The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | May 2, 2009<strong>National</strong>Washington briefingby Emil Sanamyan<strong>Armenia</strong>n FM to visitU.S. after “historic step”with TurkeySecretary of State Hillary Clintontelephoned <strong>Armenia</strong>n foreign ministerEdward Nalb<strong>and</strong>ian to welcomethe April 22 statement by theforeign ministries of <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong>Turkey as a “historic step,” <strong>Armenia</strong>’sPublic Radio reported on April28. The statement committed <strong>Armenia</strong><strong>and</strong> Turkey to an “on-goingprocess” with a goal of normalizingbilateral relations.According to informed sources,Mrs. Clinton also extended an invitationfor Mr. Nalb<strong>and</strong>ian to visitWashington early next week, whichthe foreign minister accepted.Meanwhile, the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Assemblyof America reported thaton April 27 its leader Hirair Hovnanianwas telephoned by VicePresident Joe Biden. Accordingto the Assembly, “they exchangedviews on the history <strong>and</strong> status of<strong>Armenia</strong>n-American communityefforts to obtain affirmation by theU.S. government of the <strong>Armenia</strong>nGenocide.”According to U.S. <strong>and</strong> <strong>Armenia</strong>nreports, last week Mr. Biden called<strong>Armenia</strong>n President Serge Sargsiantwice, both before <strong>and</strong> afterthe April 22 statement was madepublic. During the second call, Mr.Sargsian was praised for his “leadership”on the issue.For its part, the Assembly welcomedthe April 22 statement by<strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Turkey, while alsoexpressing disappointment aboutPresident Barack Obama’s April24 statement that did not containthe word genocide.State Dept. reportnotes <strong>Armenia</strong>’s “activeinterest” in aiding theU.S. in AfghanistanAfter <strong>Armenia</strong>n peacekeepers completedtheir mission in Iraq lastOctober, “the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Ministryof Defense has expressed activeinterest in sending a peacekeepingcontingent to Afghanistan in supportof the <strong>International</strong> SecurityAssistance Force,” according to theState Department’s annual “Countryreports on terrorism 2008,” releasedon April 30.Discussions of such a deploymentwere already reported in October2007, when the then-primeminister Serge Sargsian visitedthe United States.Overall, the report registered aconsiderable decline in terrorismrelatedfatalities from the high ofMinisterNalb<strong>and</strong>ianlast visitedWashingtonin July 2008,here withthen Secretaryof StateCondoleezza Rice.Photo: <strong>Armenia</strong>nReporter.22,500 deaths in 2007 to under16,000 in 2008. While there was adecline in terrorist activity in Iraq,an increase was registered in Afghanistan<strong>and</strong> especially Pakistan.The report also noted that “<strong>Armenia</strong>’scounterterrorism partnershipwith the United States includedgranting blanket over-flightclearance <strong>and</strong> ad hoc l<strong>and</strong>ing rightsto U.S. military aircraft,” as well ascooperation on nonproliferation issues.(Arminfo reported on April 29that the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Defense Ministryasked the <strong>National</strong> Assembly toratify a prolongation of the July 24,2000, U.S.-<strong>Armenia</strong> Agreement onCounterproliferation. The agreement,which became the first ina series of U.S.-<strong>Armenia</strong> securityagreements, was signed during anearlier visit to the U.S. by Mr. Sargsian,who was minister of defenseat the time.)While referring to “measuredprogress in implementing bordersecurity <strong>and</strong> anti-trafficking measures,”the U.S. report retainedsome of the concerns expressedabout <strong>Armenia</strong> last year.The concerns included reported“widespread corruption” that hamperedcounterterrorism efforts aswell “interest in strengthening itsties with Iran,” that was said to leadto <strong>Armenia</strong>’s reluctance “to participatein international efforts thatcriticized or placed pressure on Iran.”Like last year, the report expressedno such concerns with regardto Azerbaijan or Georgia.“Rival” gas pipelinesdiscussed in Sofia,PragueEuropean countries are continuingto discuss ways to safeguard theirgas supplies from interruptions,resulting in part from their overdependenceon supplies from Russia<strong>and</strong> the latter’s recurring pricingdisputes with transit countries likeUkraine.A meeting in the Bulgarian capitalof Sofia on April 24–25 broughttogether senior officials from 28countries <strong>and</strong>, according to localmedia, focused the so-called SouthStream project that would bringRussian natural gas under theBlack Sea to Turkey <strong>and</strong> then on toEurope, thus avoiding Ukraine.That summit’s main intrigue wasRussian premier Vladimir Putin’sdecision to pull out at the last moment,sending his energy ministerinstead. According to media speculation,Mr. Putin’s decision came afterBulgaria declined to cede its gasdistribution network to Russia’sGazprom as part of South Stream.For their part, Europeans seekto increase the transparency of gaspurchase <strong>and</strong> transit agreementsmade by Gazprom with CentralAsian gas suppliers.On May 6–7, the European Unionwill hold its summit in the Czechcapital. On the agenda there is EUMembers of Congress mark April 24 with calls for U.S.recognition of <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocidesupport for the U.S.-backed Nabuccogas pipeline that aims to bringCentral Asian (<strong>and</strong> potentially Iranian)gas to Europe bypassing Russiavia Turkey. (Turkey has conditionedits support for Nabucco onprogress of its accession talks withthe union, which are hampered byobjections from Cyprus.)The Prague summit will also bringtogether leaders of four former Sovietrepublics, including <strong>Armenia</strong>,Azerbaijan, Georgia, <strong>and</strong> Ukraine,for the formal launch of the “Easternpartnership” proposed by theEU. Leaders of Belarus <strong>and</strong> Moldovaare expected to stay out overtheir disputes with EU memberstates.Freedom Housecatalogues worldwidemedia struggles“Journalists faced an increasinglygrim working environment in 2008,”the Freedom House reported in itsThen DefenseSecretaryWilliam Cohen(left) signs a nonproliferationdealwith <strong>Armenia</strong>’sSerge Sargsian inJuly 2000. DoDphoto.annual report released on May 1.The think tank’s research registeredglobal decline for the seventh yearin a row <strong>and</strong>, for the first time, adecline in every region of the world.The biggest decline of any regionwas again registered in Eastern Europe/ Former Soviet Union, buteven countries like Israel, Italy, <strong>and</strong>Hong Kong were relegated from“free” to “partly free” status.Country reports were not availableas of press time, but the thinktank was expected to again put <strong>Armenia</strong>’spress environment in the“not free” category, as in severalpreceding reports.fby Emil SanamyanWASHINGTON – As in yearspast, members of the U.S. Congressmarked April 24, <strong>Armenia</strong>nGenocide Remembrance Day, withspeeches, statements, <strong>and</strong> pledgesof support for the congressionalresolution on the Genocide.Among those attending theApril 22 congressional commemorationheld annually on the CapitolHill <strong>and</strong> hosted by co-chairsof the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Caucus Reps.Frank Pallone (D.-N.J.) <strong>and</strong>Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) were HouseSpeaker Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.),House Majority leader StenyHoyer (D.-Md.), Sen. Jack Reed(D.-R.I.) <strong>and</strong> 20 other members ofCongress. (See the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporterfor April 25 for some of thecomments <strong>and</strong> photos from thecommemoration.)Also this week support for H. Res.252, affirming the U.S. record onthe <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide, increasedto 116 House members. Statementsby congressional leaders gave noindication of when the resolutionmight be considered by the HouseForeign Affairs Committee.The CongressionalRecordAdditionally, statements for therecord were made by SenatorsReed <strong>and</strong> Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.), Reps. Pallone, MicheleBachmann (R.-Minn.), HowardBerman (D.-Calif.), MichaelCapuano (D.-Mass.), Jim Costa(D.-Calif.), Jerry Costello(D.-Ill.), Scott Garrett (R.-N.J.),Carolyn Maloney (D.-N.Y.), EdMarkey (D.-Mass.), Gary Peters(R.-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D.-Md.), Tim Walz (D.-Minn.), HenryWaxman (D.-Calif.) <strong>and</strong> FrankWolf (R.-Va.).Last year, Sen. Boxer was theonly member of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee to voteagainst the Bush administration’snominee for ambassador to <strong>Armenia</strong>;she took exception to theadministration’s policy on the<strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide issue. In herApril 24 statement, the senatorexpressed support for recent talksbetween <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Turkey, expressinghope that “this processwill lead the Turkish Governmentto finally acknowledge the irrefutabletruth of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n genocide<strong>and</strong> also to greater peace <strong>and</strong>prosperity for the people of <strong>Armenia</strong>.”Referring to President BarackObama’s pre-election statementson the Genocide, Sen. Boxerstressed, “There is no need for furtherstudy or debate because wemust never legitimize the views ofthose who deny the very worst ofcrimes against humanity.”Sen. Reed in his statement underscoredthe need “for our owncountry to recognize the <strong>Armenia</strong>ngenocide.” He concluded the statementin <strong>Armenia</strong>n “Menk panavchenk mornar – We will never forget.”Rep. Pallone expressed hope that“the U.S. Government can st<strong>and</strong> behindour statements <strong>and</strong> our promises”on the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide.“If we are going to live up to thest<strong>and</strong>ards we set for ourselves <strong>and</strong>continue to lead the world in affirminghuman rights everywhere,we need to st<strong>and</strong> up <strong>and</strong> recognizethe <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide,” Rep. Pallonesaid. “To not do so sends amessage that we are complicit inTurkey’s denial.”In a statement on April 22, Rep.Costa – who represents Fresno <strong>and</strong>San Joaquin Valley – recalled, “Yearafter year, we have seen the samest<strong>and</strong>ard letter from the WhiteHouse which offers sympathy <strong>and</strong>apology for the ‘mass killings,’ yetrefused to label these events asgenocide.”Rep. Costa added, “I am hopefulMadam Speaker, we finally escapefrom being under Turkey’s thumbon this issue. It is vital our Nationhas a foreign policy that accuratelyreflects history.”An April 28 statement by Rep.Wolf – a veteran Republican fromnorthern Virginia – recalled thatRaphael Lemkin’s coinage of theword genocide “was driven largelyby what happened to the <strong>Armenia</strong>ns.”Rep. Wolf said stressed, “there ispower in speaking the truth, evenabout atrocities that occurrednearly a century ago so that othermen with evil aims might not beempowered by our silence.”In his turn, Rep. Walz – whorepresents southern Minnesota– said he remained “committed tothe public recognition of the factof the <strong>Armenia</strong>n genocide,” notingthat “it is the only way to make surewe are forever vigilant to preventgenocide in the future.”At the April 22 congressionalcommemoration, Rep. Walz was theonly speaker to express his disappointmentwith President Obama’snonuse of the word genocide duringhis recent trip to Turkey.“We hope the day will soon comewhen it is not just the survivorswho honor the dead but also whenthose whose ancestors perpetratedthe horrors acknowledge their terribleresponsibility <strong>and</strong> commemorateas well the memory of genocide’svictims,” said Rep. Berman inhis statement.Rep. Berman chairs the HouseForeign Affairs Committee, towhich the House Resolution 252 affirmingthe U.S. record on the <strong>Armenia</strong>nGenocide has been referredsince its introduction. f
The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Reporter | May 2, 2009<strong>International</strong>April 24 commemorated around the world<strong>Armenia</strong>ns throughout the globecommemorated the 94th anniversary ofthe <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide in unprecedentednumbersRequiem service at Aleppo’s <strong>National</strong> Cemetary. Photos: Venus.Requiem service <strong>and</strong> wreath layingin AleppoA requiem service was held atAleppo’s <strong>National</strong> Cemetary, ledby Archbishop Shahan Sargsianof the Berio Diocese, to honorthe 1.5 million <strong>Armenia</strong>ns whoperished 94 years ago during theGenocide.In the evening of April 24, at theYesayan center, there was a specialevening dedicated to the martyrsof the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocide.Gevor Kharibjanian, representingthe <strong>Armenia</strong>n Embassy,made a speech.On April 25, the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Embassyorganized the official wreathlaying at the Genocide memorialat the <strong>National</strong> Cemetery.Taking part in this ceremony werePaying homage.ambassadors representing othercountries, leaders of the <strong>Armenia</strong>ncommunity as well as representativesfrom Syria‘s Christiancommunities.fAn April 24 like no other in IstanbulAccording to Nouvelles d’Armenie,about 20 people, mostly employeesof the newspaper Agos, visited the<strong>Armenia</strong>n cemetery in Balik in Turkey’scapital Istanbul on April 24.There, they laid a wreath on thetomb of slain journalist HrantDink <strong>and</strong> the monument dedicatedto the memory of the martyrsof the Hamidian massacresof 1894–96.Accompanying the <strong>Armenia</strong>nswas Turkish publisher RagipZarakoglu <strong>and</strong> a Kurdish journalistfrom Van. The editorial staff ofAgos paid tribute to the memoryof Hrant Dink <strong>and</strong> the victims ofthe 1915 Genocide, including themassacres of Adana in 1909.Visibly moved, the editor of thenewspaper’s <strong>Armenia</strong>n edition,Sarkis Seropyan, spoke, recallingthe historic character of thevisit, which is unprecedented inthe history of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n communityof Constantinople.“We wanted to show that Hrant<strong>and</strong> all our martyrs are remembered<strong>and</strong> that Istanbul <strong>Armenia</strong>nsremember their history.Today we are gathered together incommunion with Hrant, keepingin mind that he was the 1,500,000plus one martyr of the <strong>Armenia</strong>nnation,” said Seropyan.A young employee of Agos reciteda prayer for the repose of thesouls of the martyrs before singingHayr Mer (Our Father).Mr. Zarakoglu photographedby the tomb of the great poetMissak Medzarentz, said, “I donot want to miss this opportunityHrant Dink’s grave in Istanbul.to commemorate the victims, myfriend Hrant, the victims of Adana<strong>and</strong> 1915.”More than a regular commemoration,like those which took placethroughout the globe, the intimateceremony was marked bythe memory of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n intelligentsiabeheaded here in thesame city 94 years ago. In an unprecedentedmove, the newspaperAgos, in its Thursday morningedition, published the completelist of <strong>Armenia</strong>n intellectuals whowere rounded up on April 24.Later that afternoon a culturalevent took place at the initiativeof several democratic <strong>and</strong> leftistTurkish intellectuals, which paidtribute to great figures of the <strong>Armenia</strong>nnation massacred by orderof the Young Turkish governmenton April 24 1915. fGenocide commemoration ceremony held in BelgiumOn April 24, commemoration ceremonieswere marked in Brussels.Sourb Mariam-Madlen <strong>Armenia</strong>nApostolic Church held a requiemservice for the souls of the martyrsof the Armenain Genocide.Taking part in the requiem was<strong>Armenia</strong>’s Ambassador to BelgiumVigen Tchitejyan; <strong>Armenia</strong>’sambassador to NATO SamvelMgrtchian; representatives of<strong>Armenia</strong>’s diplomatic corps, the<strong>Armenia</strong>n Committee of Belgium<strong>and</strong> representatives of Belgium’s<strong>Armenia</strong>n community.Following the service, participantswalked toward the GenocideMemorial which is located in oneof the central squares of Brussels,where they placed flowers <strong>and</strong>wreaths.Michel Mamuryan, presidentof the Brussels’ <strong>Armenia</strong>n Committeeaddressed the participants,The small <strong>Armenia</strong>n communityof Chile held Genocide commemorationceremonies on Sunday,April 19. Over 100 people, includingmany children <strong>and</strong> teenagerscame to the capital Santiago toattend the ceremony which beganwith a religious service led by FatherJorge Abed, whose mother is<strong>Armenia</strong>n.After the playing of the nationalanthems of <strong>Armenia</strong> <strong>and</strong> Chile,Vice-Admiral Hernan Couyoumdji<strong>and</strong>elivered a moving speechon the history <strong>and</strong> meaning of<strong>Armenia</strong>ns in Chile rememberThe Russian-<strong>Armenia</strong>n Association<strong>and</strong> the <strong>Armenia</strong>n RevolutionaryFederation’s Hay Tad officein Moscow jointly organizeda rally in the KrasnopresnenskayaZastava square in Moscow withthe slogan, “The <strong>Armenia</strong>n Genocideis a Crime Against Humanity.”Hundreds of Russian-<strong>Armenia</strong>nsparticipated.Taking part in the protest rallywere representatives from othercommunities, including the JewishPan-Russian OrganizationPresident Roman Spector; Memberof the Kurdish <strong>National</strong> CongressMerab Shamov <strong>and</strong> vicepresident of Moscow’s Greekcommunity Albert Yanokov. Allthe genocide. He stressed theimportance of being united <strong>and</strong>active <strong>and</strong> the special role of theyouth.Several special guests were inattendance, including former UNrepresentative to <strong>Armenia</strong> KaticaCekalvic; Elizabeth Markarian,whose husb<strong>and</strong>, Sergio, is the directorof the prestigious footballteam from the University of Chile;dancer <strong>and</strong> dance instructor AstghikAharonian of the MunicipalTheater in Santiog, accompaniedby her son Pablo.fLeft: YuriNavoyan,director ofARF HayTad, Moscow.Right: Russian-<strong>Armenia</strong>ns at arally in Moscow.representatives stated their supportfor the reinstatement of historicaljustice for the <strong>Armenia</strong>npeople. They stressed that thecondemnation of the <strong>Armenia</strong>nGenocide is an issue for all of humanity.<strong>Armenia</strong>ns representing differentcommunity organizations operatingin Russia made speechesto the assembled participants ofthe rally.The meeting concluded with aspeech by the Deputy Speaker ofthe Russian Duma, president ofthe Liberal Democratic Party ofRussia, Vladimir Zhirinovski whostated that the Genocide perpetratedby the Ottoman Empire isPresident ofthe BelgianSenate Arm<strong>and</strong>De Deckerat memorialservices forthe <strong>Armenia</strong>nGenocide.which included president of theBelgian Senate Arman de Deker;Senator George Dalman who is amember of the <strong>Armenia</strong>n-Belgianparliamentary group; SenatorAlen Desteks; Isabel Duran, vicepresidentof the Ecolo politicalparty; deputy mayor of Brussels;representatives of Belgian’sTutsi <strong>and</strong> Jewish communities<strong>and</strong> others.Following these ceremonies,the <strong>Armenia</strong>ns marched towardthe Turkish Embassy to protestagainst Turkey’s denial of the Genocide<strong>and</strong> dem<strong>and</strong> justice. fYoung <strong>Armenia</strong>ns in Chile remember.Protest rally at Turkish Embassy in the Netherl<strong>and</strong>sThe <strong>Armenia</strong>n <strong>National</strong> Committee(ANC) of Netherl<strong>and</strong>s organizeda protest rally in front of theTurkish Embassy in the Netherl<strong>and</strong>son April 24.On the evening of April 23, morethan 100 young people lit c<strong>and</strong>leseach of which symbolized 10,000victims. After the prayer the participantspaid tribute to the memoryof the victims with one minuteof silence. Afterwards the c<strong>and</strong>leswere arranged on the ground toread 1.5. In front of the TurkishEmbassy in the Hague the demonstratorsplaced posters dem<strong>and</strong>ingrecognition of the Genocide.The ANC of the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s saidthat according to tradition, April24 protest rallies are held in frontof the Parliament of the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s.In Almelo’s <strong>Armenia</strong>n ApostolicChurch a requiem servicetook place.During the commemorationceremonies organized in the <strong>Armenia</strong>nChurch, members of theDutch Parliament, representativesof all the factions of the Almelotown council, the <strong>Armenia</strong>n Consulin Holl<strong>and</strong>, well-known academicians<strong>and</strong> cultural figures tookpart.fProtest rally in Moscow condemns the GenocideIn solidarity with the <strong>Armenia</strong>ns.one of the blackest pages of mankind’shistory.This was the first time that a rallywas organized in Moscow. In previousyears, Russian <strong>Armenia</strong>ns hadonly organized a picket in front ofthe Turkish Embassy. f
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