Connecticut becomes the fifth state in unanimous Congressional support for H.Res. 106 and S. Res. 106

New York, NY- The Armenian National Committee of America – Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) is pleased to announce that Connecticut has joined Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island to become the fifth state with a complete Congressional delegation in support of both H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106. Grassroots activists played a key role in gaining Congressional cosponsorship of the resolution.

With the recent additions of Congressmen John Larson (D-CT-1), Joseph Courtney (D-CT-2), and Christopher Murphy (D-CT-5), the Connecticut delegation now unanimously supports the Armenian Genocide resolutions in the Senate and House of Representatives. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3), and Congressman Christopher Shay (R-CT-4), were all original cosponsors of S. Res 106 and H. Res. 106.

My Armenian Heritage (by Sooren Apkarian)

"September 7th, 1971, Tuesday:

We left Moscow by a 4-engine propeller-plane, to Yerevan. The plane's crew was completely Armenian and you could see the difference in the attitudes of people, more talkative, and the stewardesses, more cheerful. Now we felt more at home. The trip (from Moscow) took 3 1/2 hours, but it was a lot noisier, and you could feel the difference in the cabin pressure, how it plugged your ears up. As we flew over "our" Mt Ararat, we were told not to take any pictures, it was forbidden; bringing you back to the reality of the Soviet regime!

Mt Ararat, where Noah's Ark landed, the site of Armenia's origin, 17,000 feet high - reaching toward the heavens - still pleading to God for justice of the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the Turks and still waiting for the cruel and unjust world to return Our lands, to the "Armenians'" (Too bad Armenians weren't in the movie making business (Editors note: pre-Ararat) back then for we could be reminding the amnesia- minded world about our Armenian Genocide, the loss of half of our Armenian race, just like the Jews who keep reminding the world about their "holocaust" in practically every movie'. And they, ironically, are the ones who support the Turkish government, because they gave the Jews a home, centuries back, when the rest of the world was driving them out of their countries. But, what about the hypocrisy, the double standards regarding humanity, do they forget about the suffering of Armenians because they are not "Jewish" or can that be overlooked more easily, because we are Christians?"

Letter to The Economist (Turkey and Armenia: Clash of Civilisations, 19 May 2007)

Dear Sir:

The only country disputing the Armenian Genocide is Turkey. No reputable historians of any standing deny the genocidal nature of the murder of over one million Ottoman Armenians just 92 years ago. Sir Winston Churchill, writing in The World Crisis (Vol. 5) had the following to say regarding this crime against humanity:

"In 1915 the Turkish Government began and ruthlessly carried out the infamous general massacre and deportation of Armenians in Asia Minor… the clearance of the race from Asia Minor was about as complete as such an act, on a scale so great, could well be… There is no reasonable doubt that this crime was planned and executed for political reasons… whole districts blotted out in one administrative holocaust - these were beyond human redress."

Years later, the only international organisation of historians specialising in genocide studies, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, has unequivocally re-affirmed that the so-called events of 1915 were a genocide in every sense of the word. Writing in a separate legal opinion, Professor Alfred de Zayas, a much respected authority on international law, concluded that denial of the Armenian Genocide is untenable not only from the historical but also legal pespective. The only reason it is not yet recognised as such in this country is the general unawareness of the public and government's determination to be friends with Turkey at any cost - including the cost of lives of over one million innocent victims of the 21st century's first genocide.

Sarkozy rejects Turkish EU place

New French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he will stand firm in his opposition to Turkey being allowed to join the European Union.

"I couldn't have been a candidate for the presidency with one view and then changed it having become president," he said after a European Commission visit.

He said the issue should be debated once the EU reformed its institutions.

The Basque Parliament recognises the Armenian Genocide

"The first genocide scientifically planned, organized and carried out in the history of humanity, was perpetrated by the Young Turks and ideology of the Pan-Turkism against the Armenian people, which generated the murder of almost two million people. Crimes of this nature must be denounced to prevent their repetition. Human and national rights should be restored culprits should be condemned. This genocide must deserve the sanction of the Basque people and all the people of the world.

Basque people and institutions rejected ethnic, religious or political discrimination, and this Parliament always denounced all the acts of genocide, by considering that the walk of time does not imply the lack of memory. The denunciations of the genocides by our Parliament like those of Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraki Kurdistan and the Ukrainian artificial famine of 1932-33, etc, are clear examples.

By this institutional declaration, the Parliament unifies its voice with those of the other institutions and Parliaments like European Parliament, Council of Europe and multitude of official and regional Parliaments, as well as the international institutions and humanitarians who denounced these facts.”

Trust writes to all Members of Parliament urging support for EDM 357

The following appeal was sent to all Members of Parliament who have not yet signed EDM 357 calling for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Dear Member of Parliament,

"In 1915 the Turkish Government began and ruthlessly carried out the infamous general massacre and deportation of Armenians in Asia Minor… the clearance of the race from Asia Minor was about as complete as such an act, on a scale so great, could well be… There is no reasonable doubt that this crime was planned and executed for political reasons… whole districts blotted out in one administrative holocaust - these were beyond human redress."
Sir Winston Churchill, The World Crisis, Volume 5

"On April 24, 1915, under cover of World War I, the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire began a systematic genocide of its Armenian citizens - an unarmed Christian minority. More than a million Armenians were exterminated through direct killing, starvation, torture, and forced death marches. Another million fled into permanent exile. Thus an ancient civilization was expunged from its homeland of 2,500 years. The Armenian Genocide was the most well-known human rights issue of its time and was reported regularly in newspapers across the United States and Europe. The Armenian Genocide is abundantly documented by thousands of official records of the United States and nations around the world including Turkey's wartime allies Germany, Austria and Hungary, by Ottoman court-martial records, by eyewitness accounts of missionaries and diplomats, by the testimony of survivors, and by decades of historical scholarship…"
Professor Robert Melson, President, International Association of Genocide Scholars

"Yet another form of continuing the genocide is by negating its historical reality, as if the 1.5 million Armenians of Anatolia had never existed. Negationism entails a denial of the right to one's identity and the right to one's history. Particularly outrageous is Article 305 of the new Turkish penal code, which criminalizes the expression of the Armenian genocide. Besides being an insult to the memory of the victims of the genocide, it entails a gross violation of article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to seek and impart information."
Professor Alfred de Zayas, Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales, Geneva

Please put the record straight - sign EDM 357

" That this House believes that the killing of over a million Armenians in 1915 was an act of genocide; calls upon the UK Government to recognise it as such; and believes that it would be in Turkey's long-term interests to do the same. "

Letter from the Rt Revd Bishop of Norwich

Armenian Genocide Trust
London

Armenian Genocide of 1915

... I understand and sympathise with all you say and assure you of our prayers here in the Diocese of Norwich for all Armenians who share our faith and trust in Christ and his Cross. This comes with prayers for God's blessing upon you.

Bishop of Norwich

Letter to the All-Party Parliamentary History Group

The following letter has been sent to all members of the All-Party Parliamentary History Group by the Armenian Genocide Trust on 8 May 2007.

Few days ago, on the 24th of April, Armenians and many others around the world commemorated the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In 2005, Professor Robert Melson, President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, wrote the following to the prime minister of Turkey:

"On April 24, 1915, under cover of World War I, the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire began a systematic genocide of its Armenian citizens - an unarmed Christian minority. More than a million Armenians were exterminated through direct killing, starvation, torture, and forced death marches. Another million fled into permanent exile. Thus an ancient civilization was expunged from its homeland of 2,500 years. The Armenian Genocide was the most well-known human rights issue of its time and was reported regularly in newspapers across the United States and Europe. The Armenian Genocide is abundantly documented by thousands of official records of the United States and nations around the world including Turkey's wartime allies Germany, Austria and Hungary, by Ottoman court-martial records, by eyewitness accounts of missionaries and diplomats, by the testimony of survivors, and by decades of historical scholarship…"

Years earlier, Sir Winston Churchill, in The World Crisis (Vol. 5), wrote:

"In 1915 the Turkish Government began and ruthlessly carried out the infamous general massacre and deportation of Armenians in Asia Minor… the clearance of the race from Asia Minor was about as complete as such an act, on a scale so great, could well be… There is no reasonable doubt that this crime was planned and executed for political reasons… whole districts blotted out in one administrative holocaust - these were beyond human redress."

Over half a century and thousands of pages of evidence later, the Armenian Genocide remains unrecognised by Britain amid detestable excuses of "different opinions". Bowing to the pressure and blackmail of Turkish government some decide that oblivion of over a million innocent victims of the 20th century's first genocide is an affordable price to pay for short-term and false friendship of Turkey. That is a bad political and abhorrent moral stance which will undoubtedly bear bitter fruit. There can be no reconciliation without recognition, and it is in the best interests of this country to show leadership and to clearly and loudly proclaim the truth - recognise the Armenian Genocide.

Call for UK Recognition of the Armenian Genocide to further real Human Rights in Turkey

Turkish and Kurdish democrats and human rights activists called for change in British Policy on the Armenian Genocide to promote Human Rights Reform in Turkey. At the invitation of Armenia Solidarity, the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group & Nor Serount Publications on Wednesday, 2nd of May 2007, in the House of Lords, in the UK parliament, they addressed a meeting on British recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians to wider Human Rights issues in Turkey. The meeting was sponsored, chaired and moderated by the Rt Hon Baroness Park of Monmouth.

Ragip Zarakoglu, Turkish author, human rights activist and publisher, characterised Turkey as a 'security state' despite essentially cosmetic changes to some legislation. Notwithstanding changes in names of the courts, the same mindsets in the legal processes were delivering unchanged judgements contrary to the long-term interests of the people in Turkey and their progress towards democratisation.

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide and respect for the Kurds are two important steps that would facilitate real changes needed within the country. Denying the realities of history was the rallying point for ultra-nationalists who were encouraged by the silence of the USA and Britain. This reflected badly on the standing of these countries as it demonstrated double standards compared to the way they approached other human rights issues. The number of Islamists in Turkey was relatively low but the policies of other countries was making them more influential, for example by allowing to attack democrats. The paradox is that Europe is apprehensive of ultra-nationalists yet creates conditions for them to thrive.

Murat Aktas, the Kurdish journalist and political sociologist, referred to the deep-rooted long-standing attitudes in Turkish society that had to be confronted. There is a culture of xenophobia against non-Muslims including Christians and Alevis, and tendency to humiliate anyone not of Turkish origin. Hrant Dink's assassination and other extra-judicial killings gave the message that the ultra-nationalists can kill when they want to in pursuit of their objectives. This is not just a Turkish problem but one that involves all humanity.

According to British author Desmond Fernandes, British parliamentarians should be clear that denial of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey is linked to the repression of non-Turkish minorities. Britain could not continue with its current attitudes of facilitating denial in the face of the unequivocal statements of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, and persuading Turkey to move on this would lead to true democratisation and relief from the current state oppression. Britain has a special role because of its contemporaneous judgment that there had been crimes against humanity.

Letter from H.E. The Archbishop of Westminster

Archbishop's House, Westminster, London SW1P 1QJ

Armenian Genocide Trust
London WC1N 3XX

1 May 2007

Dear Mr. Danielyan,

Thank you for your letter concerning the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It was, indeed, a most terrible event and should never be forgotten. It should be universally recognised as much as the Holocaust of Jewish people during the Second World War.

Do be assured of a remembrance in my prayers that the Lord will help you to accept the cross that you and your people have had to bear over so many years.

With my kind wishes and prayer,

Yours devotedly,

Archbishop of Westminster

Letter to Deputy Director-General of the BBC

2 May 2007

Dear Mr Byford:

Following my correspondence with yourself and your colleagues last year I was most disappointed and saddened on April 24th - as were many Armenian and British people who believe that a centrally planned mass murder of over one million civilians does deserve a minute of BBC's broadcasting time once a year.

A letter from one of your colleagues stated that "there is extreme disagreement over whether the events of 1915 were a genocide". There is indeed extreme disagreement - an extreme disagreement between denialist Turkish government and absolute majority of historians and researchers (including the internationally recognised International Association of Genocide Scholars, the only body of historians specialising in genocide studies), an extreme disagreement over whether a publicly funded organisation like the BBC should have the courage of calling things by their names or bow to blackmail by a single state which refuses to acknowledge responsibility for the 20th century's first genocide. Your continuing and persistent silence on this issue is deafening and raises very serious concerns about BBC's impartiality and lack of respect for a tragedy which almost annihilated a nation just 92 years ago. Would you dare to question the reality of the Holocaust, citing extreme disagreement by neo-fascists? I doubt it.

The simple fact at the moment is that the BBC deliberately chooses to stay silent on this historical event which is directly linked to the continuing tragedy in Darfur. By failing to even mention the Armenian Genocide once a year on April 24 you are sending a message to war criminals future and present, a message which says that you can commit a genocide and BBC will not mention it if the perpetrators deny it - it will not be mentioned even if there was a march from Marble Arch to the Cenotaph, presentation of evidence at the House of Lords, memorial service at the Westminster Abbey, murder of a prominent member of the Turkish Armenian community and repeated unequivocal declarations from countless historians, writers and researchers affirming the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide and calling for recognition as a requirement for reconciliation. You seem to have chosen to ignore the majority for the sake of not offending a single country. The only thing remaining of the victims is the memory of their unbelievable suffering, and you are contributing to its obliteration by being silent.

This is a very grave concern indeed. The Armenian Genocide Trust has recently written to all Bishops of the Church of England and the crossbencher members of the House of Lords. Our awareness campaign will continue and expand with further events at the Parliament as well as in the media; a petition will be delivered to the new Prime Minister later in the year. I call upon you to reconsider your approach and fulfill your role of reporting objectively and timely on all issues - regardless of what a foreign power may think on a particular issue.

For and on behalf of the Armenian Genocide Trust