European Armenian Federation

The International Court of Justice's decision on Kosovo must be applied to the Nagorno Karabakh (27 July 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-07-27T13:16:04Z

The Hague (Netherlands) - The International Court of Justice has given on Thursday, July 22, 2010, its advisory legal opinion on the conformity of Kosovo's unilaterally proclaimed independence with regards to the International law.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy took note of the judge's opinion who approved Kosovo's proclamation of independence saying it “does not constitute a violation of general international law”, and anticipates the application of this decision to the Nagorno-Karabakh independence case.

The Federation considers that, although it is necessary to cautiously examine the contents and the arguments of the ICJ decision, this historical act is likely to soften the positions of the States and international authorities with respect to the independence of Karabakh.

According to the Federation, Karabakh has a legitimacy even more obvious than Kosovo to enjoy its right to self-determination for several reasons: “Nagorno-Karabakh never belonged to independent Azerbaijan, thus, there is noissue of Karabakh's unilateral secession from Azerbaijan” declared Hilda Tchoboian, President of the European Armenian Federation. The process of independence initiated on September 2nd, 1991, confirmed by the referendum on December 10th, 1991 took place in strict respect of the internal rights in force in the USSR. Moreover, the Armenian population had been submitted to discriminations by the Azerbaijani authorities for decades, and was subjected to the typical Human Rights violations with, in particular, attempts of extermination and deportations by Azerbaijan. Lastly, in addition to the provisions of the international law pleading in favour of the right to self-determination, the Federation considers that the international law does not contain an explicit provision prohibiting people's self-determination.

“The OSCE Minsk group will have to quickly integrate the ICJ decision in its peace process proposals” explained Hilda Tchoboian. “Azerbaijan did not have legitimacy to refuse the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh; after this legal document of international significance, and by extension of this one, International law prohibits Azerbaijan from rejecting the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,” concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

Azerbaijan must sign a non-aggression pact (2 July 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-07-02T09:17:48Z

On the occasion of the June 26th joint-statement by Presidents Sarkozy, Medvedev and Obama in Toronto regarding the principles of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy calls, for the second time, on the OSCE to urgently require of Azerbaijan the signature of a non-aggression pact as a pre-requisite to the peace negotiations mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair nations.

The European Armenian Federation considers that this new statement by the Presidents of the Co-Chair nations, while expressing the will “to point out” the elements of the L'Aquila initial statement of 10th July 2009, in effect, compromises the future of the negotiations — and therefore the hope for a durable peace in the region — by its one-sided formulations and its inherently imbalanced assessments of the situation. The Federation notes, for example, that while the L'Aquila statement referred to the territorial package of the negotiations as “the territories surrounding the Nagorno Karabakh”, the Toronto statement deliberately qualifies these as “occupied territories” thus taking sides with Azerbaijan on a fundamental issue of the negotiating process .

“We expected the Presidents to deliver a firm condemnation of the most recent Azerbaijani act of aggression violating the existing Cease Fire Agreement and causing major bloodshed along the Cease Fire line; instead, they adopted the vocabulary and the positions of Azerbaijan in their joint statement” stated Hilda Tchoboian, the President of the European Armenian Federation.. We are indeed surprised by the script being promoted in the statement. We note the obvious difference between the precise one-sided demands the Presidents make on the elements of an intermediate solution, including the withdrawal of the Armenian forces, and the vague pronouncements of procedure regarding the path to lead to the final status of the Nagorno Karabakh. Such neglect relating to such vital issues impacting the basic security of the Armenian people in the region is unacceptable” continued Hilda Tchoboian.

The Federation considers that after this recent Azeri violation of the Cease fire and the assassination of 4 Armenian border security troops on June 18th, the Armenian confidence in the negotiating process is shaken. These attacks, the day following the meeting between the Armenian and Azeri presidents in St Petersburg, proved once again that President Aliev is preparing for war while misleading the world by participating in the OSCE peace process.

The international community must take note of Azerbaijan's excessive investments in armaments and military technology (multiplication by 1300% of the military budget in 5 years) before it is too late. The world must also take seriously the warmongering statements by the top Azerbaijani leaders. Azerbaijan must be strongly condemned by the interational community for these policies. It must especially be condemned by the European Union and the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group.

“Not to firmly criticize the Azerbaijani state for its acts of aggression and its violations of the Cease Fire Agreement would make the Co-Chair nations of the Minsk Group indirect promoters of the arms race in the region, rapidly leading to the disintegration of the peace process which they are mandated to enforce. The world cannot afford to have a repetition of Munich 1938 in the South Causasus” stated Hilda Tchoboian.

Lastly, the Federation reiterates its call of August 1st, 2009 on the OSCE (http://eafjd.eu/spip.php?article546), to demand Azerbaijan a non-aggression pact before continuing the peace negotiations between the two countries on the basis of mutual confidence, essential to any peace negotiation.

First International Conference in Madrid about the Armenian Genocide (26 May 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-05-26T08:28:52Z

Madrid, May 24th, 2010: In collaboration with Spanish Armenian associations, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy organized on May 21st an International Conference on the Armenian Genocide, titled “European Union, Recognition of the Armenian Genocide and International Law” in the Faculty of History and Geography in Madrid. The Conference was organized in support of joint efforts made by the Spanish democrats and the Armenian Community, for the recognition by the Spanish Parliament of the Genocide.

The speakers of the conference were: Luis Enrique Otero Carvajal, Dean of the Faculty of History of the Complutense University in Madrid; Mr Juan Merelo Barbera y Gabriel, lawyer at the Bar of Barcelona and at the International Court of Justice; Professor Alfred de Zayas, professor of International Law at the Geneva School of Diplomacy, and former secretary of the UN Human Rights Committee; the writer Gonzalo Hernandez Guarch, author of several books on oppressed peoples, including “Armenian Will” published in 2007; Juan Jose San Martin, activist for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Basque and Catalan Parliaments; and Hilda Tchoboian, President of the European Armenian Federation.

Gayane Asilbekyan introduced the speakers on behalf of the Spanish Armenian associations. The conference emphasized the need for the international community to deliver justice to the Armenians. The Professor-Dean Luis Enrique Otero Carvajal, while placing the Genocide in its historical context, stressed that the Armenian people have the right to recognition and reparations. Professor Alfred de Zayas covered the legal case why the Armenian Genocide is not defined only by the 1948 Convention but also by the fact that it was described as Crime Against Humanity as of May 1915 by the Joint Declaration of France, England and Russia. He characterised reparation as the lifting of the durable consequences of the Genocide through acts, such as the restoration of the Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage currently subjected to destruction within the Armenian territories remaining in Turkey.

The writer Gonzalo Hernandez Guarch focused on “the Cause of the genocide, a fair cause”, thus explaining the reasons for his interest in the Armenian people. Mr Juan Merelo Barbera y Gabriel developed the reasons that justify the need to name the historical facts by the appropriate legal terms, insisting in fact on the importance of the “Genocide” term. The audience was informed about the hidden dynamics behind the recognition by the Basque and Catalan Parliaments with the testimony of Juan Jose San Martin. Lastly, Hilda Tchoboian presented the evolution, since the 1987 recognition, of the position of the European Union on the Genocide, in its foreign relations, in particular in the context of Turkish integration.

“This undertaking was a very important first step to give a report on the forces in support of recognition” declared Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. “With our future actions, we will set up concrete means to reinforce the potential that exists in Spain” she indicated.

Armenia – Turkey: Turkish preconditions freeze protocols (26 April 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-04-26T15:30:28Z

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy welcomes with overwhelming satisfaction, the decision of Armenia to freeze the ratification of the protocols signed with Turkey by the Armenian Parliament.

One year after the beginning of the process, the Armenian President, Serge Sarkissian, while reaffirming his attachment with the normalisation of relations with Turkey, reported the absence in Turkey of a favourable environment, and of leaders ready to engage in this process. Indeed, the Turkish leaders had put additional conditions, without agreement between the two countries, to the ratification of these protocols, while thus hoping to keep Armenia under pressure.

“The first condition to succeed such negotiations is the bona fide of it's contents: however, we had already observed an obvious imbalance: Armenia clearly expected for this situation to be normalised, and Turkey, whom we denounced as having leaders with a serious lack of sincerity” declared Hilda Tchoboian, chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation.

The European Armenian Federation recalls that on April 6th, Catherine Ashton, the EU High representative for foreign affairs and security policy affirmed the EU support for the protocols by indicating, in accordance with the agreements, that the latter should be applied with no preconditions.

“The conditions of a true agreement between the two countries were distorted in advance: Armenia had to pay too high a price for the lifting of the Turkish blockade,” added Hilda Tchoboian. “This decision confirms that Armenia had been duped by Turkey who wants to maintain Armenia as a neighbour hostage”.

The Federation recalls that with this attitude, Turkey is infringing the Copenhagen criteria, which stipulate that the applicant countries should establish good relations with their neighbouring countries.

“We invite the European Union to take note of Turkish responsibility for the failure of these agreements; and to take effective and rapid measures for the lifting of the blockade on Armenia,” concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

Commemorations of the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Through Europe (23 April 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-04-23T09:16:16Z

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy joins all the democratic forces and the European Armenian communities to pay homage to the 1,500,000 victims of the 20th Century first genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government.

Although it has been attested by a huge majority of historians and recognized by tens of Parliaments and international institutions in the world, this genocide still remains unpunished and denied by successive Turkish governments.

The European Armenian Federation states that, whatever the political and economic threats Turkey makes on the countries which recognize this genocide, the international process of recognition will continue until the recognition by the Turkish State itself.

Aware of the moral and material prejudices generated by the genocide, the European Armenian Federation affirms that as for any Crime against Humanity, the process of reconciliation between the Armenian people and Turkey will have to pass by the re-establishment of the truth, the recognition and the morals and material reparation.

On April 24th, the truth of the extermination of the Armenian people will be commemorated in Armenia, throughout the world and in Europe in particular, where a big number of survivors have found refuge for more than 90 years.

Program of the commemorations in Europe:


Program

EU's Policy: Armenia-Turkey Normalisation of Relations Without Pre-Conditions (9 April 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-04-09T11:20:32Z

The European Armenian Federation for Justice & Democracy welcomes the statement by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Catherine Ashton, confirming European Union's unwavering commitment to the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey without any pre-conditions.

The Federation would further point out that inherent in the EU statement is the recognition by EU's highest-level leadership that an imbalance exists between the disposition of Armenia which has followed the “no pre-conditions” principle and has submitted the signed Protocols to its Parliament, and that of Turkey, which is insisting on pre-conditions thus halting the ratification process, while at the same time making statements in support of the normalisation process.

The Federation also commends the European executive for its active efforts toward reinforcement of ties, within the Eastern Partnership framework, between Armenia and the European Union leading to closer political association and economic integration.

“At the same time, we deeply regret that so far there has not been a strong and unanimous condemnation, by the European Union's leadership, of Prime Minister Erdogan's open threats to deport the Armenians living in Turkey in retaliation for the US congressional consideration of the Armenian Genocide resolution,” declared Hilda Tchoboian, Chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation.

“Turkey's present blockade of Armenia and its systematic policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide should lead the European Union to have a full appreciation of Turkey's politics of aggression in the region,” added Hilda Tchoboian.

The European Armenians expect the European leadership to stand firm on its refusal of any pre-conditions to normalization of relations. They also expect the leaders of Europe to clearly demand that the Turkish blockade of Armenia is lifted once and for all.

Resolution 626/VIII of the Parliament of Catalonia, recognising the Armenian genocide and supporting the agreement signed in Zurich on October 10th, 2009 between Armenia and Turkey (29 March 2010)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2010-03-29T07:58:06Z

In accordance with the article 146 of the rules, it was adopted:

Resolution

1. The Parliament of Catalonia recognizes - just like the resolution of the European Parliament of June 1987, reaffirming the preceding resolutions of February 2002 and February 2004 - that the facts experienced by the Armenian population between 1915 and 1921 are considered as being a true genocide, in accordance with the UN Convention for the Prevention and the Repression of the crime of Genocide which was adopted in December 1948.

2. The Parliament of Catalonia urges the Government:

a) to complete the pertinent managements successfully in front of the State government so that it subscribes to the contents of the EP resolution.

b) To give its support for the Armenian people in his efforts to consolidate the democratic process, while collaborating with the associations established in Catalonia and which have this objective.

c) To give its support for the efforts of Armenia and Turkey, as well as to all Western diplomats who made possible the signature of the agreement between Armenia and Turkey on October 10th, 2009 in Zurich, and to ask that the starting point which will be the stability of the region and which will change the Caucasus into a true area of co-operation and freedom.

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.

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.

European Armenian Federation call released in International Herald Tribune (7 December 2009)

Fédération Euro-Arménienne — 2009-12-07T16:46:10Z

On the eve of the European summit beginning today, International Herald Tribune released on Monday, December 7 in its Europe – Middle East – Asia edition, a call launched by the European Armenian Federation to the Heads of States and governments about the accession negotiations with Turkey.

The call, entitled “Europe is a Union of values”, salutes the propositions of President Van Rompuy who has declared that “Turkey's accession to our democracy raises a set of incompatibilities and contradictions with the very essence of the European Union's core principles”.

The call briefly lists Turkey's failures, among which its refusal to ratify the Ankara protocol, to recognise the Armenian Genocide, to take on important reforms in the legislative field, to respect the religious freedom of its minorities and to grant them real socio-political rights.

The European Armenian Federation calls upon “the Heads of State and Prime Ministers taking part in the next European summit to place clear prerequisites on the continuation of the negotiations with Turkey” as regards to these failings.

The call concludes by affirming that if overlooked, “such massive failings would have serious consequences for the future of Europe, irrespective of the format of association considered, i.e. a full membership or a privileged partnership”.