocide is a form of denial that has manifestly toxic effects not only in the continuing conflict between the Turkish and Armenian communities today,but also makes a substantial contribution to the tension between current European communities and their minorities. Failure to face the whole issue of genocide, and its long term negative effects on the welfare and cohesion of communities, underlies the increasing problems today of rising anti-Semitism, intolerance towards minorities, especially migrants, Roma and asylum-seekers,and the growing indifference to the suffering of persecuted people.
I have written a book, “Love, Hate and Indifference: the slide into Genocide” that will be published in January 2015 by the UK National Holocaust Centre in Laxton, in which I put a strong case for humanity to face the whole issue of genocide and wake up to the toxic effects of continued indifference and denial.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely
*****
Letter to Professor Norbert Lammert who has served as President of the German Bundestag since October 2005. On 22 October 2013, the Members of the Bundestag re-elected him to the top parliamentary post. In terms of protocol, he ranks second only to the President of the Federal Republic.
COMMEMORATION OF THE OTTOMAN GENOCIDE AGAINST ITS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE
Dear Prof. Lammert ,
As a London supporter, I am deeply disappointed to learn from AGA that the German Federal Government has so far made no significant contribution to reconciliation between Armenians and Turks, an issue to which AGA has devoted so much time and energy. Furthermore, the government continues to avoid its responsibility, as German officers were with the Ottoman military that perpetrated the genocide, to recognise the Ottoman acts as constituting the crime of genocide as defined by the United Nations General Assembley in 1948. I would emphasise that this UN definition was based on the word 'genocide' coined by Raphael Lemkin in relation to the Ottoman Genocide. That the Ottoman Genocide was perpetrated before the UN accepted genocide as a crime in International Law does not in any way detract from the fact that it was genocide.
April 24 th 2015 will be the centenary of the horrific massacre by the Young Turks of the spiritual, intellectual and economic leaders of the Armenian community in Constantinople (now Istanbul)by beheading and exhibiting the severed heads in public to terrorise the rest of the community. This was the beginning of the genocide in which approximately two million Christians were murdered by planned eviction from their homes, death marches into the desert,and deliberate killings. Do you not agree that it is time to face the whole issue of genocide by acknowledging the Ottoman Genocide and commemorating the victims of this genocide that created impunity for the perpetrators of the Holocaust and all the genocides that have been allowed to take place since?
International Conference
The omission of commemoration of the Ottoman Genocide is a form of denial that has manifestly toxic effects not only in the continuing conflict between the Turkish and Armenian communities today,but also makes a substantial contribution to the tension between current European communities and their minorities. Failure to face the whole issue of genocide, and its long term negative effects on the welfare and cohesion of communities, underlies the increasing problems of rising anti-Semitism, intolerance towards minorities, especially migrants, Roma and asylum-seekers,and the growing indifference to the suffering of persecuted people.
I have written a book, “Love, Hate and Indifference: the slide into Genocide” that will be published in January 2015 by the UK National Holocaust Centre in Laxton, in which I put a strong case for humanity to face the whole issue of genocide and wake up to the toxic effects of continued indifference and denial.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely
Letter to the CEO of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, London
COMMEMORATION OF THE OTTOMAN GENOCIDE AGAINST ITS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE
Dear Olivia Marks-Woldman,
Thank you for your invitation to the UK Commemorative Event on Holocaust Memorial Day January 27 th 2015. I would very much like to accept your invitation but I consider it more appropriate for me to contribute than to attend in the audience of commemoration events. I will be contributing in the Jewish Museum and Brent Civic events that day.
I would like to commend the HMD Trust on its programme covering remembrance of “the millions of people killed in the Holocaust,Nazi Persecution and the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur”. Furthermore, I appreciate the importance, as you state,to mark two important anniversaries in 2015 “- the 70 th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 20 th anniversary of the Genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia.” There is also a third very important anniversary in 2015 – the centenary of the Ottoman Genocide against its Christian people. Ommission of this genocide and failure to commemorate it does not sit well with the excellent slogan the HMDT has chosen for 2015 - “Keep the Memory Alive”.
April 24 th 2015 will be the centenary of the horrific massacre by the Young Turks of the spiritual, intellectual and economic leaders of the Armenian community in Constantinople (now Istanbul)by beheading and exhibiting the severed heads in public to terrorise the rest of the community. This was the beginning of the genocide in which approximately two million Christians were murdered by planned eviction from their homes, death marches into the desert,and deliberate killings. Do you not agree that it is time to face the whole issue of genocide by acknowledging the Ottoman Genocide and commemorating the victims of this genocide that created impunity for the perpetrators of the Holocaust and all the genocides that have been allowed,by lack of intervention, to take place since?
The actions of the Ottoman 'Young Turks' constitute the crime of genocide as defined by the United Nations General Assembley in 1948. I would emphasise that this UN definition was based on the word 'genocide' coined by Raphael Lemkin in relation to the Ottoman Genocide. That the Ottoman Genocide was perpetrated before the UN accepted genocide as a crime in International Law does not in any way detract from the fact that it was genocide.
The omission of commemoration of the Ottoman Genocide is a form of denial that has manifestly toxic effects not only in the continuing conflict between the Turkish and Armenian communities today,but also makes a substantial contribution to the tension between current European communities and their minorities. Failure to face the whole issue of genocide, and its long term negative effects on the welfare and cohesion of communities, underlies the increasing problems today of rising anti-Semitism, intolerance towards minorities, especially migrants, Roma and asylum-seekers,and the growing indifference to the suffering of persecuted people.
I have written a book, “Love, Hate and Indifference: the slide into Genocide” that will be published in January 2015 by the UK National Holocaust Centre in Laxton, in which I put a strong case for humanity to face the whole issue of genocide and wake up to the toxic effects of continued indifference and denial.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely
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