European Armenian Federation

Deniers of the Armenian Genocide Should Be Punished in Europe (26 January 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-01-26T21:36:52Z

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy wishes to highlight the case of Armand Sag, a Dutchman of Turkish origin, who falsified on the blog “Dagelijkse Standaard” (Daily Standard), the remarks of a Dutch politician referring to the Armenian Genocide. According to the press, the Turkish blogger refused to apologize for his fallacious assertions, confirming his intentions as a genocide denier, which are widely evident throughout his website under the pre-text of being a “researcher on the 1915 events”.

The European Armenian Federation points out, among many cases in Belgium, the January 17th concert of Arif Sirin in Saint Josse, where the singer performed his songs glorifying Hrant Dink's murderers. The organizer was a Turkish association affiliated with the extremist right movement of the Gray Wolves, which is widely known to justify the extermination of the Armenians and the repression of other minorities. Of great concern was the active role played by Socialist Provincial Parliament member, Mr Yves Lardinois, who serves as President of his citizen platform in the area.

The Federation recalls the commendable judgement in France, on January 5th, of Sirma Oran-Martz for “bringing a frivolous civil lawsuit” against Jean-Paul Bret. Sirma Oran accused the Mayor of Villeurbanne of racial discrimination following the Mayor's request to Sirma Oran to clarify her position concerning the Armenian Genocide while Sirma Oran was candidate in the 2008 local elections. Facing the determination of the outgoing Mayor, Sirma Oran refused to give an opinion, adopting an attitude in line with her opposition to the Genocide Memorial in Lyon, which was expressed by her participation in the Turkish demonstration against this Memorial.

The Federation notes the Turkish State's progressive sophistication of arguments in its rhetoric of denial. “The political community has the duty to be concerned about the proliferation of these denialist ideas in European countries, be they from Turkish natives or not, be they explicitly displayed or under the pretext of the right to freedom of thought and expression, or even the right to indifference,” declared Hilda Tchoboian, the President of the European Armenian Federation. “We condemn the perversity of these new sophisticated forms of genocide denial, which consist of denying, glorifying, minimizing and relativizing the seriousness of the most abominable crimes against Humanity,” affirmed Hilda Tchoboian.

The Federation is concerned about the total impunity under which these deniers are acting. It emphasizes that the EU Framework-Decision against Racism and Xenophobia should be integrated into the national legislations before the end of 2010 and thus, calls on the governments of the European Union to take into consideration the increase in cases of denial of the Armenian genocide in their implementation of this Framework-Decision into their legislation. “Only by implementing into the Member States' legislation will we be able to contain this plague on a European scale,” affirmed Hilda Tchoboian.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy gives its total support to all the political and civic forces in Europe which act against the proliferation of cases of the denial of the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and the Tutsi genocide.

Take part in your cause! Add your signature and let people know about Votch.org (4 December 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-12-04T09:52:29Z

The protocols signed by Armenia and Turkey are a threat to Armenia's security and the existence of the Armenian people.

These protocols are not universally accepted: a large number of Armenians within Armenia and in the Diaspora are strongly opposed to them. Voices are being raised among the international community in order to denounce the injustice these protocols represent.

Our mobilization can make the difference. The petition Votch.org has so far attracted 4,500 signatures. They are not enough. The European Armenian Federation calls on everyone to act: those who have already signed the petition have to encourage their friends and relatives to sign; those who have not signed yet have to do it now. Let's express together our unanimous refusal of these humiliating protocols.

Today, confronted by the danger that constitutes the possible ratification of these protocols, it is essential that the Armenian nation reaffirms its position so that the Armenian National Assembly takes notes of our united sentiments on the issue and acts accordingly.

By so doing may it rectify the gross error of judgement of the government of Armenia and salvage its pride and dignity.

Armenia needs you. It needs your signature. Please visit www.votch.org

The European Armenian Federation calls upon the UK government to recognise the Armenian Genocide (6 November 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-11-06T21:53:01Z

In his recently launched report, Geoffrey Robertson QC calls upon UK to give an end to the British policy of denial regarding the Armenian Genocide
He denounces the way the Foreign Office deliberately misled for years the British Ministers, MPs and public opinion on this issue

Internationally-recognised human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC released a legal opinion slamming the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for having deliberately misled the British Ministers, Parliament and People about the Armenian Genocide.

Taking ground on the declarative value of the 1948 Convention, Mr Robertson categorically rejects the foundations of the official British position which are deceitfully supported by the FCO and especially the allegation according to which there is no written document giving evidence of any governmental decision to exterminate the Armenians.

With the help of the jurisprudence from the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia, Mr. Robertson recalls that such documents are absolutely not required in establishing the genocidal intent and that it is generally impossible to provide these kinds of documents, even for the Holocaust.

On this point, the lawyer blasts the FCO's manipulation which would require “sufficiently unequivocal evidences”, as a “meaningless” concept forged to be never complied with and which encroaches the clear principles of both the civil and criminal standard of proof.

Examining the FCO's internal documents, Mr Robertson shows that by appeasing the Turkish State's campaign of denial, the genuine concern of British diplomacy is “to evade truthful answers because the Truth would discomfort” Turkey where UK has economical interests, Turkey being “neuralgic” to the whole genocide issue.

Mr. Robertson ends his analysis by recommending the UK to end this denial policy and by clearly calling upon it to recognise the Armenian Genocide. Mr Robertson concludes “if these same events occurred today, in a country with a history similar to Turkey's in 1915, there can be no doubt that prosecutions for genocide would be warranted and indeed required by the Genocide Convention”.

The legal opinion shows that in giving priority to economical considerations, the FCO departed from its mission and severely warped its objectives.

« If true, the United Kingdom must seriously discipline this administration” stated Laurent Leylekian. “This is the international credibility of UK as a State of Law which is challenged by this legal opinion” he added.

Furthermore, this study is an outstanding disavowal of the official British position about the Armenian Genocide.

“We call upon the British government to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to clearly state that this recognition by Ankara is a condition for the continuation of the negotiations between Turkey and the EU” concluded Leylekian.

Call : Sign Votch.org (21 October 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-10-21T16:16:07Z

The European Armenian Federation takes note of the fact that the Armenian Nation is all in all opposed in Armenia as well as in the Diaspora to the ratification of the protocols between Armenia and Turkey.

Besides the frank opposition in Armenia of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Heritage Party, and most of the Armenian National Movement, the spontaneous and hostile demonstrations to these protocols which greeted president Sarkissian during his tour attest to the strength and massive character of these protests everywhere in the world.

In this context, the European Armenian Federation considers that as nothing has yet been finalised, calls to an intensification of the political action so that the Armenian National Assembly will indeed reject these protocols.

The petition www.votch.org launched by a group of about ten European intellectuals already gained the hearts and the spirits of most of the Armenian population in Armenia and the Diaspora. Thousands of people – among which key figures and even representatives of the Armenian diplomacy – spontaneously signed this petition in 60 countries including 22 from the European Union.

The Federation calls on all those who consider that these protocols constitute a threat towards the independence of Armenia and the stability of the South Caucasus, to express their opposition by signing the petition www.votch.org. The signature of this text by a significant quorum of the Armenian nation will give legitimacy to a delegation which will be in charge of informing the Armenia national deputies of the real opinion of the Armenian population. This initiative will be relayed by the free Armenian press all over the world.

The European Armenian Federation considers that the Armenian executive power was driven back with these protocols under the pressure of strategic interests of regional powers. The Federation estimates that the rejection of these protocols by the Armenian National Assembly would constitute an honourable and democratic solution for Armenia and the Armenian nation.

Armenia needs you, it requires that you say “Votch” (no) to these protocols of the capitulation. We must all sign the petition.

Appendix : Statistics of the signatures on October 15, 2009

Country	percentage of signers
France	20.52%
Russian Federation	17.54%
United States	12.26%
Armenia	6.84%
Canada	6.40%
Lebanon	5.94%
Germany	3.27%
Belgium	1.47%
United Kingdom	1.27%
Syrian Arab Republic	1.22%
Ukraine	1.22%
Argentina	1.17%
Australia	0.98%
Greece	0.85%
Austria	0.71%
Italy	0.71%
Brazil	0.64%
Iran, Islamic Republic	0.59%
Switzerland	0.59%
Netherlands	0.51%
Sweden	0.44%
Uruguay	0.44%
Egypt	0.42%
Spain	0.42%
Cyprus	0.39%
Bulgaria	0.29%
Georgia	0.24%
Israel	0.24%
Jordan	0.24%
Qatar	0.22%
Iraq	0.20%
Kuwait	0.20%
United Arab Emirates	0.20%
Abkhazia	0.17%
Norway	0.12%
Romania	0.12%
China	0.10%
South Africa	0.10%
Estonia	0.07%
Ireland	0.07%
Latvia	0.07%
Uzbekistan	0.07%
Czech Republic	0.05%
Finland	0.05%
Mexico	0.05%
Belarus	0.02%
Cameroon	0.02%
Guinea Bissau	0.02%
Hungary	0.02%
India	0.02%
Kirghizstan	0.02%
Luxembourg	0.02%
Moldova	0.02%
New Zealand	0.02%
Pakistan	0.02%
Poland	0.02%
Portugal	0.02%
Saudi Arabia	0.02%
Tunisia	0.02%
Turkey	0.02%

Turkish Armenian protocols unanimously rejected (28 September 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-09-28T21:41:48Z

The Protocols on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, which were initiated under Swiss mediation earlier this year, are vehemently opposed by the Armenians worldwide.

The “Votch” (No) petition, which is open to “all who uphold human dignity”, was initiated by philologist Krikor Beledian, essayist Janine Altounian, journalists Arpig Missakian and Arpi Totoyan, historian Yves Ternon of France, Professor Mihran Dabag, Director of the German Research Institute on Diasporas and Genocides of Bochum University, and American professor Roger Smith, former Chairman of the International Association of Genocides Scholars.

The petition, which is online at www.votch.org, has received signatures from residents in nearly 30 countries and the campaign is rapidly growing. [1] The petition states that “to submit such a unique experience as genocide to negotiations and a judgment by governmental commissions or sub-commissions would subordinate the truth to political maneuvers and power relations”. The document therefore considers that “by the signing of these protocols, Armenia marginalizes the Diaspora, and enters into the strategy of the Turkish State to divide the Armenian people and to stigmatize and delegitimize the Diaspora for advocating the consciousness of the Genocide”.

The text concludes that “these protocols [are] an effort of the Turkish State to impose on the economically vulnerable Republic of Armenia its distorted vision of history from which the Republic of Turkey was formed and which is consubstantial with it” and “call[s] upon all those who uphold human dignity to express their rejection of these agreements which endanger the integrity of the Armenian people”.

“The Armenians worldwide welcome the “Votch” Petition. The Turkish Armenian protocols are blatant infringements on the memory of the Armenian Genocide and the dignity of its victims,” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

“The Turkish State is attempting to make its denial policy legitimate by embedding it in a legally binding document that would have far-reaching consequences not only for the Republic of Armenia, but for Armenians worldwide,” added Tchoboian. “It is therefore incumbent upon the Armenian Diaspora to make their position clear to the Republic of Armenia that surrendering to Turkey's intransigent position would establish a profound division between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora,” concluded Tchoboian.

[1] Signers include those from Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Dubai, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Karabakh, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, the Ukraine, the United Arabs Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States

Armenian Genocide : Obama broke his pledge (28 April 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-04-28T07:20:57Z

As expected, the U.S. President, Barack Obama made a statement about the Armenian Genocide, this Friday 24 April, the commemoration day of the Genocide. Terming the Genocide as “one of the great atrocities of the 20th century,” the U.S. President declared that “The Meds Yeghern [Great Crime in Armenian] must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people,” He added: “I consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed.” Before evoking the “joint statement” signed in extremis by Turkey and Armenia and the so-called “reconciliation efforts,” he also reaffirmed his interest in “the achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts.”

President Obama thus failed to honour his pledge to recognize it as “genocide” – the term that appropriately bears a political, juridical and legal meaning – as he had repeatedly committed to do during his election campaign.

With this step backwards, he failed to meet the expectations of millions of Americans and Europeans who had hoped the U.S. President would embody a political break with the record of its predecessors. In so doing, he also cast doubt on his own word and on the credibility of the United States in the world, and especially in the South Caucasus.

“Millions of people and hundreds of NGOs urged president Obama to term as genocide the Armenian Genocide in order to give evidence of his understanding of democratic societies. By choosing to give in to the threatening pressures of a denialist, racist and militaristic State, and to the murky interests of its allies, he impedes the U.S. capacity to reclaim its traditional leading rank in the world,” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation notes that Armenia and Turkey, under the aegis of Switzerland, disclosed late in the night between the 22 and 23 April a “joint statement,” less than 24 hours before the anniversary date of the Armenian Genocide. This statement alleges that the two countries “have agreed on a comprehensive framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations in a mutually satisfactory manner,” that they “have achieved tangible progress and mutual understanding in this process” and that “a road-map has been identified” in this context.

« This interim agreement gives no new sign that could be considered as progress in the negotiations. It gives no evidence that Turkey has stopped placing unacceptable preconditions for the normalisations of relations, nor is there any indication that Armenia is ready to accept Turkey's immoral and politically untenable preconditions” noted Hilda Tchoboian. “On the contrary, just after signing this statement, the Turkish Prime Minister denied again that Turkey intends to withdraw the blockade of Armenia,” added the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation considers that the deficient position of President Obama a posteriori proves that the “joint statement” signed by Turkey and Armenia on the eve of April 24 was just an under-handed scheme aimed at misleading the international community and alleging imaginary progress in order to offer an easy way out for the U.S. President.

Four hundred NGOs from European civil society called upon President Obama to honour his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide. “They are very disappointed today,” said Tchoboian. “Those manipulations don't affect the core issue: the Turkish State remains politically and criminally liable for the Genocide toward the Armenian People” concluded the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation stands by the opinion that any “road-map” that bypasses the core issue of the Right to Justice of the Armenian People – victims of the Genocide – will be condemned by the whole European Armenians.

Durban : Genocide Denial is the most perverse form of racism (23 April 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-04-23T13:19:43Z

Durban (South Africa) - The anti-racism conference organized by the United Nations from April 20th to 24th has just released its final declaration on the struggle against racism. The declaration tackles the question of genocides and their necessary recognition.

Hence, article 62 of this declaration “recalls that slavery and the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, apartheid, colonialism and genocide must never be forgotten and in this regard welcomes actions undertaken to honour the memory of victims”.

Article 63 “notes actions of [those] countries that have, in the context of these past tragedies, expressed remorse, offered apologies, initiated institutionalized mechanisms such as truth and reconciliation commissions and/or restituted cultural artifacts since the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and calls on those who have not yet contributed to restoring the dignity of the victims to find appropriate ways to do so”.

“This declaration is a vibrating plea in favour of the necessary contrition of the criminal States - without which there would be neither peace, nor justice, nor reconciliation - and a definitive condemnation of the tortuous and dilatory schemes by which they try to escape from it” declared Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The European Armenian Federation recalls that denial partakes to the crime of genocide, and has no link with freedom of expression, though it attempts to wear this disguise in order to hide its racist purpose. In this sense, it constitutes the most perverse form of racism. Several judgments of the European Court of Human rights insisted on the social aim of freedom of expression and, thus, on the limitations which frame it for this purpose.

“In compliance with this final declaration adopted during the anti-racism conference in Durban, we invite the UN Member States to urge Turkey to apologise for the Armenian Genocide and that it sets up the institutional mechanisms which will constitute the premises for its compensation” concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

Turkey is the only State in the world which continues an officially denialist policy directed to the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish State remains legally and politically responsible for this genocide according to the International law.

Hrant Dink, victim of the Turkish doctrine of State (22 January 2008)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2008-01-22T18:01:38Z

A year ago, Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of the bilingual Armenian and Turkish weekly Agos, was assassinated on January 19, 2007 by a young ultranationalist in front of his office in Istanbul.

Hrant Dink was an Armenian journalist who lived in Turkey. He struggled for the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey, and for freedom of expression in his country. This commitment against the State denial brought upon him the hostility of the Turkish authorities, a conviction in virtue of the Turkish Penal Code 301 article which protects “Turkishness” and finally a condemnation to death from ultranationalist groups.

The European Armenian Federation notes that a year after the assassination, the proceedings are floundering at the very time when – and especially because – it was widely demonstrated that the group of killers acted in close consultation with police and State services.

The European Armenian Federation also reminds us that now Hrant Dink's son and contributor – Arat Dink and Sarkis Seropyan – are now accused in virtue of the sinister article 301. The Federation remarks that this article – the emerged part of the Turkish judicial structure which legalizes the “superiority of the Turkish race”, the base of the doctrine of State – is still in force as well as dozens equivalent clauses registered in the Turkish penal code and Constitution.

The Federation informs that even the timid projects of amending article 301 that have been advertised have been rejected by Turkey's Great National Assembly. Thus, that shows its will to maintain in place the fundamentally non-egalitarian doctrine of the State.

“We pay tribute to Hrant Dink's courage who gave hope to hundreds of Turkish democrats by simply attempting to affirm his civic and Armenian minority's collective rights. However, we consider that this murder tragically proves that it was wrong to believe that internal Turkish democratic forces can create change on their own! They are in dire need of strong and effective external support!”, declared Laurent Leylekian, the executive director of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation considers that thousands of Turkish citizens who demonstrated when Hrant Dink was killed cannot make us forget the radicalisation of ultranationalism and armenophobia in this country. The Federation reminds that the policemen who arrested the killer were proud to pose with him and that a song glorifying his “achievement” had great success in Turkey.

“By not using a language of truth with the Turkish state, by not clearly calling for the abandon of its denial and the recognition of the Armenian genocide, the European authorities have clearly shown that they have left the democratic minority of Turkey and they have finally permitted the murder of Hrant Dink”, concluded Laurent Leylekian.

Turkish fascism organized pogroms in Brussels (26 October 2007)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2007-10-26T13:16:25Z

A demonstration organised by the Turkish extremist right-wing group, the sinister Grey Wolves, caused chaos and mass violent disturbance last night in Brussels. Their demonstration was initially conducted before the American Embassy in response to the US Congress project to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and also because of the US opposition to the invasion by Turkey into Iraq. The demonstration soon became a riot after the US flag was torn from where it hung and burned!

Mehmet Köksal, a young journalist of Turkish origin known for his revisionist opinions relating to Ankara, has been recognized after a demonstrator cried out: “hey guys, here is Mehmet Köksal, this son of the bitch of a journalist, this traitor to the homeland, our enemy! Stop this damn fool, we will bump him off!” He survived only by being fleet of foot. All this occurred before the eyes of the Belgian police.

Later, at about midnight, the procession of hatred passed in front of a café owned by an Armenian in the district of Saint-Josse, and savagely destroyed the place by screaming: “he is an Armenian, death to Armenians” whereas, although the police were on the scene, they were forced to find shelter in front of this barbarian horde of 400 Grey Wolves.

The European Armenian Federation strongly condemns the import into Europe of these racist and criminal customs which are well-known by the Armenians as a prelude to the systematic massacres of Armenian citizens. “We are expecting from the police and judicial authorities exemplary reaction regarding members of these criminal bands and their rulers” declared Laurent Leylekian, the director of the European Armenian Federation.

“We know that Turkey is always behind these pogroms” added Laurent Leylekian. The Federation is certain that the Turkish State bodies – police, army, and judicial powers – are deeply infiltrated by these ultra nationalistic units, and it is attested that Ankara regularly gives orders to the Grey Wolves paramilitary forces, orders that emanate from the MHP (political group represented in the Turkish Parliament) to accomplish their dirty jobs in Turkey as well as in Europe.

A day before the European Parliament vote on the resolution on Turkey, the Federation felt anxious about the outcome of the vote. “The freedoms that these criminal groups have in Europe is encouraged by the indulgent attitude of our institutions towards racism. Turkish state ultra nationalism, compromise from our institutions (European Parliament and Commission, national and European political parties) towards the systematic denial of the Turkish state is interpreted by Ankara as authorization to develop its ultra nationalism in the European Union,” concluded Leylekian.

Netherlands: CDA party rebukes genocide deniers (2 October 2007)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2007-10-02T07:03:07Z

Osman Elmaci, Armenian Genocide Denier, will not become a Member of European Parliament
The rapporteur on the current EU-Turkey resolution is also a member of the CDA Party

The Christian-Democrat party in the Netherlands, the CDA (Christian Democrat Appel), has announced that Mr. Osman Elmaci has been turned down from having a seat in the European Parliament due to his attitude toward and his remarks denying the Armenian Genocide.

Mr. Elmaci, who had already been ousted from the last legislative elections for the same reasons, was the number three person behind the current MEP Joop Post, who has resigned. He was to become a Member of the European Parliament after the withdrawal of Mr. Bartho Pronk's candidacy. CDA leaders, already having a past record of principled stance against genocide denial, vetoed this possibility. Mr. Post will finally be replaced by Mr. Cornelis Visseur.

"We congratulate the CDA party for this courageous and visionary political decision. Denial – under the pretext of 'freedom of expression' – can only serve to perpetuate the racial hatred from which it derives,” declared Laurent Leylekian, Executive Director of the European Armenian Federation.

The European Armenian Federation is actively working to make denialist hatred a pan-European crime, as proposed in the framework decision on racism and xenophobia recently adopted by the European Council. The Federation notes that bills aimed at making the denial of the Armenian Genocide a crime are under consideration in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, the project was initiated by Christen Unie, a founding member of the government coalition. In Switzerland, Dogu Perinçek, a well-known denier of the Armenian Genocide has already been condemned.

The Federation also notes that the rapporteur of the current resolution on EU-Turkey relations, Mrs. Oomen-Ruijten – who is also a member of the CDA party – has attempted to evade the Armenian Genocide issue in that resolution.

“Avoiding the genocide issue in this resolution is as serious as the open denial of Mr. Elmaci. In fact, it constitutes a form of denial that is more perverse and now more prevalent, that is denial by omission,” added Leylekian.

“We call on the CDA party to treat Mrs. Oomen-Ruijten's case with the same moral demands it made with Mr. Elmaci, i.e. by charging her to comply with her own party line in the combat against any form of denial,” concluded Leylekian.