SENATOR CLINTON PLEDGES TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE IF ELECTED

armradio.am
04.02.2008 10:25

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (S. Res. 106), urged Congress to adopt this critical
human rights legislation, saying if elected president, she would
speak candidly about the events of 1915.

Clinton is the second presidential candidate, following Senator
Barack Obama (D-IL), to issue a statement on the Armenian Genocide
in the past week. She is currently the only presidential candidate
to cosponsor the resolution.

Clinton said she has twice written to President Bush urging him
to properly characterize the crimes as genocide in his annual
commemorative statement.

"Our common morality and our nation's credibility as a voice for
human rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be
recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of the
United States," Clinton stated.

"If the mass atrocities of the 20th Century have taught us anything
it is that we must honestly look the facts of history in the face in
order to learn their lessons, and ensure they will not happen again,"
she continued.

"It is not just about the past, but about our future."

Turning to the atrocities in Darfur, Clinton said that the U.S. "must
close the gap between words and deeds" to prevent such modern-day
crimes, adding, "As President, I will work to build and enhance
U.S. and international capacity to act early and effectively to
prevent mass atrocities."

Clinton also pledged to improve U.S.-Armenia relations and address the
issues facing the two nations including, increasing trade, fostering
closer economic ties, fighting terrorism, strengthening democratic
institutions, pursuing military partnership and deepening Armenia's
cooperation with NATO.

If elected, she would expand assistance programs to Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh, and increase cooperation on regional concerns,
such as a fair and democratic resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"The Assembly thanks Senator Clinton for her longstanding support
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution and for calling on Congress to
adopt legislation properly recognizing the first genocide of the 20th
century," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "It is in the best
interest of this country, and the entire global community, to remember
the terrible lessons of 1915 and ensure they are never repeated."

LA LAWYER BATTLES GIANTS FOR ARMENIAN 'GENOCIDE' HEIRS

Agence France Presse
Feb 05 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Lawyer Vartkes Yeghiayan has been waging a long
and hard battle against US and French giants for million-dollar claims
from Armenians dating back to the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.

Thousands of unpaid insurance policy claims have flowed in from the
Armenian diaspora across the globe to Yeghiayan's small legal firm
in Glendale, a Los Angeles suburb with the largest concentration of
Armenians in the US.

In his two-decade crusade, Yeghiayan and a small team of lawyers have
won 37.5 million dollars for clients after settling two cases with
New York Life in 2004 and later in 2005 with French insurers AXA in
California courts.

But the silver-haired, 71-year-old lawyer is pragmatic about his
quest to seek a financial settlement for the heirs of Armenian
account-holders, who lost their lives or assets in the mayhem of
World War I and before the birth of modern Turkey in 1923.

Armenians say at least 1.5 million were killed from 1915 to 1917 in
what they call a campaign of deportation and murder by the Ottoman
Empire. The claims are denied by Turkey, which says hundreds of
thousands died on both sides after Armenians took up arms for
independence.

Several of Yeghiayan's own family members perished, including a
grandfather whose name, however, does not appear on his lists of life
insurance policies which were never honored.

"These are not genocide lawsuits. What we are talking about is
companies making an immoral profit," said the former Peace Corps
assistant director.

"It's not for the money. It's the concept that your grandfather felt
there was a danger and wanted future protection for his family. As one
of the beneficiaries said, 'That's a sentiment I will always cherish.'"

The heirs of 9,500 Ottoman Armenians who had bought policies are
eligible to benefit from the New York Life and AXA deals, which also
have to cover more than seven million dollars in legal expenses and
fees. Any unclaimed funds have been earmarked for Armenian charities
and the church.

Yeghiayan's odyssey started back in 1986 when he was reading the
memoirs of the US ambassador to Ottoman Turkey, Henry Morgenthau.

In a meeting with then interior minister Mehmed Talaat Pasha,
Morgenthau was asked for a list of Armenians who had taken out
insurance policies with American companies. The Turkish minister
argued the Ottoman government was the rightful beneficiary since
there were no heirs.

Morgenthau, who had reported back to Washington on the horrors which
his consuls were witnessing, stormed out of the meeting.

For Yeghiayan, that passage was a moment of revelation.

"That's when I jumped out of bed," says Yeghiayan.

With the enthusiasm of a detective, he launched a massive paper-trail
hunt which took him from the State Department to the National Archives
and finally into the insurers' annual reports and aging archives.

Taking gambles, such as turning down an initial settlement offer, he
courted the help of influential Armenians in California's political
hierarchy to help clear legal hurdles.

In the November 2005 AXA settlement, the largest number of some
9,000 claims came from Armenia, where a poster campaign gave details
about the case and sought claimants, followed by the United States,
and France.

As in the earlier New York Life case, for which the funds have already
been disbursed, claimants from far apart as Brazil, Bulgaria and
Lebanon were also represented.

Under the terms of the settlement, New York Life denied any wrongdoing,
but "concluded that it is in its best interests to settle this action
... in order to avoid the expense, inconvenience and interference
with its ongoing business operations that would result from further
litigation."

But treasure-hunters will be disappointed -- the average award per
policy amounts to a modest 6,000-7,000 dollars in the so-called Class
Action cases.

Undeterred by recent setbacks in court, Yeghiayan now has his sights
set on Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank of Germany.

Deutsche Bank told AFP they "do not comment on pending legal
procedures," but both banks, through their lawyers, have denied any
liability, arguing the suit amounted to "unconstitutional" meddling
in Germany's foreign affairs.

Despite emergency heart surgery in 1999, Yeghiayan has no plans to step
down. "I realize the other side may have 3,000 lawyers and that Vartkes
will not be around forever, but what am I going to do if I retire?"

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN WALES SMASHED ON UK'S HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

Infoshop News
Feb 6 2008

Contributed by: WorkerFreedom
Views: 51

Armenians and Welsh came together on January 27 to pray for victims
of all genocides on the United Kingdom's Holocaust Memorial Day and
to remember the first anniversary of the assassination of Hrant Dink,
the journalist killed for raising the issue of the Armenian Genocide
in the Turkish press.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN WALES SMASHED ON UK'S HOLOCAUST
MEMORIAL DAY

Armenians and Welsh came together on January 27 to pray for victims
of all genocides on the United Kingdom's Holocaust Memorial Day and
to remember the first anniversary of the assassination of Hrant Dink,
the journalist killed for raising the issue of the Armenian Genocide
in the Turkish press.

As they gathered they discovered the ornate slate cross on the Armenian
genocide monument (pictured here) smashed into pieces with a hammer
left at the scene. The Armenian Genocide Monument was desecrated on a
symbolic day designated to recall the events, consequences and lessons
of the darkest days of human history in a deliberate and premeditated
act of vandalism.

Kind of sick, don't you think?

The monument in Cardiff is to remember 1.5 million Armenians who were
massacred in 1915. IC Wales reports it caused controversy at the time,
with members of the Turkish community denying the killings amounted
to genocide.

Caerphilly Councillor Ray Davies, who campaigned for the Armenian
monument to be erected, said many people at the service were close
to tears when they saw what had happened.

"The desecration of the monument reminds us that we must always
be vigilant against racism and hatred which is never far from the
surface," he said.

Director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs Stephen Thomas
said: "It was particularly saddening for the Armenians present that
this happened on the day of the Holocaust Memorial Day. This service
wasn't specific to the Armenians. We were trying to be all-inclusive
about all those historical events where people have been massacred.

It wasn't very helpful in terms of trying to create a bridge and
links between Turkey and Armenia that this was carried out. People
were upset when they turned up and saw what had happened."

Hal Savas, a member of the five-man delegation from the Committee
for the Protection of Turkish Rights, was present at the service.

"Whoever has done it should be ashamed of themselves," he said. "We
would condemn any damage done to any religious monument."

The following is from AZG Armenian Daily.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT DESECRATED ON HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION DAY

The tiny Welsh Armenian community of Cardiff were targeted with a
despicable racist attack on Holocaust Memorial Day (January 27). The
new Armenian Genocide Monument (which was erected by the community
under the leadership of John Torosyan in November ) was desecrated in
the early hours of the morning before important ceremonies were held
today to Commemorate the Holocaust,and to remember Hrant Dink. The
ornate Armenian Cross on the monument was smashed to bits by persons
unknown using a hammer, which was left at the scene of the crime.

Turkish protesters disrupt Holocaust and Hrant Dink Commemorations

One of the Welsh Armenians said: "This is our holiest shrine. Our
grandparents who perished in the Genocide do not have marked graves.

This is where we remember them" Eilian Williams of Wales Armenia
Solidarity said that he blamed the so-called "Committee for the
Protection of Turkish Rights", under the leadership of Hal Savas for
the crime. We shall repair the cross again and again no matter how
often it is desecrated. We also challenge the UK government and the
Turkish Embassy to condemn this racist attack.

The Holocaust commemoration was a gesture of friendship by Welsh
Armenians towards the Jewish and Roma communities During the
Prayers for the Holocaust victims, the said Turkish Committee used
a loud-speaker to disrupt proceedings. Finally Martin Shipton, chief
reporter for the "Western Mail" the national newspaper of Wales gave
his tribute to Hrant Dink (also representing the National Union of
Journalists). The Turkish protesters also disrupted his speech.

TURKEY PLANS TO COMBAT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE AT THE HAGUE

By John C. K. Daly

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Feb 6 2008

The tragic events in eastern Anatolia in 1915 continue to roil not
only Turkish-Armenian relations, but the international community and
Turkish-American relations as well.

For more than 25 years, Yerevan and the Armenian diaspora have lobbied
to have the events in the wartime Ottoman Empire labeled as the 20th
century's first case of genocide, a definition that successive Turkish
governments have furiously lobbied against. Now the issue seems set to
appear before The Hague's International Court of Justice and Permanent
Court of Arbitration.

At issue is the February 2001 genocide resolution adopted by France,
which concisely states: "France publicly recognizes the Armenian
genocide of 1915." It was a largely symbolic act, since it did not
allow for the prosecution of those who deny that the 1915 massacre was
genocide. At the time Ankara was furious, but despite the dispute,
trade between France and Turkey grew 22% in 2002 and by 2006 had
increased 131% (Wall Street Journal, March 12, 2007).

The issue has never really gone away, however. Last week veteran
Turkish diplomat Sukru Elekdag, from the opposition Republican
People's Party (CHP), brought up the issue following talks at the
French parliament, where he was part of a Turkish Grand National
Assembly delegation. Elekdag suggested that France should reconsider
its legislation under the terms of the 1948 UN Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. "We can go to
the Internal Court of Justice with France and ask whether the law
adopted in France in 2001 is in compliance with the agreement in 1948
and whether the 1915 incidents constitute genocide."

Speaking to Today's Zaman, Elekdag expanded on his observations,
saying, "What would the authorized court rule if we assume that the
UN Convention could be implemented retrospectively? ... It is obvious
that the court will rule that the French parliament is not authorized
to make such a decision, and it will also have to announce that the UN
Convention cannot be implemented retrospectively due to the principle
of legality. This means that the 1915 incidents cannot be described
as genocide. If the ICJ makes such a ruling, then Armenia's genocide
allegation will entirely collapse" (Today's Zaman, February 5).

Elekdag, a former foreign ministry undersecretary and former ambassador
to the United States, has a history of opposing international efforts
to label the events of 1915 as genocide.

Speaking at the "Turkish-Armenian Relations and 1915 Incidents"
symposium at Ankara's Gazi University in 2005, he declared, "The
Armenian diaspora's accusing Turkey of genocide is a legal crime"
(Anatolian Times, November 25, 2005).

Having attempted to battle the decision in the media, the Turkish
government is now set to take its case to The Hague. Ankara will
argue that since France's genocide resolution was not based on any
French court decision, then the French National Assembly's decision
should be based on a prior ruling by an international court. Elekdag
told Hurriyet, "There is no international court ruling on the
Armenian so-called genocide allegations. Is the French parliament a
court? France is thus in the position of having disregarded the 1948
UN Convention" (Hurriyet, February 4).

Turkey will propose that Ankara and Yerevan each select three judges,
who in turn will select a chairman. The panel will review Turkish
archival material as well as the Dashnak (Armenian Revolutionary
Federation) Party archives in Boston, Armenian Patriarchate archives,
and those of foreign missions in the Ottoman Empire at the time
to determine the validity of their documents. The survey will be
followed by an extensive forensic survey of possible contributory
factors such as demographics and disease, ending with testimony from
relevant parties.

Even if Turkey succeeds in its Hague appeal the issue is hardly likely
to go away for Ankara, as many EU politicians insist that Turkey must
recognize the Armenian genocide before it can join the European Union.

The issue has also crossed the Atlantic. On January 30, 2007,
U.S. Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), and the
co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) introduced a resolution to recognize the
Armenian genocide, which was only tabled in October after furious
lobbying by the Bush administration (see EDM January 23, October
12, 17, 2007). Undeterred, Congressional critics in the House of
Representatives recently introduced a new resolution condemning the
January 19, 2007, murder of ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
(Panarmenian.net, February 5). Furthermore, Democratic presidential
candidates Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton have both stated that,
if elected, they will recognize the Armenian genocide.

The imbroglio seems to be a classic case of political posturing versus
historical reality, and the only certainty is that the issue seems
unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.

ZUBKOV LAID WREATH TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS MEMORIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.02.2008 16:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today, the Russian delegation led by Prime Minister
Victor Zubkov laid a wreath to the memorial to Armenian Genocide
victims. The officials commemorated the innocent murder victims with
a minute of silence.

The Russian Prime Minister also planted a fir at the Memory Alley.

CAMPUS HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM WILL SHED LIGHT ON GENOCIDE

By Carla M. Collado

Gazette Newspapers, CA
Feb 7 2008

It's not every day that Southern Californians get to meet genocide
survivors.

Next week, California State University, Long Beach, will invite the
community to meet these survivors and learn more about such global
issues at the President's Forum on International Human Rights focusing
on "Modern Genocides and Global Responsibility."

The forum - free and open to the public - will take place Monday
through Wednesday throughout the CSULB campus. Scheduled events
include art exhibits, panel discussions with human rights experts, film
screenings, genocide survivor testimonies and musical performances,
among other things.

CSULB President F. King Alexander said the three-day forum is the
first of several forums the university will host down the road focusing
on international human rights issues (education, health and genocide
are just some).

"We're doing a lot to internationally engage our campus on lots of
issues and to broaden the understanding and broaden our level of
interest to include some very important issues that impact world
affairs," Alexander said.

He said the university chose to lead with a forum focusing on genocide
because it is such a high-profile topic in the news today.

"It's so we all have a better understanding of what we need to do as
a global society to eradicate such global atrocities," he said.

One of the highlights will be the keynote address at 7 p.m. Monday
(at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center) by Francis Deng, the United
Nations' special representative of the secretary-general on the
prevention of genocide and mass atrocities. Over the decades, Deng has
served as representative of the United Nations secretary-general on
internally displaced persons, as senior fellow at the United States
Institute of Peace, as human rights officer in the United Nations
Secretariat and as ambassador of the Sudan to Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Norway, Sweden and the United States.

Other guest speakers include Ishmael Beah, who lived as a child soldier
in Sierra Leone and wrote about his experiences in "A Long Way Gone:
Memoirs of a Boy Soldier;" Immaculee Ilibagiza, who survived the
Rwandan genocide in 1994 and told her story in her book "Left to
Tell;" and Ervin Staub, psychology professor at the University of
Massachusetts Amherst, who has helped develop radio programs in
Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo to promote healing and reconciliation
and prevent new violence.

Panel discussion topics will include definitions of genocide,
scholars in conversation on the Armenian genocide, survivors'
testimonies, redress and reconciliation and policy response and the
role of governments. There also will be multiple film screenings and a
"Working for Change" career fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at
the Friendship Walk on campus with representatives from organizations
that fight for human rights.

Alexander said the forum offers events for people with different levels
of interest and urged the community to take advantage of the experts,
films and discussions taking place at the forum.

"Great universities E this is what we do, and this is what we should
do - provide access to special events that many cities don't provide,"
he said.

Beyond the three-day forum, Alexander said that CSULB faculty members
have been asked to incorporate discussions on human rights issues into
their classes (in courses on international affairs, political science,
sociology and world politics, for instance). He said professors can
use the forum as an opportunity to raise awareness, internationally
engage students and broaden their access to international media.

"We think that we'll get a lot out of this that lasts more than three
days," Alexander said.

The President's Forum on International Human Rights is being sponsored
by the CSULB Foundation, the Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual
History and Education at the University of Southern California,
the Port of Long Beach, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the California
Conference for Equality and Justice, Behr Paints and Lowe's of Central
Long Beach.

While the forum is open to the public, seats will be filled on
a first-come basis. For a complete schedule of events, parking
information and other details, visit www.csulb.edu/humanrights.

Pledges To Recognize Genocide If Elected

PLEDGES TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE IF ELECTED

KarabakhOpen
07-02-2008 17:20:56

Washington, DC - Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), a cosponsor of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (S. Res. 106), today urged Congress
to adopt this critical human rights legislation, saying if elected
president, she would speak candidly about the events of 1915.

Clinton is the second presidential candidate, following Senator
Barack Obama (D-IL), to issue a statement on the Armenian Genocide
in the past week. She is currently the only presidential candidate
to cosponsor the resolution.

Clinton said she has twice written to President Bush urging him
to properly characterize the crimes as genocide in his annual
commemorative statement.

"Our common morality and our nation's credibility as a voice for
human rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be
recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of the
United States," Clinton stated.

"If the mass atrocities of the 20th Century have taught us anything
it is that we must honestly look the facts of history in the face in
order to learn their lessons, and ensure they will not happen again,"
she continued.

"It is not just about the past, but about our future."

Turning to the atrocities in Darfur, Clinton said that the U.S. "must
close the gap between words and deeds" to prevent such modern-day
crimes, adding, "As President, I will work to build and enhance
U.S. and international capacity to act early and effectively to
prevent mass atrocities."

Clinton also pledged to improve U.S.-Armenia relations and address the
issues facing the two nations including, increasing trade, fostering
closer economic ties, fighting terrorism, strengthening democratic
institutions, pursuing military partnership and deepening Armenia's
cooperation with NATO.

If elected, she would expand assistance programs to Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh, and increase cooperation on regional concerns,
such as a fair and democratic resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"The Assembly thanks Senator Clinton for her longstanding support
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution and for calling on Congress to
adopt legislation properly recognizing the first genocide of the 20th
century," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "It is in the best
interest of this country, and the entire global community, to remember
the terrible lessons of 1915 and ensure they are never repeated."