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В ожидании Слова: что сказал – или не сказал – президент Обама в Анкаре? Джон Хьюз
Редактор ArmeniaNow
Published: 07 Апрель, 2009

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Теперь, когда президент США Барак Обама вернулся в Вашингтон после визита в Турцию, вопрос - что он сказал/чего не сказал - стал уже предметом для анализа, догадок, различных «межстрочных» интерпретаций, которые могут или не могут отразиться на изменениях в армяно-турецких отношениях в результате этого события.

Обама, который в бытность сенатором поддерживал вопрос признания Геноцида армян со стороны США и заявлял о намерении, став президентом, способствовать достижению признания, во время обсуждения этого вопроса на пресс-конференции в Анкаре в понедельник выказал себя искусным дипломатом.

«В данный момент мне бы хотелось остановиться не на собственном видении этой проблемы, а на перспективах турецкого и армянского народов. Если они смогут двигаться вперед... весь мир должен их поддержать», - сказал президент.

По мнению многих, в этом комментарии ключевыми были слова: «в данный момент».

В Вашингтоне Армянская Ассамблея Америки (www.aaainc.org) – старейшая из армяно-американских лоббистских организаций – восприняла ответ Обамы как свидетельство того, что он остается приверженным позиции признания массовых убийств и депортаций 1915-1918гг. не просто «трагическими событиями», как до сих пор официально характеризовали его предшественники.

«Впервые президент США выступил с прямым обращением к турецким властям в их собственной стране, показав, что твердо стоит на своей позиции признания Геноцида армян», - сказал исполнительный директор Ассамблеи Брайан Ардуни.

«Ассамблея надеется, что 24 апреля президент Обама подтвердит факт Геноцида армян в своем послании», - заявил далее руководитель ААА.

Реакция Армянского Национального Комитета Америки (www.anca.org) была менее сдержанной: здесь считают, что в Анкаре Обама «упустил отличную возможность», но также рассматривают обращение по случаю 24 апреля шансом сделать то, чего не делал до сих пор ни один из президентов США.

В своем заявлении исполнительный директор АНКА Арам Гампарян признает, что комментарии Обамы стали «шагом в правильном направлении», однако вместе с тем были «далеки от данного в период предвыборной кампании четкого обещания того, что в случае избрания президентом он ясно и недвусмысленно заявит о признании этого преступления против человечества. Мы надеемся, что в апреле этого года он сдержит свое обещание».

Но если в Белом доме преобладают настроения, отраженные в сегодняшнем репортаже «AC 360» телеканала CNN
(http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/06/obamas-turkish-dilemma/), то в списке американо-турецких приоритетов признание стоит – и должно стоять – в ряду вопросов второстепенной важности для президента.

Ссылаясь на HR252 – резолюцию Конгресса, поддерживаемую Ассамблеей и АНКА – руководитель отдела Европейской безопасности корпорации RAND Ф. Стефан Лараби пишет: «Вместо того, чтобы продвигать резолюцию о геноциде, Конгресс должен содействовать процессу турецко-армянского примирения, в частности, открытию турецко-армянской границы (закрытой с 1993 года), что окажет важное влияние на экономику Армении и выведет страну из экономической изоляции».

«В обмен на снятие резолюции из повестки дня Турция должна согласиться восстановить отношения с Ереваном и продолжать предпринимаемые в последнее время усилия в направлении большей внутренней открытости в отношении к Армянскому вопросу».

«Это могло бы обеспечить выгодную ситуацию для всех сторон и позволило бы избежать кризиса, который может нанести серьезный ущерб отношениям США-Турция, а также более широким интересам США на Ближнем Востоке и Кавказе».

В Ереване в основном позитивно оценили поведение Обамы в Анкаре касательно вопроса геноцида. В кругу местных аналитиков существует понимание того, что США нуждаются в более тесном сотрудничестве с Турцией в контексте резкого ухудшения взаимоотношений с мусульманским миром, доставшегося Обаме в наследство от Буша.

Общественно-политический резонанс в Турции показывает, что Обаме удалось сделать существенный шаг вперед в направлении улучшения отношений США с Турцией. Однако, сказав 24 апреля слово «геноцид», он наверняка нивелирует достигнутый в ходе визита прогресс.

Директор Института востоковедения НАН РА Рубен Сафрастян считает, что Обама играет в двойную игру.

«Заявив, что его позиция не изменилась, он, вместе с тем, не произнес слова «геноцид», оставляя поле для достижения компромиссов в процессе улучшения армяно-турецких отношений посредством переговоров, - отметил Сафрастян. – Вместе с тем он дал понять Турции, что надо пересмотреть историю и пойти на уступки, и что его позиция остается прежней и он может однажды сказать слово «геноцид».

По мнению других аналитиков, этот день наступит еще нескоро.

«Я и не ожидал, что президент США произнесет в Турции слово «геноцид», - сказал директор Кавказского института СМИ Александр Искандарян. – Вчерашнее выступление лишний раз показало, что 24 апреля Обама также не сделает этого».

Obama and Genocide  ОБАМА И ГЕНОЦИД

Analysis: Obama visit to Turkey no afterthought
By STEVEN R. HURST – Apr 5, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's stop in Turkey is hardly an afterthought, a "while I'm in the neighborhood" visit.
For starters, he wants to mend relations strained when the United States went to war in Iraq six years ago. Ankara's Islamic-rooted government denied Washington's request to use Turkish territory to invade Iraq from the north. But Turkey also is in line for thanks for trying to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Turkey is the only predominantly Muslim country in NATO, an alliance stalwart and America's best friend in the Islamic world. Obama, completing a European trip, arrives Sunday and undoubtedly will reprise his message from a town hall meeting Friday in France.
"We must be honest with ourselves. In recent years, we've allowed our alliance to drift," he said at that appearance.
Before arriving, Obama played an especially high card intended to further soften his Turkish interlocutors.
At a luncheon Sunday for leaders of the EU's 27 nations in Prague, he said the West should seek greater cooperation and closer ties with Islamic nations. Allowing Turkey to join the European Union would deepen that message, he contended.
France, Austria and other nations oppose Turkey's long-running efforts to join the EU. Others in the organization have urged Turkey to do more to guarantee minority rights, curb the powers of its military and pass new rights for trade unions.
Turkey maintains a small military force in Afghanistan, part of the NATO contingent working with U.S. troops to beat back the resurgent Taliban and deny al-Qaida a safe haven along the largely lawless territory that straddles Afghanistan's border with Pakistan. Turkey's participation carries enormous symbolic importance because it is the only Muslim country with a presence in the fight against Islamic extremism.
In talks with Turkey's president, Abdullah Gul, and prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Obama will try to sell his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He should find welcoming ears, given the new U.S. focus on melding troop increases with civilian efforts to better the lives of people in both countries.
"Obama may be able to create momentum for help from a broader sector of nominal U.S. allies in the Muslim world," said Jeffrey Martinson, a historian and political scientist at Meredith College in North Carolina.
"The fact that he's visiting the Turks at the end of this major European trip is a nice homage to them," Martinson said, noting that uppermost on Turkey's agenda is gaining membership in the European Union.
The new president has pushed for Muslim diplomacy.
In his inaugural address in January, Obama assured the Muslim world that "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." He has made early telephone calls to friendly Arab leaders and sent special envoy George J. Mitchell to the Middle East on a "listening tour."
Obama's declaration that he will close the prison for suspected terrorists Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was seen as a move to address a chief source of ill will among Muslim nations since Sept. 11.
Obama's father and stepfather were Muslim and he spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, a largely Muslim country. Throughout the campaign, Obama, who is Christian, fought false Internet rumors that he is a Muslim.
In an Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday night, 81 percent of respondents said it is very important or somewhat important for Obama to try to improve U.S. relations with Muslim nations.
Turkey is one of only two key Muslim countries with cordial relations with Israel. The Turks, along with the Egyptians, are working with France in trying to maintain a cease-fire and broker a permanent truce between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian faction that rules the Gaza Strip. That is essential to America's pledge to spare no effort in establishing peace between the ancient antagonists and establishing a Palestinian state.
Beyond that, Turkey has shepherded contacts between Israel and Syria, where a successful outcome could entice Muslim nations across the Middle East into accepting Israel's right to exist.
Despite the likely good will, Obama must finesse the tangled issue of Turkey's history with Armenia. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks leading up to and during World War I, an event widely viewed by many scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, claiming the toll has been inflated and the casualties were victims of civil war and unrest.
"The Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence," Obama said in a January 2008 statement on his campaign Web site. "America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that president."
So far, Obama aides refuse to say how he will deal with the legacy of that statement while in Turkey. Nor would they predict his stance on a resolution to be introduced soon in the House that describes the killings as genocide. His visit to Turkey also is uncomfortably close to the annual April 24 Armenian remembrance day.
"The smartest thing on Armenia is to try to ignore what he said in the campaign," Martinson said.
Then there is Iran. Turkey's eastern neighbor is accused by the United States and most of Washington's European allies of trying to develop a nuclear weapon. The Turkish government supports Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful use but wants Tehran to be transparent about its nuclear program and favors dialogue.
That goes along with Obama's efforts to open a diplomatic front with Iran and the message from this past week's Group of 20 summit. At that meeting, leaders said Iran must open up its nuclear program and support its claim that it does not intend to build a bomb.
EDITOR'S NOTE _ Steven R. Hurst, AP international political writer, has covered foreign affairs for 30 years.

Obama wavers on pledge to declare Armenian genocide

Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press
Demonstrators in Sacramento in 2005. Armenian Americans have been pushing for a presidential declaration on April 24, the annual remembrance day.


The administration is considering postponing a presidential statement amid worries that it would risk Turkey's help in the Mideast.
By Paul Richter
March 17, 2009
Reporting from Washington -- The Obama administration is hesitating on a promised presidential declaration that Armenians were the victims of genocide in the early 20th century, fearful of alienating Turkey when U.S. officials badly want its help.

President Obama and other top administration officials pledged during the presidential campaign to officially designate the 1915 killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks as genocide. Many Armenian Americans, who are descendants of the victims and survivors, have long sought such a declaration.


But the administration also has been soliciting Ankara's help on Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other security issues amid Turkish warnings that an official U.S. statement would imperil Turkey's assistance.

Administration officials are considering postponing a presidential statement, citing progress toward a thaw in relations between Turkey and neighboring Armenia. Further signs of warming -- such as talk of reopening border crossings -- would strengthen arguments that a U.S. statement could imperil the progress.

"At this moment, our focus is on how, moving forward, the United States can help Armenia and Turkey work together to come to terms with the past," said Michael Hammer, a spokesman for the National Security Council. He said the administration was "encouraged" by improvements in relations and believed it was "important that the countries have an open and honest dialogue about the past."

Armenian Americans and their supporters, however, say policies that avoid offending Turkey merely advance Ankara's denial of brutal periods in its history.

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were victims of planned killings by the Ottoman Turks as the empire was dissolving during World War I, an episode historians have concluded was a genocide. But Turkey and some of its supporters contend that the deaths resulted from civil war and unrest and that their numbers were exaggerated.

American presidents have long sought to avoid calling the killings a genocide, fearing repercussions from a NATO ally that is acutely sensitive to the charge. In 2007, the Bush administration argued for a delay in a congressional genocide resolution, saying that Turkish assistance was needed for the safety of U.S. troops in Iraq.

For Obama, the controversy comes at an especially sensitive time. He is visiting Turkey on April 5, and his views on the issue will command worldwide attention. Armenian Americans, meanwhile, have been pushing for a White House declaration on April 24, the annual remembrance day. Congressional supporters are also planning to reintroduce the genocide resolution soon.

Obama's visit to Turkey has become risky for the administration, said Mark Parris, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey. "Plopping the president down over there really does raise the stakes," said Parris, now co-director of the Brookings Institution's program on Turkey. "Now it can't be overlooked. . . . It could carry costs to his credibility."

Obama declared repeatedly during his campaign that the killings were genocide. Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are on record with similar positions.

But the Obama administration would like to use Turkey as part of the military supply line for Afghanistan. It also would like more help regarding Iraq, Iran's nuclear program, Russia and Mideast peace.

Relations between Turkey and Armenia began warming noticeably in September, when Turkish President Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia. The countries are considering opening borders and embassies, initiating economic cooperation and establishing a historical commission.

But Parris said further openings to Armenia would carry domestic risks for Turkish leaders, who could be reluctant to do so if they thought Obama would declare a genocide on April 24.

Congressional supporters of the genocide resolution expressed frustration about the latest resistance.

"The argument that some are making now is only the latest incarnation of the same old tired refrain: that we should recognize the genocide -- just not this year," said Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), one of the sponsors of the resolution.

Another advocate, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), said that though the strength of Turkey's cautions was declining, Turks remained influential with lawmakers who believed a halt in Ankara's aid could hurt U.S. troops. Sherman called it "their ugly ace in the hole."

Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, remained optimistic. Obama "is a man of his word and has been crystal clear on the issue," he said.

But Turks remain uneasy. Ali Babacan, the Turkish foreign minister, warned in a TV interview last week that Obama's visit didn't preclude a genocide declaration.

"The Turks fully understand that the danger of the [genocide] resolution is not going away," said Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

paul.richter@latimes.com

Barack Obama to Christian Van Gorder: I acknowledge the reality of recognizing Armenian Genocide 31.03.2009 00:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An associate professor of religion at Baylor University, Christian Van Gorder, has told about his talk with U.S. President Barack Obama in the article "I asked Obama about genocide" at wacotrib.com.

The full text of the article is presented below:

"What question would you ask if you had one chance to ask Barack Obama something? Last October while campaigning in the swing state of New Mexico for his presidential campaign (we also traveled to Pennsylvania), my wife and I were told we would have a chance at a $1,500 fundraiser we’d be attending to meet Obama for a few moments.

After days of thought, I decided to ask if he would pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide if he became president. When I met him I asked my question, and he said that he had already acknowledged this reality. He is repeatedly on record that he would.

Why this question? In a world filled with evils there is no more evil imaginable than genocide.

My German ancestors filled the sky with the ashes of millions of Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, communists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and Slavs. In 1915, between 1 million and 2 million men, women and children of Armenia were systematically massacred by the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

British postwar trials set the number at more than 1 million. Yet, the Turkish government denies genocide and admits only that thousands of Armenians died randomly in the midst of the paroxysms of World War I.

This is a blatant, revisionist lie.

The argument in favor of avoiding the recognition of the facts of history is that the United States lives in a real world where pragmatic solutions must address actual, present problems.

The United States values Turkey’s support for its wars and its military bases there. Turkey threatens to remove assistance if we acknowledge genocide.

This is bullying, pure and simple. Who needs whom more?

When France faced this same question, it acknowledged the facts of the genocide, and, after months of feuding words, the two countries returned to strong relations based on mutual self-interests.

This should be America’s path: Do not lamely kowtow to damnable Turkish attempts to bully our great nation from recognizing Armenia’s brutal genocide. Admit to the facts of history, then move on in a constructive partnership.
Yes, it is important to be pragmatic; but at the cost of truth? I campaigned for, and donated money to, a candidate for the first time in my life because I was hoping for "change that we can believe in."

Friends told me I was naive and that Barack was just like every other snake-oil salesman. On April 24, the anniversary of the murder of 1.5 million Armenians, we will find out exactly who is right about Obama’s moral compass.

I pray our president will do the right thing and, with integrity, honor his commitment to recognize the horrific Armenian Genocide."

Президент США выступил 24 Апреля 2009 года с речью о геноциде, не разу при этом не назвав то, что призошло в 1905 словом "Геноцид". Что говорят в Москве по этому поводу?

24-oe Aprelya o4en' tragi4eskiy den' dlya vsex armyan.
Davayte postavim sve4ki za vsex pogibshix........

Сильвестр Сталонне снимет фильм о геноциде Армян


Как сообщило Общественное телевидение Армении, известный американский актер и продюсер Сильвестр Сталлоне намерен снять фильм о героической обороне Муса-Дага в 1915 году в Османской Турции. Фильм предполагается снять на основе книги "40 дней Муса-Дага" австрийского писателя Франца Верфеля о событиях 1915 года, когда в Османской Турции был осуществлен Геноцид армянского населения.

По словам актера, во время Первой мировой войны Турция осуществила массовое уничтожение армян, и фильм расскажет о том, как армяне организовали оборону на Муса-Даге и были спасены французскими военными кораблями. Он также сказал, что осознает, что Турция будет препятствовать работе над фильмом, подчеркнув, что Анкара уже более 90 лет проводит политику отрицания Геноцида армян.

30 июля 1915 года жители 6 сел, расположенных у подножия горы Муса-Даг на побережье Средиземного моря (Армянская Киликия) организовали самооборону, превратив гору в непреступную крепость. На помощь оборонявшимся пришли французские военные корабли, которые с 13 по 15 сентября 1915 года вывезли оставшихся в живых защитников горы и переправили их в Египет. Было спасено около 4 тысяч человек, большая часть из которых в 1946 году вернулась в Армению.


Фильм о Геноциде армян буквально потряс зрителей Берлинского кинофестиваля
Фильм братьев Паоло и Витторио Тавиани "Ферма жаворонка" ("Masseria delle Allodole"), рассказывающий о Геноциде армян 1915 г., - вне конкуренции, пишет интернет-издание nachrichten.ch, отмечая, что в ходе демонстрации 14 февраля на 57-м Берлинском кинофестивале картина братьев Тавиани буквально потрясла публику. Многие смотрели фильм не шелохнувшись, с широко раскрытыми глазами, другие - прикрывали лицо ладонями, будто бы не хотели верить тому, что видят, отмечает источник.

Между тем, немецкая газета Spiеgel сообщает, что фильм не вызвал негодования у многомиллионной турецкой общины Германии. Как отмечает представитель турецкого союза в Берлине и Бранденбурге Сафтер Чинар, даже учитывая тот факт, что сама тема геноцида наводит на размышления, то фильм сам не вызывает никакого возмущения. "Это свобода творчества каждого режиссера - как представлять эти события", - считает Чинар.

Отметим, что фильм братьев Тавиани основан на романе Антонии Арслан и рассказывает о Геноциде армян в Османской Турции в 1915 году через историю одной семьи, которая живет в Западной Армении и ожидает приезда родителей, проживающих в Италии. Но Первая мировая войны помешала воссоединиться семье, члены которой стали жертвами Геноцида армян, и из семьи в живых осталась только младшая дочь. Отметим, что фильм, бюджет которого составил порядка 10 млн. евро, является совместным производством Италии, Испании, Болгарии, Великобритании, Франции и Бельгии. Братья Тавиани - Паоло и Витторио известные итальянские сценаристы и режиссеры, работы которых получали призы на самых престижных фестивалях в Каннах и Венеции.





Фильм армянского режиссера Вардана Ованнисяна "Человеческие истории во время войны и мира" получил награду в номинации "Новые имена" на кинофестивале Tribecca Film Festival в Нью-Йорке. Лента снята в 2006 году на киностудии "Барс медиа" и повествует о карабахской войне. По сообщению радиостанции "Свобода", Вардан Ованнисян также получит премию в размере 25 тысяч долларов.

Кинофестиваль Tribecca Film Festival основан в 2002 году по инициативе Роберта де Ниро, Джейн Розенталь и Грега Хаткофи. Цель инициативы - при помощи кино и музыки содействовать оживлению на Манхеттене после событий 11 сентября 2001 года.

В этом году, как мы уже сообщали, в конкурсной программе фестиваля представлены 275 фильмов из 40 стран мира, в том числе документальный фильм Левона Григоряна "Воспоминания о Саят-Нове".

29 апреля 1981 года парламент Кипрской республики принял особую резолюцию об осуждении Турции за армянский геноцид!

Sevodnya ispolnilos' god, kak ubili Hranta Dinka. Esli kto ne znayet kto on, mogu rasskazat'.

V fotografiyax, kotorie pod etoy zapis'yu Tsitsernakaberd.(Xotya ya ne uverina, 4to ne Armyani smogut pro4est' eto slovo:)))) Pro4tite, 4to on sinvoliziruet.

About Tsitsernakaberd

The end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries were fatal times for Armenians. Ottoman Empire at the Government level planned and carried out massacres of Armenians. It reached its culmination in 1915-1916, when on 24th of April, 1915 in a slaughter 1.5 million civilian Armenians were killed.… For more information about this see About Mets Yeghern page.

This fact at that time condemned many progressive intellectuals: J. Lepsius and J. Markwart, the German historians, A. Toynbee, English historian, H. Morgenthau American diplomat, Ambassador of the US to Turkey, A. France, French writer, V. Bryusov, Russian writer and many others. At a Government level Armenian Genocide was condemned only after the World War II.

Only in 1950-is in the Soviet Union it was allowed to speak about Genocide. In 1965, on the occasion of commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Genocide, the monument to the victims of Armenian Genocide was founded on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd, designed by the architects Tarkhanyan and Kalashian.



The monument consists of two parts: one is a high pillar and the other is a circle of lower walls in the center of which there is an eternal fire. There are stairs between the slabs of the circle leading down to the fire. Every year, on 24th of April, many Armenians and foreigners visit the Tsitsernakaberd memorial and bring flowers. Sometimes the height of the flowers laid around the fire reaches to 1 meter.

The two parts of the monument have different interpretation with different people. Some claim, that 2 parts symbolize the Eastern and Western parts of Armenia; others believe those are the Ararat Mountains – Great and Little one. Next to the memorial there is also a museum on the Genocide of Armenians in Turkey.

The Tsitsernakaberd Memorial is one of the most visited sights of Yerevan now.

Vse po etoy ssilke, please!!!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id... 

Ya dumayu ne nujno vsegda krichat chto bilo GENOCID no igroirovat turkam ne poyti nu diskussiu,za to chto oni delali eto.u nix seychas novoe pokolenie i armyanam nujno obshatsya s nimim i imet normalnie otnoshenya,i posle etogo oni vseravno primut eto,no nichego nepoluchitsya esli davit na nix......Len kak ti dumaesh ob etom?

 Vot fotki SERJa vo vremya odnoy iz protestov protiv Turcii.

THE FOLLOWING NAMES OF THOSE ARMENIAN REVENGE TAKERS THAT HAVE KILLED THE MASTERMINDERS OF THE ARMENIAN GENECIDE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE

Soghomon Tehleryan

Petros Ter-Poghosyan

Artashes Gevorgyan

Arshavir Shirakyan

Aram Yerkanyan

Hakob Melkumov



 

About Mets Yeghern (Big Genocide)

Before 1908-ies

In 1877 one of the regular Russian-Turkish wars started, as a result of which the Treaty of San-Stefano was signed. According to that Treaty the Vilayet (Province) of Kars populated by Armenians was to be ceded to Russia, and Turkey was to undertake economic reforms in its areas populated by Armenians. This was a great option for Armenians. However, the West European Countries, troubled by the success of Russia, initiated another negotiation between the conflicting parties, this time in Berlin. There the implementation of reforms in Armenia was exclusively assigned to Turkey only. Instead the Armenian cause ("Haykakan Harts" in Armenian) emerged. The Armenian Issue implied that the European countries would provide assistance to Armenians and thus improve their situation. However, as time showed, it had the contrary outcome. The European diplomacy started to use the Armenian issue as a means for suppressing Turkey. And the Turkish Government adopted a new way of struggle…

They chose the most inhumane and barbaric way for settling the Armenian Issue: the complete extermination of the Armenian people from the earth. For that purpose gangs called "hamidie" were established who were assigned to attack and raid the Armenian vilayets. The Armenian-hunting policy was strengthened and intensified. Sultan Abdul Hamid II became the immediate implementer of this policy. In 1895-1896 at his own initiative the first mass carnages of Armenians were started. They were then extended to many towns and villages of the Turkish Armenia. Some 300 000 Armenians were slaughtered in the massacre.

Clifford Lloyd, The Consul of UK in Erzrum has told on those events: "The Armenian citizens of the Sultan were literally without any protection, as a herd of sheep surrounded by wolfs."

The Years 1908-1914

In 1908 the Young Turks seized power in a coup d'etat, which was supported by the Armenian parties as well. However, by that time the ideology of panturkism was being rooted in the Turkish policy. It was about unification of all Turkish speaking nations into one state and annihilation of all those nations that were in- between or on their way.

From April 1 to April 14 of 1909 the first mass destruction of Armenians was carried out by Young Turks in the Vilayet of Adana and some 30 000 Armenians were slaughtered.

Following the massacre in Adana, the destructions of Armenians became more intense. In October of 1911 the Young Turks convened a meeting where a decision was adopted on Ottomanization of all the citizens of Turkey (which they claimed should be achieved sooner or later) and it was clear that it cannot be achieved through peaceful means, therefore it was to be enforced by arms. Thus the entire Ottoman Empire was getting ready to deliver the final and last blow to Armenians. Talaat Pasha, Enver Pasha, Jemal Pasha and Behaeddin Shakir Bay and others became in charge of annihilation of Armenians.

The Years of 1915-1916

Those in charge of the Young Turk Party decided to carry out the extermination in three phases.

During the first phase, all the Armenian males of 15-45 ages were recruited to Army; they were disarmed and then killed in separate groups of 50-100. The few arms and little ammunition that the Armenians possessed were also taken away.

The second phase was the slaughter of Armenian political, intellectual, cultural and military leaders. On April 24, 1915, in Constantinople 235 intellectuals were arrested and taken to prison and by April 29 this number was far beyond 800. They all were then subjected to unspeakable tortures and executed. Such famous Armenians as Siamanto, Grigor Zohrap, Ruben Sevak, Daniel Varuzhan and other progressive minded intellectuals turned into the victims of the Turkish sword.

The third phase, as masterminded by the Turk slaughterers, was the extermination of unprotected and peaceful Armenian population, the majority of who were women, elderly and children. Horrendous death marches, exiles and pogroms were on the way. Armenians were enforced either to denounce Christianity or be killed or be deported. All the wretched remnants of Armenians in the Western Armenia were forced into deportations and death marches heading towards the deserts of Mesopotamia, mainly to Der-Zor, where they were exterminated.

This massacre had outrageous and horrible outcome. The Western Armenia is deprived of its native population-the Armenians that used to be its permanent inhabitants for more than 2000 years. Within one year, some 200 000 Christian Armenians were forcibly turned into Muslims, who now live at the Basin of Chorox River. More than 1 000 000 Armenians became refugees and were spread all over the world.

The material losses that were suffered were also enormous. According to the Statistical data, the population of 66 towns and some 2500 villages of Western Armenia was slaughtered. 2350 churches and monasteries were looted and destroyed. 1500 schools and colleges were ruined. The Armenians suffered a loss of 14.5 billion francs. And during the years of 1915-1916, 1 500 000 Armenians were massacred.:

After 1916-ies
The Turkish encroachment on Armenians did not end up here. During the 1918 invasion on the Transcaucasus another 500 000 Armenians fall victim to the advancing Turkish troops, and in 1920-1922 this time led by an already Kemal Government, as many as 260 000 Armenians were executed. During the period of 1895-1922 more than 2 500 000 Armenians were slaughtered.



1It is doubtless, that the events of 1895 and following years are to be qualified as GENOCIDE.

It was Genocide as the annihilation of the entire Armenian nation, its physical extermination was planned at a Government level … It was the first Genocide of the 20th century and an unprecedented event that happened to Armenians. The Government of Turkey obstinately refuses to accept this undeniable fact. And many of the countries all over the world, following its example, continue to turn a blind eye in the face of the Reality



For additional information we recommend that you acquire our film dedicated to the 90th years of commemoration of the Genocide of Armenians with plenty of photos and maps. It is in a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation format and together with our archive is available on a CD. For detailed information on our archive, please see the Photos. The brief version of the film you can acquire directly form the website, under Film menu.

 

The Armenian Revenge Takers
Killings of the Genocide Criminals

It has already been mentioned that in 1919 the Turkish Pashas that have carried out the Armenian Genocide have been tried and sentenced to death in absentina by the Military Tribunal of Constantinople. However, that sentence, for whatever reasons was not enforced and the criminals were left unpunished.

Nonetheless, they were not to die with their own natural deaths…The Armenian revenge takers killed a number of Turkish former officials, perpetrators of Mets Yegern, among them were also Talaat Pasha, Enver Pasha, Jemal Pasha, Behaeddin Shakir Bay, Sayid Halim, the then Prime Minister of Turkey and others. Later Doctor Nazim also was hanged by his countrymen.

Sogomon Tehleryan was one of the prominent Armenian revenge takers, involved in the slaying of monsters. He was the first one that executed his plan: avenged his own slain family by killing the former Turkish leader, Talaat Pasha, and was tried for murder in a German court. He was also the only one that was found not guilty.



Soghomon Tehleryan
Slaying of Talaat Pasha

Soghoman Tehleryan (Tehliryan) was born on April 02, 1896 in the Nerqin Bagarich village of the Erzrum Vilayet (District), of Western Armenia. He received his preliminary education in his native village, and then in 1915 had lost his entire family: parents, brothers and sisters were slaughtered in the Genocide. He had survived the massacre by a miracle and found refugee in a Kurdish family, where from he then fled to Eastern Armenia. Several years later he returned to his native Yerznka, where he could not find a single Armenian family...

Then he traveled to European countries, USA, Switzerland, and Germany to study and also to hunt after Talaat Pasha. In March of1921 he found him in Berlin. There Talaat was hiding in a house located at Hardenberg street. Tehleryan rented an apartment on the opposite side of his house. And on March 15, when he saw Talaat coming out of his house, ran downstairs and killed the monster with a gunshot.

Tehleryan was arrested with charges on murder and faced a trial. During the court hearings of June 2 -3, the defendant told the story of his slaughtered family and of the Armenian Genocide, and justified his motives for retaliation. The German Court (Presided by Dr. Lemberg) found Tehleryan NOT GUILTY.

Until 1945 Tehleryan lived in Belgium, and then moved to San-Francisco, where he passed away in 1960.

About Mets Yeghern
The UN Convention

The UN Convention of December 18, 1948 clearly defines the term Genocide as cited below:

Article I.

The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and punish.

Article II.

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such:

a) Killing members of the group;

b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Article III.

The following acts shall be punished:

a) Genocide;

b) Conspiracy to commit genocide;

c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide;

d) Attempt to commit genocide;

e) Complicity in genocide.

Article IV.

Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article III shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals.

Article V.

The Contracting Parties undertake to enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary legislation to give affect to the provision of the present Convention and, in particular, to provide effective penalties for persons guilty of genocide or of any of the other acts enumerated in Article III.

Article VI.

Persons charged with genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article III shall be tried by a competent tribunal of the State in the territory of which the act was committed, or by such international penal tribunal as may have jurisdiction with respect to those Contracting Parties which shall have accepted its jurisdiction.

Article VII.

Genocide and the other acts enumerated in Article III shall not be considered as political crimes for the purpose of extradition. The Contracting Parties pledge themselves in such cases to grant extradition in accordance with their laws and treaties in force.

Article VIII.

Any Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article III.

Article IX.

Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpretation, application or fulfillment of the present Convention, including those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts enumerated in Article III, shall be submitted to the International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to the dispute.





Thus all those acts enumerated in Article II of the Convention are crimes of genocide. The Armenian genocide (Mets Yeghern) is about all the mentioned five points in general, about the first two points and in particular:



a) Killing members of the group; and

b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.

Therefore there is not even a slightest doubt that what had happened in 1915 in Western Armenia was Genocide.



As the Article III of the Convention states

a) the act of Genocide and

b) Conspiracy to commit genocide should be punished;

which means that the Ottoman Empire (presently Turkey) that had committed the crime of genocide against Armenians must be punished by the international laws.



According to the IV and VI articles of the Convention the persons that are guilty of committing genocide shall be tried either in the territory of the State where the act has been committed or by an international penal tribunal.

In 1919 the Court Martial in Constantinople condemned Talaat, Enver and Jemal Pashas, and Doctor Naseem to death in absentia. But the sentence was never enforced. Years later that verdict was carried out by Armenian revenge takers.