European Armenian Federation

Swedish Parliament Recognises the Armenian Genocide (16 March 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-03-16T08:45:01Z

Brussels-Stockholm- March 11, 2010

Spearheaded by a Swedish MP from the left party, Mr. Hans Linde, the Swedish Parliament adopted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 a resolution recognizing the Armenian, Assyrian/Syriac/Chaldean and Pontic Greek genocides. This makes Sweden the 11th European country to do so, following Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, as well as the European Parliament.

With this vote, the Parliament confirms that Sweden must recognize the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian/Syriac/Chaldean and Pontic Greek genocide; that it must work with the European Union and the United Nations for an international recognition as well as with Turkey, so that the latter recognizes these genocides.

“We congratulate the Assyro-Chaldean and the Pontic Greek populations, who along with the Armenians, were victims of genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government. We commend the Swedish members of Parliament for their courage against the pressures of the Turkish lobby” declared Hilda Tchoboian, President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy.

The European Armenian Federation wishes to underscore that this vote, taken in spite of pressures and threats from the Turkish government, one week after the vote of the US House of Representatives, highlights the failure of Turkey's policy of denial.

“Turkey manipulated the public opinion by signing the protocols with Armenia in hopes of burying the Genocide issue; but its position became intolerable in the face of the inescapable pursuit for historical truth” announced Hilda Tchoboian.

The Federation calls on the Swedish government to apply the decisions of this parliamentary resolution in its bilateral relations with Turkey, but also in its European policy, by applying them in its official position regarding Turkey's accession to the European Union.

400 organisations from 22 European countries urge Obama to recognise the Armenian genocide (18 April 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-04-18T20:16:44Z

400 ORGANISATIONS FROM 22 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES URGE OBAMA TO RECOGNISE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Nearly 400 organisations from 22 European countries signed-on to the letter launched by the European Armenian Federation urging the president of the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This petition was submitted to the White House on April 3rd, the day before President Obama's trip to Turkey, at which time 340 organisations had already co-signed.
In the letter, the Federation reminds (...) - Acknowledgment

European Civil Society asks Obama to recognize the Armenian Genocide (7 April 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-04-07T08:44:38Z

340 organizations and associations of 22 European countries ask President Obama to honour his pledge of recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Brussels, Belgium- On Friday April 3, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy sent a letter to President Obama signed by more than 340 associations from European civil society when he was just leaving Europe for Turkey.


La lettre des Européens au Président Obama

All these associations mainly made up by descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide ask the American President to honour his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In this regard, this letter emphasizes various statements made by President Obama who made far more than his predecessors on the recognition of the Unpunished Genocide and was a key-point of his foreign policy. Barack Obama declared his firm conviction “that 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” and he affirmed that “as President”, he will “recognize the Armenian Genocide” and allow the pending resolutions in the Congress.

The letter given to the White House on the 3 April takes note of “the efforts made by entities that do not share” the US president's vision of humanity – clearly speaking Turkey and reactionary forces in the United States - and that aim to prevent the US “administration from pursuing these progressive policies” on the Genocide issue to highlight by contrast the positive aspects that would have such a recognition on International politics and regional stability.

The petition thus states that European Armenians along with other European mainstream democratic forces would never accept Turkey's membership as long as “the Turkish state denies the Armenian Genocide, promotes racism and pursues a policy of discrimination towards its minorities”. It also underscores that the genocide recognition by the United States “will unleash the momentum of true change and democratization inside Turkey; a momentum which must lead to an ultimate recognition of this mass crime by Turkey itself”. The petition finally stresses that the recognition “will also provide an unprecedented momentum to the process of dialogue between Turkey and Armenia” in making clear that “the way forward will definitely require of Turkey a fundamental commitment to just peace”.

“Our approach – the European citizens' approach and especially the one of the European Armenians – aims at supporting on this particular issue the vision of the new US administration: Recognizing the Armenian Genocide means moving toward a durable peace; it means more stability, more justice and more democracy in the region. These are European values, these are the ones of the European Armenian Federation and, with President Obama, we wish that they become again the ones of the United States stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

Taking example on the “Turkey's recent support for the Sudanese president who is under arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court”, the call highlights that any step backward on the Armenian Genocide recognition process “would be interpreted by genocide-perpetrating governments as full license to continue their bloody acts and criminal complicities”.

“Recognizing the Armenian Genocide is not an act of hostility against Turkey as claimed by hawkish supporters of RealPolitik. On the contrary, it will help Turkey to be set free from its bloody past to stand with credibility at the respectable place it seeks among the International community” concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

The European Armenian Federation recalls that associations that have not signed the letter can still do it on the website of the European Armenian Federation.

Armenian and Turkish citizens ask for the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Turkish State (16 December 2008)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2008-12-16T13:09:10Z

An open letter sent to president Gül by more than 300 intellectuals from Armenia echoes a similar request from Turkish intellectuals.

The European Parliament's report on Turkey challenged by the letter and the request.

More than 300 intellectuals from Armenia have published last week an open letter sent to the Turkish president Abdullah Gül, asking him to recognize the Armenian genocide.

Taking into consideration the “new context created by the last developments in the South Caucasus” and the recent meeting between the Armenian and Turkish presidents in Armenia, the open letter considers that the normalisation of the relations between Turkey and Armenia requires “brave and realistic decisions”. The letter highlights that the recognition of the Armenian genocide does not constitute “simply a position asserted by all Armenians” but “a legitimate expectation from the whole of humanity”.

The Armenian intellectuals conclude that the “modern Turkish State inherited the responsibility for this genocide, and that the true process of reconciliation will not be possible without the recognition of the genocide by the Turkish State”.

The letter ends by reminding the readers that the hope raised by Gul's visit to Armenia can “be destroyed if the Turkish State, does not take decisive measures to break with its current denial policy of the Armenian Genocide”.

The open letter by the Armenian intellectuals echoes the reactions that caused a petition, initiated one week ago, by a group of Turkish intellectuals. In this petition, the signatories reject the denial of the “great disaster” suffered in 1915 by the Ottoman Armenians, and give their “personal apology” to their “Armenian sisters and brothers”.

Several Turkish intellectuals reacted by affirming that the “great disaster” is in fact the genocide, and retorted “it is up to the Turkish State to apologize”.

“With these parallel standpoints, a new period is opening up for the two countries” declared Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy. “The Turkish and Armenian intellectuals, united against the lies and the denials of the genocide, for the first time call for a real reconciliation based on truth, recognition and justice.

“We recognize among Turkish intellectuals notable qualities of courage and democratic maturity, which the European Union has the moral and political duty to support” continued Hilda Tchoboian, president of the European Armenian Federation.

In connection with the next resolution of the European Parliament on Turkey, the European Armenian Federation considers that even if the Parliament shows more and more indifference with the Turkish accession question, it must be clear on the genocide issue. The Federation stresses that the European Assembly has to follow the evolution of the Turkish society, and stop supporting fixed attitudes of a Turkish administration which “draws the society downwards”.

“The European Parliament should not drop these brave Turkish democrats who not only risk condemnations by application of article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, but also endanger their lives by openly calling for the recognition of the Armenian genocide” concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

Top level confirmation of the church commitment for the condemnation of the Armenian genocide (8 May 2008)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2008-05-08T11:12:47Z

7 May – Karekin II the Catholicos of All Armenians called « the whole nations » to “universally condemn the Armenian Genocide” during an official visit to Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican. This call was made on Piazza San Pietro in front of a public audience exceptionally chaired by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in the presence of more than 20 000 faithful.

In his welcome speech, Benedict XVI addressed this issue in recalling that “at the beginning of XXth century, Christian Armenians suffered cruel persecutions” saying that “Armenia's many martyrs are a sign of the power of the Holy Spirit working in times of darkness, and a pledge of hope for Christians everywhere”

Catholicos Karekin II then replied in asserting that Armenians “are a people who have survived genocide” and which thus knows well “the value of love, brotherhood, friendship and a secure life”. His Holiness Karekin II continued stating that “today, many countries of the world recognize and condemn the genocide committed against the Armenian people by Ottoman Turkey” and that “the denial of these crimes is an injustice similar to their perpetration”. He ended by calling “all the nations to universally condemn the Armenian Genocide so that who has power and authority can detect the accountability of these crimes”

The European Armenian Federation recalls that Vatican already recognized the Armenian Genocide through a joint declaration of John Paul II and Karekin II in 2000.

« We commend the courage and the determination of both the Apostolic Armenian and Catholic Roman Churches about this deep moral failure represented by the Armenian Genocide and its denial. We call upon the Heads of the States and of Governments to pay attention to these Voices of Wisdom and Lucidity in recognizing, if not yet, the Armenian Genocide” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

“We call especially the European authorities to uphold the European values in adopting provisions to prevent and to repress the crime of denial as the 1948 Covenant represses the crime of genocide” concluded Tchoboian.

Ruse, fourth Bulgarian city to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide (18 April 2008)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2008-04-18T07:30:04Z

Thursday 17 April, Ruse city passes a city council resolution acknowledging the Armenian Genocide by 36 against 3 and 5 abstentions. Ruse (175 000 inhabitants) is becoming the fourth large city of Bulgaria to engage upon such a move after Varna (650 000 inhabitants), Plovdiv (380 000 inhabitants) and Burgas (230 000 inhabitants).

While Europe is becoming more and more permissive to Turkish denial, the European Armenian Federation warmly commends the citizens of Ruse, the members of their city council as well as the local Armenian community and especially the Armenian National Committee of Bulgaria.

The Federation recall that a similar resolution adopted in February by the city of Burgas has triggered the freeze of any commercial relations by the neighbouring Turkish region of Edirne (Andrinople), and noteworthy the European trans-boundary program PHARE. This episode gave evidence of the threat represented by Turkey's State denial on the policies of the European Union.

Bulgaria is ruled by a coalition between Socialists and an ethnic party representing the large Turkish community of the country (10%).

USA: The Recognition of the Genocide reaches an important stage (12 October 2007)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2007-10-12T20:49:08Z

Washington DC, USA - Wednesday October 10, at around 17:30 (23:30 in Western Europe) the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of the Representatives of the United States voted for House Resolution 106 asserting the recognition of the genocide of the Armenians. The resolution was adopted with a vote of 27 to 21.

This victory was obtained in spite of the high level of pressure exerted simultaneously by the American Executive and the Turkish State, and in particular through lobbies equipped with exorbitant financial means: Whereas Ankara had sent not less than three “diplomatic” delegations to intimidate the American members of Parliament, the White House and the State Department by the voices of Mr. George W. Bush, Mrs. Condolezza Rice and Mr. Daniel Fried exhorted the members of the Congress to reject this resolution.

The members of the Committee supported by a large movement of citizens did not take into account these pressures. “We greet the political courage of the deputies of the Foreign Affairs Committee which knew how to reject the cynicism of Ankara” declared Hilda Tchoboian, the President of the Euro-Armenian Federation, and continued “We also want to pay tribute to the hundreds of American activists, organizations of defence of the human rights, people from all religions, all minorities, and to the Armenian organizations of the United States which carried out this struggle of civilization against cruelty”.

The Euro-Armenian Federation points out that Mr. Babacan, with whom Europe negotiates the accession of Turkey, recently threatened openly the Jewish minority of Turkey because the United States Jewish community supports the resolution H.R.106. It also informs that the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr Erdogan has asked the Turkish Parliament, which is controlled by his party, the AKP, to authorise the invasion of the North of Iraq in reprisal to the vote of the American representatives. The American State Department has issued a warning to the American residents in Turkey of possible violence against them.

“These extreme and disproportionate measures show that the Turkish government has a long way to go before reaching the values and use of moderation which are those of Europe. They also prove that Turkey which fallaciously sells to us that it is a factor of peace and stability, in fact constitutes a regional threat” continued the President of the Federation.

“In the United States as in Europe, to pass in silence over the Genocide becomes a serious act of complicity with the Turkish denials. We expect the European Parliament to become, once again the voice of conscience of Europe” concluded Hilda Tchoboian. The Euro-Armenian Federation requests the European Parliament that it demands, in all European acts and resolutions on Turkey, that the later stops its practice of denial. It announces that the 2nd Convention of the Armenians of Europe which will be held in the European Parliament on 15 and 16 October 2007, will pay tribute to the European members of Parliament who voted, 20 years ago, the first international recognition of the genocide. The session on the afternoon of the 16th, will be dedicated to the topic of the recognitions and the denials. Mr. Aram Hamparian, director of Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) will give an account of the vote in the American congress.

Europe's landmark recognition of the Armenian Genocide (18 June 2007)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2007-06-18T20:24:00Z

Second convention of European Armenians announced by EAFJD in Brussels

Twenty years ago today, on June 18, 1987, the European Parliament became the first major international body to recognize the Armenian Genocide, during its plenary session in Strasbourg, voting on a momentous resolution paving the way "for a political solution of the Armenian issue." After extensive deliberations and resisting immense pressures from Turkey and its hired guns, the European legislators set the record straight on this first genocide of modern times and delivered a landmark victory for justice that Armenians in Europe and, indeed, all over the world have been fighting for.

To mark this important anniversary, and to re-think the goals of the task ahead, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy announces the Second Convention of European Armenians, which will take place on October 15-16, 2007 at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Twenty years after this historic accomplishment, and fifteen years after the re-birth of Armenian independence, the Convention will gather European Armenian grass-roots organizations and prominent personalities from all corners of Europe to focus on the current political priorities of the European Armenian community ranging from Turkey's European ambitions while persistently denying the Armenian Genocide and persecuting its minorities to Turkey's continuing blockade of Armenia, the Karabagh negotiations, the European neighbourhood policies in the region and the prospects of peace and stability in South Caucasus.

The Federation recalls that a key conclusion of the 1987 resolution made clear in no uncertain terms that "the refusal by the present Turkish Government to acknowledge the genocide against the Armenian people committed by the Young Turk government, its reluctance to apply the principles of international law to its differences of opinion with Greece, the maintenance of Turkish occupation forces in Cyprus and the denial of existence of the Kurdish question, together with the lack of true parliamentary democracy and the failure to respect individual and collective freedoms, in particular freedom of religion, in that country are insurmountable obstacles to consideration of the possibility of Turkey's accession to the [European] Community."

"Today, twenty years after the passage of the resolution of 18 June 1987, this paragraph could be restated word for word by the Parliament without the slightest hesitation", declared Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. "The European leadership should take note of the fact that in twenty years Turkey has shown no evidence of progress on any of the stated issues," she added.

The Second Convention of European Armenians will pay a vibrant tribute to all the key leaders of 1987 who acted courageously to deliver the Parliament's historic decision. Paule Duport, Henri Saby, Ernest Glinne, Alfred Coste-Floret(+), René Piquet, Jaak Vandemeulebroucke, Stan Newens, Francis Wurtz and all others who carried the torch through painful deliberations. "As citizens of modern Europe, it is our privilege to honour these MEP's, visionary men and women, who voted their conscience on that day and positioned the Parliament at the most revered ethical standards of European values," concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

SOCIALIST YOUTH IMPLICATE TURKISH STATE IN THE ASSASSINATION OF HRANT DINK (12 February 2007)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2007-02-12T16:36:40Z

On February 3rd, the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY)unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the recent assassination of journalist and human rights activist Hrant Dink in Istanbul, Turkey, recriminating the Turkish government for the shocking daytime murder, reported the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy.

According to the resolution, “the Turkish State failed to provide Dink with protection even though he had explicitly asked for it after receiving death threats”. The Turkish government's “systematic denial of the Armenian genocide” and the “prosecuting of intellectuals for openly acknowledging the historic truth of the Armenian genocide” were also specifically cited.

In conclusion, the resolution called on Ankara to recognize the Armenian Genocide, arguing that “the continuing policy of Genocide denial has encouraged racism, fascism and discrimination in Turkish society.”

“We applaud IUSY for reinforcing and updating its previously stated positions on this vital issue by adopting a clear and uncompromising resolution. No delays can be tolerated when matters of principle such as the acknowledgement of a genocide and freedom of expression are at stake”, declared Laurent Leylekian, the Executive Director of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation notes that any retreat from an earlier decision setting Turkey's recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition to European Union membership will be interpreted by Ankara as encouragement to continue the policies of genocide denial and intolerance.

The full text of the IUSY resolution is provided below:

IUSY Resolution on Hrant Dink's Murder

The World Council of the International Union of Socialist Youth condemns the cold-blooded murder of Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist and editor of "Agos" a bi-lingual Weekly in Istanbul on the 19th January 2007.

This abhorrent crime brings new threats to the rights and existence of the diminishing Armenian community in Turkey.

The Turkish State should ultimately be held responsible for the murder of Hrant Dink, a citizen of Turkey due to its,

Failure to provide Dink with protection, even though he had explicitly asked for it after receiving death threats for allegedly “insulting Turkishness”
Systematic denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Prosecuting of intellectuals like Dink and Pamuk for openly acknowledging the historic truth of the Armenian Genocide

The continuing policy of Genocide denial has encouraged racism, fascism and discrimination in Turkish society.

Dink's murder proves that there is no tolerance in Turkey for differing views, freedom of speech and minority rights.

Therefore, and mindful of its 2004 World Council Resolution, the IUSY calls on Turkey:

To recognize the Armenian genocide and take full responsibility for this crime against humanity
To repeal paragraph 301 of the penal code which is frequently used to prosecute anyone who “insults Turkishness”
To respect the rights of minorities and freedom of speech.

Support campaign for the Mayor of Lyon (3 April 2006)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2006-04-03T15:23:50Z

Consistent with the initiative taken by the joint committee, "Memorial pour le génocide Arménien à Lyon," the European Armenian Federation calls upon all European democratic forces - political leaders, NGOs representatives and citizens - to support and thank Mr Gerard Collomb, the Senator-mayor of Lyon (France).

On April 24, 2006, a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide is set to be unveiled in Lyon, due largely to the determination and political courage of Mr Collomb.

Indeed, Gerard Collomb has demonstrated an exemplary approach to this matter, resisting repeated efforts to pressure him against creating this memorial, including standing up against horrendous attempts at intimidation by Turkish ultranationalists who even disrupted public order in Lyons.

The European Armenian Federation invites each person to join this support campaign by sending a letter of appreciation to Mr Collomb.

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Example of a letter of appreciation:

M. Gérard Collomb Sénateur-Maire de Lyon Hôtel de Ville 1 Place de la Comédie 69001 – LYON

Monsieur le Maire,

Le 24 avril prochain, grâce à vos efforts continus, la ville de Lyon inaugurera un monument à la mémoire des victimes du Génocide des Arméniens. Ce monument, comme tous ceux qui ont été érigés jusqu'ici, renforcera le lien indissoluble qui unit tous nos concitoyens d'origine arménienne à la ville de Lyon et à la terre de France.

Votre action mérite tout notre soutien et notre admiration car l'érection de ce monument a suscité bien des difficultés et a mis en évidence des forces adverses dont certaines aux moyens considérables et dont nous avons de bonnes raisons de penser qu'elles sont pilotées de l'étranger.

Si ces forces se sont manifestées dans votre ville avec tant d'incivisme, d' hostilité et d'arrogance, c'est parce que le monument que vous érigez prend aujourd'hui une signification particulière qui va bien au-delà du périmètre de Lyon. En lui consacrant une des plus belles places de votre ville, vous avez démontré avec une évidence incontournable que les Français et les élus qui les représentent, tels que vous, restent indéfectiblement attachés aux Droits de l'Homme, aux Droit des peuples et à la vérité de l'Histoire et qu' aucune puissance, quels que soient les intérêts qu'elle peut mettre en avant ne pourra les en détourner.

Ce faisant, aux yeux de tous les peuples qui attendent un peu de justice, particulièrement le peuple arménien, mais aussi les démocrates turcs qui paient leur soif de justice au prix de leur liberté et parfois de leur vie , vous avez montré que la France reste une terre de droit et de vérité. En un mot, vous leur avez apporté un peu d'espoir.

Sans vous le dire toujours, la communauté arménienne de France, et sans doute partout dans le monde, vous soutient de toute son amitié. Nous savons que votre tâche est difficile, parce que défendre la cause des Arméniens et la vérité de leur Histoire a souvent été périlleux. Mais nous souhaitons vous réaffirmer que, dans toutes ces difficultés présentes et à venir, les Arméniens sont et seront toujours à vos côtés.

Veillez croire, Monsieur le Maire, à notre profonde admiration et toute notre estime.