Category: News

The Legislative Assembly of the State of Paraná, Brazil, passed a law recognizing the Genocide of the Armenian people. The draft law which was submitted by deputy Ney Leprevost and was signed by Governor Beto Richa, came into effect on March 28.

In the supporting text of the law, Leprevost had written “The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Legislative Assembly of Paraná would ease the suffering of millions of Armenians scattered throughout the world and Turkey would become more aware of its past.”

According to the law, April 24 is set as the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and will henceforth be included in the official calendar of events of the State of Paraná.

 

On June 12, 2012, in a discussion that lasted over an hour and a half the Israeli Knesset decided to continue discussing the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, within the Education, Culture and Sports Committee’s framework where was initially introduced in December 2011. (https://www.armeniancause.net/2011/12/26/knesset%E2%80%99s-education-committee-positive-on-armenian-genocide-recognition-discussion-postponed/).

Www.jpost.com reports that “Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said Tuesday that Israel had an obligation to remember the murder of more than a million Armenians at the hands of the Turks nearly a hundred years ago, but warned that the issue should not be turned into an attack on the Turkish government of today” referring to the State Comptroller report about the 2010 Turkish flotilla incident, that was scheduled to be released on June 13th. “Those who drafted the Final Solution for the Jews figured the world would be silent as they were when the Armenians were murdered,” Rivlin said.

“We cannot forgive nations who ignore our disaster and we cannot ignore the disasters of others,” Meretz chairwoman Zehava Gal-On, who initiated the Knesset discussion, accused the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of using the Armenian tragedy to attack Turkey. According to www.jpost.com, Gal-On said the government should “finally recognize” the episode as a Genocide and restore relations with Turkey by agreeing to apologize for the deaths of nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists that were on the flotilla. “The Armenian Genocide is not an opportunity for public diplomacy,” Gal-On told the Knesset plenum. “Israel is strong enough to apologize for the killing of Turkish citizens without it harming Israel’s honor or its security. We don’t need to choose between recognizing genocide and relations with Turkey. We can have both.” “The Jewish people who have experienced the worst Holocaust have an obligation to show sensitivity to the disasters of others,” she added.

National Union MK Arieh Eldad called on Turkey to recognize its responsibility for its “historical crime,” which he said included children being “put into cellars and gassed.” He also quoted Hitler’s “Who remembers what happened to the Armenians,” when he was asked what the world would say about his Final Solution against the Jews.

Kadima MK Robert Tibayev was the only lawmaker to speak against Israel recognizing the Armenian Genocide, saying the state should not interfere in the issue but let historians or an international body determine if there was a genocide.

Balad MK Said Nafa, a Christian, took the opportunity to accuse current Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being hypocritical by complaining about the atrocities being committed by Syrian President Bashar Assad against his people while he himself has killed dozens of Kurds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hagop Sevan, representative of the Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem highlighted the importance of Government member, Gilad Erdan’s remarks who said that the Education, Culture and Sports’ Committee should continue with the discussion which should result to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem believes that Erdan’s remarks reflect the Government’s green light for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Israel.

 

On May 2, the City Council of Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona) adopted a resolution condemning the Genocide against the Armenian people committed by Turkey in 1915-1921, reported the Armenian National Committee office in Spain.

The resolution of the Santa Coloma de Gramenet City Council calls the Spanish central government to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide based on the European Parliament’s 1987 respective resolution (Doc. A2-33/87). Moreover, the City Council declares its intention to support the democratization process of Armenia through the collaboration with Armenian associations that are established in Catalonia.
The Socialists’ Party of Catalonia (Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya), the Initiative for Catalonia Greens (Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds) and the Convergence and Union (Convergència i Unió) parties voted in favor of the resolution.

Representatives of the Armenian organizations in Spain attended the session.

To read the text in Spanish, follow the link below
http://www.gramenet.cat/fileadmin/Files/Ajuntament/mocions/2012abril/armenia.pdf

On March 20 and April 17 respectively, the City Councils of Rieti and Scafati, Italy, have proceeded in the recognition and condemnation of the 1915 Genocide of the Armenians, perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey.  Once more, the Italian local authorities urge Turkey to reconcile with its history and admit the crimes that she masterminded and executed in the past. Massacres and atrocities against the Armenians starting from 1895, are highlighted in the adopted resolution.

 

As in Turin City Council’s case, Rieti’s resolution also commits to express full solidarity with the Armenian people in its struggle for recognition of the historical truth and the defense of the inviolable rights, to intervene with the appropriate bodies in order to preserve the Christian-Armenian artistic, historical and religious heritage which is in a serious state of degradation, to invite the European Parliament to take action so that Turkey, a candidate to be part of ‘the European Union, formally recognizes and condemns the genocide of Armenians and to support any useful initiative to promote reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia.

Both City Councils passed the resolutions, unanimously.

To read the italian text of the Rieti City Council Resolution, follow the link below:

http://www.ilgiornaledirieti.it/public/files/genocidio.pdf

On February 6, 2012 the City Council of Turin, Italy adopted a resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, the City Council calls on the European Parliament to take action so that Turkey, a candidate for European Union membership, formally recognizes and condemns the Genocide of the Armenians.

According to the resolution apart from the 1915 Genocide fact, Turin’s City Council took under account the Ottoman Empire’s 1895 and 1909 massacres of the Armenians, the forced adoption by Turkish and Kurdish families of almost 100.000 Armenian infants resulting to the loss of their own faith and language, the 1920 and 1922 Turkish Republic’s attacks on Cilician Armenia, Turkey’s categorical denial to recognize the Genocide as opposed to Germany and Austria who recognized the Holocaust, the European Parliament’s 18/6/1987 resolution on the possibility of Turkey’s adhesion in the European Union only after having recognized the Genocide of the Armenians, the over 40 Italian city councils decisions formally recognizing the Genocide, the 2000 Chamber of Deputies decision, the Statement of Pope John Paul II to the Armenian Patriarch and the architectural and historic cultural heritage of the Armenians that is endangered in present Turkey.

The resolution commits to express full solidarity with the Armenian people in its struggle for recognition of the historical truth and the defense of the inviolable rights, to intervene with the appropriate bodies in order to preserve the Christian-Armenian artistic, historical and religious heritage which is in a serious state of degradation, to invite the European Parliament to take action so that Turkey, a candidate to be part of ‘the European Union, formally recognizes and condemns the genocide of Armenians and to support any useful initiative to promote reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia.

 

To read the text in Italian follow this link

http://www.comune.torino.it/consiglio/documenti1/atti/testi/2012_00549.pdf

PARIS, France — The French Senate on Jan. 23 passed a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide, despite threats and bullying from the Turkish state. The bill passed with 127 votes for, 86 against.
Drafted by French General Assembly member Valerie Boyer, the bill renders denial punishable with a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($58,000).
It is slated to be signed into law by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
During the proceedings, members of the French Senate spoke powerfully and vocally in support of the bill, noting that it’s not directed against any specific country—that it is merely an effort to honor the memory of genocide victims and the struggle against hate speech.
Those who opposed the bill did so on the grounds of opposing memorial laws in general, arguing that the Senate is not a courthouse and not a place to legislate history.
The Senate first voted to confirm the constitutionality of the bill. The Senate also voted down four proposed amendments.
French-Armenian intellectuals and artists—including Charles Aznavour, Serge Avedikian, Simon Abkarian, and Levon Sayan—had each issued a call to the French Senate to pass the bill.
Commenting on the vote, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian said, “We mark this occasion by urging President Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and by calling on the U.S. House leadership to allow a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.304,” he added.
Thousands of French-Armenians gathered in front of the Senate building to express their support for the bill. The crowd celebrated by singing Armenian national and revolutionary songs (see video). On Jan. 18, a French Senate committee rejected the bill. The decision was not binding, however, and the Jan. 23 vote proceeded as scheduled.The bill’s passage did not come as a surprise, as both the left and the right in France had expressed support for it.On Dec. 22, the French General Assembly had approved the bill, prompting Ankara to withdraw its ambassador from Paris, only to have him return a few weeks later.France adopted a bill officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide in 2001.

Following is a translation of the law:

LAW PROPOSITION

Aiming at suppressing the denial of Genocides, acknowledged as such by the law:

(Final text)

The Senate at its first hearing has adopted without any modification the law proposition with the following content, adopted by the National Assembly at its first hearing,

Article 1
The 1st paragraph of the IV chapter of the 29 July 1881 law on the freedom of press is completed by an Article 24 ter composed as follows:

“Art. 24 ter.- The penalties provisioned in Article 24 bis are applicable upon those who by the use of any of the means stated in article 23 contest or minimize in an excessive manner the existence of one or more crimes of genocide defined in the article 211-1 of the penal code and acknowledged as such by the French law.

Furthermore, the court can order the display or the diffusion of the adjudged decision under the conditions provisioned in the article 131-35 of the penal code.”

Article 2

The Article 48-2 of the same law is modified as follows:

1. After the word “deported” the following words are inserted: “ or all the other victims of crimes of genocide, crimes of war, crimes against humanity or of crimes or offences of collaboration with the enemy”,

2. At the end, the words: “the infringement provisioned by the article 24 bis” are replaced by the words “the infringements provisioned in the articles 24 bis and 24 ter”.

The exact text of the french law

PROPOSITION DE LOI

visant à réprimer la contestation de l’existence des génocides reconnus par la loi.

(Texte définitif)

Le Sénat a adopté sans modification, en première lecture, la proposition de loi, adoptée par l’Assemblée nationale en première lecture, dont la teneur suit :

Voir les numéros :

Assemblée nationale (13^ème législ.) :  3842, 4035 et T.A. 813.

Sénat :  229 et 269 (2011-2012).

Article 1^er

Le paragraphe 1^er du chapitre IV de la loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur la liberté de la presse est complété par un article 24 ter ainsi rédigé :

« Art. 24 ter. – Les peines prévues à l’article 24 bis sont applicables à ceux qui ont contesté ou minimisé de façon outrancière, par un des moyens énoncés à l’article 23, l’existence d’un ou plusieurs crimes de génocide défini à l’article 211-1 du code pénal et reconnus comme tels par la loi française.

« Le tribunal peut en outre ordonner l’affichage ou la diffusion de la décision prononcée, dans les conditions prévues à l’article 131-35 du code pénal. »

Article 2

L’article 48-2 de la même loi est ainsi modifié :

1° Après le mot : « déportés », sont insérés les mots : « , ou de toute autre victime de crimes de génocide, de crimes de guerre, de crimes contre l’humanité ou de crimes ou délits de collaboration avec l’ennemi » ;

2° À la fin, les mots : « l’infraction prévue par l’article 24 bis » sont remplacés par les mots : « les infractions prévues aux articles 24 bis et 24 ter ».

Délibéré en séance publique, à Paris, le 23 janvier 2012.

Le Président,

Signé : Jean-Pierre BEL

(ACF) The Education, Culture and Sports Committee of Israel’s Knesset held a session today to discuss about the possibility of setting a memorial day commemorating the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in 1915, by Turkey.
According to Israeli Press the Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) pointed out that the timing has nothing to do with the tension between Israel and Turkey. “We believe that as humans, as Jews and as citizens of the State of Israel – along with members of Knesset that are not Jewish – we must put the subject on the national agenda. We stand before the world with the utmost moral demand,” he said and added that “even the Turks understand that we cannot ignore our commitment as people, as Jews and as citizens of Israel.”

MK Zahava Gal-On who is the Chairwoman of the Meretz faction and a vivid supporter of the Armenian Genocide’s recognition commenting on Erdogan’s statements said that Turkey will find a way to preserve its diplomatic ties with Israel based on common interests. “For many years, Israel’s government has refused to recognize the genocide for cynical, strategic and economic, reasons, connected to its ties with Turkey,” said Gal-On.

National Union MK Ariyeh Eldad, one of the initiators of the discussion, said that “in the past, we were always told that we cannot discuss this subject because of our good relationship with Turkey. Now we are told we cannot discuss this because of our bad relationship with Turkey. We cannot erase a chapter in history. We cannot ignore this subject because of our interests.”

Former member of Knesset Haim Oron, who has been dealing with the subject for many years, added: “We don’t want this to end with this discussion, but with a statement that expresses the Knesset’s recognition in the Armenian genocide.”

National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror asked Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin to postpone the discussion, but Rivlin refused, saying: “As a nation that has suffered through a holocaust, we cannot ignore this issue, and therefore the hearing will be held as scheduled.”

Among others present at the meeting were members of the Armenian National Committee of Jerusalem and renowned Genocide expert Israel Charny, who were given the opportunity to address the Committee.
The discussion about setting an Armenian Genocide memorial day was postponed until the next hearing, whose date hasn’t been yet specified.

(ACF) On December 22, the National Assembly of France adopted a law proposition criminalizing the negation of Genocides acknowledged as such by the French law.
During the four-hour session, the overwhelming majority of the deputies wholeheartedly supported the need to protect by law the French people, the Genocide victims and the democratic values that run the Republic of France from acts of hatred and intolerance. “I will vote thinking of Hrant Dink,” said one Member of Parliament as he concluded his remarks. “We are not punishing any country, but we are fighting against genocide denial in our country,” said another. “We are taking part in the mass destruction of Armenians when we allow its denial… We are voting in the name of Armenians who sought refuge here. How can we look in the eyes of our fellow citizens of Armenian heritage, while we know that there are those among us who deny the suffering of their grandparents?” said yet another Member of Parliament. “Racism is not an opinion, it’s a crime,” said another.
The no. 813 law proposition of the National Assembly is based on the 29/7/1881 law of France and additionally it serves harmonizing with the 2008/913/JHA EU Council framework decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law and incorporating it into the French jurisprudence.
The legislative power of France consistent with its convictions illustrated in the 2001-70 law (29/1/2001) with which France has recognized the Genocide perpetrated in 1915 against the Armenians reaffirmed once more its position as human rights’ pioneer defender. The penalties provisioned in the law proposition are a year in jail and a fine of 45.000 euros.
The legislative procedure requires that the law proposition be submitted to the Senate for approval and afterwards be signed by the President of France.

Below is the original and the translation of the no 813 law proposition:
The National Assembly adopted a law proposition with the following content:

Look numbers 3842 and 4035.

Article 1
The 1st paragraph of the IV chapter of the 29 July 1881 law on the freedom of press is completed by an Article 24 ter composed as follows:

“Art. 24 ter.- The penalties provisioned in Article 24 bis are applicable upon those who by the use of any of the means stated in article 23 contest or minimize in an excessive manner the existence of one or more crimes of genocide defined in the article 211-1 of the penal code and acknowledged as such by the French law.

Furthermore, the court can order the display or the diffusion of the adjudged decision under the conditions provisioned in the article 131-35 of the penal code.”

Article 2

The Article 48-2 of the same law is modified as follows:

1. After the word “deported” the following words are inserted: “ or all the other victims of crimes of genocide, crimes of war, crimes against humanity or of crimes or offences of collaboration with the enemy”,

2. At the end, the words: “the infringement provisioned by the article 24 bis” are replaced by the words “the infringements provisioned in the articles 24 bis and 24 ter”.

Public Session resolution, Paris 22 December 2011

 

L’Assemblée nationale a adopté la proposition de loi dont la teneur suit :

Voir les numéros : 3842 et 4035.

Article 1er

Le paragraphe 1er du chapitre IV de la loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur la liberté de la presse est complété par un article 24 ter ainsi rédigé :

« Art. 24 ter. – Les peines prévues à l’article 24 bis sont applicables à ceux qui ont contesté ou minimisé de façon outrancière, par un des moyens énoncés à l’article 23, l’existence d’un ou plusieurs crimes de génocide défini à l’article 211-1 du code pénal et reconnus comme tels par la loi française.

« Le tribunal peut en outre ordonner l’affichage ou la diffusion de la décision prononcée, dans les conditions prévues à l’article 131-35 du code pénal. »

Article 2

L’article 48-2 de la même loi est ainsi modifié :

1° Après le mot : « déportés », sont insérés les mots : « , ou de toute autre victime de crimes de génocide, de crimes de guerre, de crimes contre l’humanité ou de crimes ou délits de collaboration avec l’ennemi » ;

2° À la fin, les mots : « l’infraction prévue par l’article 24 bis » sont remplacés par les mots : « les infractions prévues aux articles 24 bis et 24 ter ».

Délibéré en séance publique, à Paris, le 22 décembre 2011.

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives today adopted a landmark religious freedom measure, H.Res.306, calling upon Turkey to return the Christian church properties it stole through genocide, and to end its repression of the surviving members of the vast Christian civilizations that once represented a majority in the territory of the present-day Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The measure, spearheaded by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA) was scheduled for House consideration by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, with the support of Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ranking Member Berman, of the Foreign Affairs Committee. House Members speaking in support of the measure included Representatives Royce, Berman, Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution lead cosponsor Adam Schiff (D-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus CoChair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Eliot Engel (D-NY). Congressional Turkey Caucus Co-Chair Ed Whitfield (R-KY) was alone in speaking out against the resolution. The measure was adopted by voice vote.

“Despite Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent claims of progress on religious freedom, Turkey’s Christian communities continue to face severe discrimination,” explained Congressman Royce. “Today, the U.S. House of Representatives considered and adopted my legislation, which calls upon the government of Turkey to end religious discrimination, allow religious prayer and education, and return stolen church property. The United States has a strong interest in promoting religious freedom abroad.”

Rep. Berman concurred, noting that, “This important resolution calls attention to Turkey’s disturbing, persistent failure to respect the ancient Christian heritage of Anatolia and to treat its Christian communities as free and equal citizens. Turkey should take immediate steps to restore all confiscated church property and allow full freedom of worship and religious education for all Christian communities.”

In July, Reps. Royce and Berman were joined by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) in spearheading House Foreign Affairs Committee consideration of the “Return of Churches” amendment to the State Department Authorization Bill. Their amendment was overwhelmingly adopted by a vote of 43 to 1.

“The passage of House Resolution 306 is a great victory for religious freedom around the world, and is a turning point in the Armenian people’s fight for religious freedom. Respect for the full exercise of our civil rights is really central to who we are as Americans and central to the values and ideals that we promote all over the world. My home state of Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams on the principles of religious liberty and freedom and I am proud to co-sponsor the Resolution in that spirit,” said Congressman David Cicilline.

The text of H.Res. 306 adopted today is the same as the abridged version adopted at the committee level.

“Today’s vote – over opposition from Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and, sadly, even our own American President’s Administration, – represents a powerful victory for religious freedom, and also reflects the growing American and international consensus that Turkey must – starting with the return of thousands of stolen Christian churches properties and holy sites – accept its responsibilities for the full moral and material implications of a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.

Armenian Americans across the U.S. were joined by religious freedom advocates and their counterparts in the Greek, Assyrian, and Syriac communities in making thousands of phone calls to their Representatives in support of H.Res.306, following action alerts issued by the Armenian National Committee of America, American Hellenic Institute, and American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association and the American Hellenic Council.

With hours left to the scheduled vote on H.Res.306, Turkish American groups mounted a campaign to block the measure but were ultimately unsuccessful.

The ANCA will be posting full video coverage of U.S. consideration of H.Res.306 on its website at http://www.anca.org/return

#####

TEXT OF H. RES. 306

RESOLUTION

Urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian
heritage and to return confiscated church properties.

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State, in all official contacts with Turkish leaders and other Turkish officials, should emphasize that Turkey should –

(1) end all forms of religious discrimination;

(2) allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church properties, without hindrance or
restriction, to organize and administer prayer services, religious education, clerical training, appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings, social services, including ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm, and other religious activities;

(3) return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and other artifacts; and

(4) allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of Christian church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to preserve, reconstruct, and repair, as they see fit, all Christian churches and other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious properties within Turkey.

The Hrant Dink Foundation and Diyarbakir’s metropolitan municipality organized a workshop from November 11-13. The workshop focused on the social and economic history of the city and its surrounding areas from 1838 to 1938, tackling head-on the fate of the region’s vibrant Christian minorities. Opening remarks were made by Mayor Osman Baydemir who reminded the participants about Diyarbakir’s vibrant past during the Ottoman Empire era and how it decayed in the decades that followed because of the destruction of its Armenian and Assyrian population. He also informed the audience that the municipality is currently engaged in an effort to return properties confiscated from minorities to their rightful owners, or provide equivalent land elsewhere if the particular land is currently owned by a third party. Moreover, he added that renovating houses of worship also constitutes an effort to renovate the conscience of people and confront the past. “This city,” he went on, “belongs to Armenians and Assyrians as much as it belongs to Kurds.

”The keynote speech titled “The State, the Muslims, and the Non-Muslims, 1839-1938” was delivered by Ankara University professor Baskin Oran. The opening session also featured comments by Rakel Dink, Ali Bayramoglu, Cengiz Aktar, and others.Speakers at the workshop included genocide scholars and Ottoman historians from Europe, North America, and Turkey. David Gaunt, Raymond Kevorkian, Vahe Tashjian, Hans Lukas Kieser, Barbara Merguerian, George Aghjayan, Seda Altug, Janet Klein, Jelle Verheij, and Ayhan Aktar were among the participants. The conference was broadcast live on the website of the Hrant Dink Foundation, at www.hrantdink.org but in an yet another effort to suppress freedom of speech live-feeds from the foundation’s website were blocked in Turkey. The video of the conference will be made available online at www.hrantdink.org. Details, to follow.