The blog contains articles and thoughts in English, Armenian and Arabic about Armenian issues, Artsakh-Karabakh issue, Armenian Genocide as well as the life of Armenians and Christians in Iraq and the Middle East.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Congress Should Investigate State Dept. For Holding Back Aid to Artsakh
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
The State Department has acted negligently and possibly in contempt of Congress by withholding assistance that it had expressly allocated to Nagorno Karabagh (Artsakh) during the past 12 years.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) revealed last week that the State Department only spent about half of the amount allocated by Congress to Artsakh. From 1998 to 2010, Congress appropriated to Artsakh $61 million, not including an additional amount estimated at $10 million, allocated during 2000-2002. U.S. government documents obtained by ANCA reveal that the State Dept. spent only $36 million on humanitarian aid to Artsakh in those dozen years.
Successive Democratic and Republican administrations have attempted to block congressional efforts to provide aid to Artsakh, in order to appease Azerbaijan. Failing to prevent approval of such allocations, the State Dept. devised a clever ploy to obstruct the will of Congress -- it spent only a portion of the funds intended for Artsakh. Azerbaijan had been insisting that any U.S. assistance to Artsakh be channeled through Baku. Despite objections from the administration and Azerbaijan, Congress has continued to allocate aid to Artsakh, and made it less restrictive; its 2010 allocation of $8 million is earmarked for “programs and activities in Nagorno Karabagh,” not exclusively for humanitarian projects.
Throughout these dozen years, neither Armenia nor Artsakh, and apparently no one from the Armenian American community has complained to Congress about the State Dept.’s refusal to spend fully the allocated funds. Amazingly, after this shortfall was revealed by ANCA, a senior Artsakh official downplayed the failure to deliver the allocated aid. According to Radio Free Europe, Vahram Atanesian, Chairman of the Artsakh parliament’s foreign relations committee, excused the withholding of the aid by attributing it to Artsakh’s robust economic growth!
While Armenians remained surprisingly quiet, Congress, starting in 2001, repeatedly urged the administration “to release, without further delay, the remainder of the $20 million in humanitarian assistance initially provided in the fiscal year 1998 Act.” Furthermore, the House of Representatives asked the Secretary of State to report back the amount of assistance provided by the United States to Artsakh within 15 days of the enactment of the aid bill. In 2004 and 2005, the Senate demanded that USAID present its plans for the disbursement of the allocated funds within 60 days after the enactment of the aid bill. Unfortunately, the Obama administration bears the lion’s share of the blame. During its first two years in office, it has held back $12 million or one-third of the funds not spent on Artsakh since 1998.
Sen. Barbara Boxer had the opportunity to pursue this issue with Matthew Bryza, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, during his confirmation hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee on July 22. She wanted to know why only $4 million was spent out of the $16 million allocated for Artsakh in the past two years. In response to Bryza’s evasive answer, Sen. Boxer asked him to provide in writing “a detailed accounting on the disbursement of all U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabagh for the past five years.” She pointedly inquired: “Why weren’t the full amounts allocated by Congress for Nagorno Karabagh in 2009 and 2010 spent?” Bryza, once again, did not provide an adequate response to the Senator’s questions.
Consequently, Sen. Boxer asked the Foreign Relations Committee to postpone voting on Bryza’s confirmation, until the Senate returns from recess around mid-September. This would hopefully give Bryza the opportunity to prepare an honest accounting of why the aid from Washington did not fully reach Artsakh. The delay in his confirmation would also allow the Senate to check more thoroughly the issues raised regarding his background.
Clearly, Bryza and his predecessors at the State Department had resorted to various tricks to frustrate the intent of Congress. They attempted to appease Azerbaijan by limiting and delaying the aid desperately needed in Artsakh.
Armenian-Americans should now ask Congress to investigate the State Department’sfailure to comply with the legislature’s mandate, by under-spending $35 million of the allocation to Artsakh, during the past 12 years.
Should the investigation uncover misconduct by State Dept. officials, Armenian-Americans should then ask Congress to make a one-time allocation of $35 million to Artsakh, in compensation for the amount the U.S. government failed to spend, as required by law.
The uproar caused by such a congressional investigation would hopefully make State Dept. officials more cautious in the future when handling the disbursement of funds intended for Artsakh!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
مناشدة
Dear Readers,
I sent the attached Letter/Appeal to the Iraqi President, (http://iraqipresidency.net/greetings_send.php?language=arabic)
and failed to send it to the Prime Minister after pressing "Contact Us" button on (http://cabinet.iq/) (I, then, sent the letter to his Facebook account: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/nourialmaliky?ref=ts).
The Letter/Appeal concerns a fresh resolution that Azerbaijan again tries to push through the United Nations General Assembly accusing Armenia of occupying Azerbaijan's lands. Iraq was among the countries that voted for a similar resolution in March 2008.
I urge all Iraqi Armenians to sign and send the text of this Appeal to the three Iraqi officials. I also urge Armenians residing in Arab countries to send similar appeals to their officials.
سيادة جلال طالباني
رئيس جمهورية العراق المحترم
سيادة نوري المالكي
رئيس الوزراء لجمهورية العراق المحترم
سيادة هوشيار زيباري
وزير الخارجية لجمهورية العراق المحترم
تحية طيبة
أناشد سياداتكم التوجيه بعدم مساندة العراق أو التصويت إلى جانب مشروع القرار الذي تعتزم أذربيجان طرحه للمناقشة في الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة في التاسع من أيلول-سبتمبر 2010 لاتهام أرمينيا باحتلال أراض أذربيجانية.
إنه لمن المؤسف والمحزن أن العراق قد صوت إلى جانب مشروع القرار المماثل الذي قدمته أذربيجان إلى الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة حول "الوضع في أراضي أذربيجان المحتلة"، والذي تم تبنيه في 14 آذار-مارس 2008. وقد وصف المراقبون هذا القرار في حينه بأنه غير متوازن ويعقد سبل الحل لهذه المسألة ولا يخدم مفاوضات السلام بين أذربيجان وجمهورية ارتساخ-ناغورني كاراباخ. وأظهرت نتيجة التصويت ذلك ملياً من خلال امتناع 100 دولة عن التصويت، وتصويت دول كبرى، مثل الولايات المتحدة وروسيا وفرنسا، وهي دول ترعى مجموعة مينسك المنبثقة عن منظمة الأمن والتعاون في أوروبا لإيجاد سبل الحل لهذا الصراع، إلى جانب الهند ودول أخرى ضده.
لقد دافع السكان الأرمن في جمهورية ارتساخ-ناغورني كاراباخ عن أنفسهم وحقهم في تقرير المصير وقرار الاستقلال الذي أعلنوه في 2 أيلول-سبتمبر 1991 على وفق الدستور السوفييتي النافذ آنذاك، دافعوا عنها بقواهم الذاتية عبر عمليات جيش الدفاع الذاتي المشكل من سكان الإقليم في مواجهة سياسة التمييز العنصري والإبادة التي انتهجتها أذربيجان منذ منح الإقليم إلى أذربيجان عام 1923، بقرار غير شرعي اتخذه الزعيم السوفييتي ستالين، وحتى التحرير.
لقد كان الإقليم جزأ لا يتجزأ من أرمينيا خلال التاريخ، كما أن جمهورية أذربيجان الحالية نفسها تعلن أنها تكمل جمهورية أذربيجان التي أعلنت في العام 1918 والتي كانت لا تضم الإقليم الأرمني. وتحتل أذربيجان أراضي تابعة لجمهورية ارتساخ-ناغورني كاراباخ في منطقتي مارتاكيرت وشاهوميان، إلى جانب إقليم ناخيتشيفان الأرمني الذي منحته السلطات السوفييتية أيضا إلى أذربيجان إرضاء لتركيا الكمالية.
ويمتلك سكان الإقليم الحق ذاته في الاستقلال الذي حصل عليه شعب إقليم كوسوفو. وقرار محكمة العدل الدولية، الذي نص على أن إعلان إقليم كوسوفو لاستقلاله عام 2008 لا يخالف القانون الدولي، هو المرجع والفصل في هذه القضية. ورفضت المحكمة اعتراض صربيا بأن إعلان الاستقلال يهدد وحدة أراضيها، وهي ادعاءات أذربيجان ذاتها..
وقد واصلت أذربيجان إطلاق التهديدات بمواصلة العمليات العسكرية ضد الإقليم لترحيل السكان الأرمن عنه بمؤازرة الحليفة الإستراتيجية تركيا التي لم تكف هي الأخرى عن التدخل في شؤون العراق الداخلية وغزو شماله وانتهاك سيادته. وترتبط أرمينيا والشعب الأرمني بعلاقات تاريخية وثيقة بالعراق والدول العربية التي استقبلت الأرمن الناجين من الإبادة الأرمنية لعام 1915 ووفرت لهم ولأجيالهم جميع سبل العيش الحر الكريم.
مع وافر التقدير والاحترام.
آرا سركيس آشجيان
مواطن عراقي
يريفان، أرمينيا
اعزائي
أرجو ارسال نص الرسالة الى كل من رئيس الجمهورية ورئيس الوزراء ووزير الخارجية العراقي على المواقع المذكورة ادناه (أو بأية وسيلة أخرى تجدونها مناسبة) لمناشدتهم للتوجيه بعدم تصويت العراق الى جانب مشروع القرار التي ستطرحه اذربيجان على الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة في التاسع من أيلول المقبل حول ارتساخ-غاراباغ.
موقع رئيس الجمهورية:
http://iraqipresidency.net/greetings_send.php?language=arabic
موقع وزارة الخارجية:
http://www.mofa.gov.iq/arabic/contactus/default.aspx?pageid=38
موقع رئاسة الوزراء:
info@cabinet.iq
أو
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/nourialmaliky?ref=ts
كما ادعو الأرمن في البلدان العربية لارسال رسائل مماثلة الى المسؤولين فيها.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
إسرائيل وأذربيجان... مصالح متبادلة أم استغلال صهيوني؟
http://www.moheet.com/show_files.aspx?fid=397647&pg=20
تعليق
تحاول أذربيجان تصوير مسالة غاراباغ على أنها مطالب إقليمية لأرمينيا في أراضي أذربيجان، في حين أن المسألة في الحقيقة تكمن في عدم احترامها لحقوق الإنسان وحق تقرير المصير لسكان الإقليم، وهو مبدأ معترف به دولياً٠ لذا فأن المسألة هي بين أذربيجان وغاراباغ وليست بين أذربيجان وأرمينيا٠
Why Would Armenians Go to Akhtamar, And Become Tools of Turkish Propaganda?
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Ever since the Genocide, after nearly a century of banning Armenian church services, the Turkish government has finally decided to allow a one-time celebration of Mass to be held at the 10th Century Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island.
Questions have been raised about the prudence of attending the Sept. 19 church services to which the Turkish government has invited Armenians from around the world, members of the international media and foreign Ambassadors and dignitaries. Those calling for a boycott indicate that the true aim of the Turkish authorities is to score propaganda points with the European Union and the United States, by feigning tolerance towards Christians and other minorities. In reality, successive Turkish governments have carried out a systematic policy of eliminating all visible signs of Armenian presence throughout Western Armenia (Eastern Turkey) for over nine decades, during which more than 2,000 Armenian churches and monasteries have been destroyed or converted into non-religious use. The Holy Cross Church itself was targeted for demolition some years ago, but was saved by the intervention of a local Turkish official.
Critics of those traveling to Akhtamar also object to the Turkish government’s classification of the historic church as a “museum,” and holding services only once a year. After many requests and complaints, Turkish officials have finally promised to place a cross on the church’s dome.
There is no reason for Armenians to be grateful to a country that, after confiscating and destroying thousands of churches, is now allowing a religious ceremony in a single church, which it classifies as a museum. This church and thousands of others should belong to the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, and services should be held as needed, without governmental permission or interference.
Last week, tempers flared in Armenia when the Holy See of Etchmiadzin announced its intention to send two clergymen to the Sept. 19 ceremonies. His HolinessCatholicos Karekin I usually consults with Armenian officials before taking decisions on matters involving foreign countries. Since he was absent from Armenia while this announcement was made and possibly unaware of the objections raised, His Holiness now has the opportunity to make a final determination regarding the sending of representatives of the Holy See to Akhtamar. As Armenians in Turkey are not permitted to freely express their views, Church officials and lay leaders outside Turkey should take the initiative to condemn the Turkish exploitation of Armenian religious ceremonies.
The Foreign Ministry of Armenia announced that it has not received an official invitation from Ankara to send a delegation to the Holy Cross Church. It is hoped that if and when such an invitation is extended, the Armenian government would reject it. Yerevan handed the Turks a propaganda victory last year by signing the Armenia-Turkey Protocols. Participating in the Akhtamar church services would be tantamount to presenting the Turks an undeserved additional reward.
There are indications, however, that this time around the Armenian government may not be as accommodating. Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesman of Pres. Sargsyan’s ruling Republican Party and Member of Parliament, harshly criticized the planned church services, calling it a “publicity stunt” and a “provocation” to mislead the international community.
In addition, a subcommittee of the Public Council, an advisory body formed by Pres. Sargsyan, issued a statement, urging Armenians to boycott the Holy Cross church services. It called on all self-respecting Armenians to refrain from participating in “this cheap Turkish show.” Giro Manoyan, spokesman of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Yerevan, also advocated boycotting the church services and criticized the Holy See of Etchmiadzin for planning to send two clerics to Akhtamar.
A clear indication of Turkish disinterest in preserving Armenian churches is the interrogation by the secret police of several thousand families who have offered to host Armenian visitors in nearby city of Van on September 19, due to shortage of hotel rooms. Turkish officials are suspicious that host families may be forcefully Turkified or Kurdified remnants of Armenian Genocide victims. By this appalling action, reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s Gestapo tactics, the Turkish regime is showing its obsession to keep track of its citizens’ ethnic origin. In fact, after this racist investigation, a number of families have been officially banned from hosting Diaspora Armenians in Van.
Armenians who naively plan to attend religious ceremonies in “a museum” would inadvertently legitimize the confiscation of a historic Armenian Church and promote a political show staged by Turkish authorities.
It is perfectly understandable that Turkish leaders would want to create a positive image in order to facilitate their country’s entry into the European Union, and counter Armenian efforts for the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It is far less understandable, however, why Armenians would help advance the Turks’ anti-Armenian objectives.
Monday, August 16, 2010
My Letter to the Ambassador of Iraq to Azerbaijan
Dear Readers,
I sent the attached e-mail to the Ambassador of Iraq to Azerbaijan (on the Iraqi Embassy's e-mail) concerning a statement the Ambassador reportedly made to the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan.
To The Ambassador Of Iraq To Azerbaijan
Mr. Hayder Shiya Ghubeshi Albarrak
Dear Sir,
I read with regret your statement to the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan published in the Azeri Media in the following link:
I suppose your statement is true and the Azeri Media did not forge it (otherwise the Armenian people need a clarification from your Excellency). I would like to mention that it is Azerbaijan that launched the war against Artsakh-Nagorno Karabakh Republic to continue the genocidal policy it had followed toward theArmenians of the region especially since 1988. Armenians of Artsakh declared their independence according to the constitution of the former Soviet Union in 1991 and defended their land against the Azerbaijan 's aggression. Historically, Artsakh was an inseparable part of Armenia , and the current Azerbaijan Republic declares it continues the first Republic in 1918 which did not include Artsakh. Artsakh was illegally given to Azerbaijan in 1923. It is Azerbaijan that occupies lands from Artsakh- Nagorno Karabakh Republic in Martakert and Shahumian regions, beside the Nakhichevan Armenian region, which was also given to Azerbaijan by the Soviet regime to satisfy Turkey .
The people of Artsakh-Nagorno Karabakh Republic practiced their legal right of self-determination. International Court of Justice's ruling on Kosovo's independence is a guide as it ruled the declaration of independence does not violate any UN resolution or international law.
Sincerely,
Ara S. Ashjian
An Iraqi Citizen
Yerevan, Armenia
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Turkey Accused of Using Chemical Weapons Against PKK
My Comment: If these accusations are proven to be true, Turkish officials should be tried in foreign courts as war criminals. Turkish officials have no moral right to claim defending Palestinians or other peoples when they attack their own people.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Is it money that keeps Turkey denying what happened to Armenians?
http://www.armeniadiaspora.com
Also read my article titled "Why does Turkey deny the Armenian genocide?!":
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Unprecedented Action: Senators Block Ambassadors to Azerbaijan and Turkey
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
In a major embarrassment for the Obama Administration, Senators took an unprecedented action last week, blocking the President’s ambassadorial nominees for both Azerbaijan and Turkey!
The Administration showed a total lack of experience and poor judgment by ignoring warnings that Matthew Bryza and Francis Ricciardone, the nominees for Baku and Ankara, would meet strong opposition in the Senate.
The White House, State Department, and the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had agreed in advance to rush the two nominees through the confirmation process, before the Senate went into recess until mid-September. Bryza was so confident of assuming his post in Baku in early August that he had even made arrangements to have his house inWashington rented!
Contrary to published reports, the Armenian-American community did not oppose Bryza’s nomination because of self-serving concerns. The larger question raised by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) was whether Bryza could represent U.S. interests in Azerbaijan in an objective manner. The nominee’s rough sailing in the Foreign Relations Committee was due to numerous allegations of conflict of interest involving both him and his Turkish-born wife’s employer, The Hudson Institute. The Bryzas were criticized for being "too cozy" with Azeri and Turkish officials, having received gifts from them on the occasion of their Istanbul wedding.
Matt Bryza’s evasive and unsatisfactory answers to Senators’ questions during his confirmation hearing prompted Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to ask Committee Chairman Sen. Kerry to postpone his confirmation until mid-September. Meanwhile, U.S. officials and others would have ample opportunity to fully review all issues raised during the Senate hearing. Should Senators judge that the allegations against Bryza are not serious enough to merit rejection, he could then be confirmed as the next Ambassador to Azerbaijan. However, if evidence of wrongdoing exists, it would be far better that it surfaces now rather than after he is posted to Baku, sparing the Obama Administration from scandalous disclosures and embarrassment.
On the other hand, Francis Ricciardone, the nominee for Turkey, seemed to be a perfect choice on paper. He is a 32-year veteran of the Foreign Service who served as deputy ambassador in Afghanistan, as well as the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, and is fluent in Turkish.
Unfortunately, Ricciardone carries a major liability that the Obama Administration unwisely ignored. There were loud complaints from neoconservatives that during his tenure as Ambassador to Egypt, from 2005 to 2008, Ricciardone had failed to support Bush Administration’s flawed efforts to promote democracy and human rights in that country. When neoconservatives realized that the Administration was turning a deaf ear to their objections, they sought to block his nomination. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) placed "a hold" on Ricciardone, after his confirmation by the Foreign Relations Committee, effectively blocking his approval by the full Senate.
Foreign Policy magazine reported that Ricciardone's critics believe "his strong personality and often blunt speaking style are the wrong mix for the current task at hand -- and that he has a tendency to get too close to his foreign interlocutors." The magazine also quotedDanielle Pletka, Vice President of the American Enterprise Institute, as stating: "Now is not the time for us to have an ambassador in Ankara who is more interested in serving the interests of the local autocrats and less interested in serving the interests of his own administration."
Blocking the confirmation of the Ambassadors to Azerbaijan and Turkey has attracted considerable attention in Washington, Baku, and Ankara. Major American, Azeri, and Turkish newspapers accused the Armenian-American community and the ANCA of undermining Bryza’s nomination. The Washington-based influential "Politico" journal reported that Bryza had ran into "opposition from the Armenian National Committee of America, a lobbying group." The AzerNews Weekly blamed Bryza’s problems on "theArmenian Diaspora," and Hurriyet, one of Turkey’s largest newspapers, reported that Bryza’s nomination was postponed "in response to pressure from Armenian lobby groups."
According to some press reports, the Obama Administration may not be willing to use itspolitical capital to save either nominee. Lincoln Mitchell, an expert on the South Caucasus at Columbia University, told RFE that he does not believe the Administration is going to fight Senators from its own party to save Bryza. A similar assessment was made in Foreign Policy magazine by an aide to a Republican Senator about the Administration’s unwillingness to rescue Ricciardone.
The prolonged absence of U.S. Ambassadors from Baku and Ankara comes at a time of heightened tension in the relations between these two capitals and Washington. Given the Obama Administration’s multiple domestic and international crises on the eve of crucial elections in November, it is doubtful if it could afford to vigorously pursue the confirmation of its ambassadorial nominees for Azerbaijan and Turkey!
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Armenians Seek Billions of Dollars In Lawsuit Against Turkey
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
After struggling for decades to get the Armenian Genocide recognized, and having taken legal action against western banks and insurance companies, Armenian-Americans filed their first lawsuit against the Republic of Turkey last week, seeking compensation for confiscated properties and belongings, and loss of income as a consequence of the Genocide of 1915-23.
The lawsuit also targets the Central Bank of Turkey and the Ziraat Bank asfinancial instruments of the Turkish government. These banks as well as government-owned Turkish Airlines and Tourism Office have branches in the United States, making them subject to American jurisdiction for the purposes of this lawsuit. Should this case succeed, the plaintiffs’ attorneys could demand the seizure of Turkish governmental assets located in the United States.
The multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit was filed in U.S. Federal Court by attorneys Berj Boyajian, Mark Geragos, Ara Jabagchourian, and Brian Kabateck on behalf of Garbis Davoyan of Los Angeles, Hrayr Turabian of New York City, and many Armenians whose ancestors had properties in Turkey. The grandfathers of Davoyan and Turabian owned land near Aintab and Adana.
The complaint charges the Republic of Turkey and its predecessor of confiscating, selling and deriving income from real estate and personal property -- businesses, buildings, lands, bank deposits, and priceless religious artifacts now housed in Turkish museums -- owned by hundreds of thousands of Armenians who were deported and exterminated during the Genocide. Specifically, the lawsuit seeks to recover moneys wrongfully received and deposited in the Turkish Treasury, government agencies, and other organizations affiliated with the State of Turkey.
During and after World War I, Turkey adopted several laws regulating the administration of properties allegedly "abandoned" by Armenians. The Turkish government collected rents and sale proceeds from these properties, and deposited the receipts in its Treasury in the names of their original owners, to be returned to them subsequently. Instead, the government withheld these properties and the income derived from them.
The plaintiffs accuse the Republic of Turkey of directing and participating "in a deliberate plan of forced deportation, confiscation and extermination in furtherance of the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, torture, rape, starvation, physical and mental abuse, summary execution and genocide."
The news of the lawsuit was splashed across the front pages of most Turkish newspapers last week, causing great agitation in the country. Independently of the lawsuit’s outcome, Turkish officials are certainly aware that it would generate worldwide publicity on Armenian demands from Turkey emanating from the Genocide. Given the traditional Turkish over-reaction to any and all Armenian issues, it would not be surprising if Turkey’s leaders would become so irate as to withdraw their signature from the already frozen Armenia-Turkey Protocols. Also,Ankara could abandon its failed efforts to woo some elements of the Armenian Diaspora.
Imagine how furious would Turkish officials become when Armenians demand the return of Turkey’s Presidential Palace in Ankara, located on land confiscated from the Kassabian family. Furthermore, the Incirlik Air Base, a joint American-Turkish military facility near Adana, is built on the land of a former Armenian village. Armenians could sue both the Turkish and U.S. governments for deriving benefits from the expropriated properties of Armenian peasants.
Last week’s lawsuit is a long overdue step forward in the pursuit of Armenian demands from Turkey and obtaining justice for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Armenians must now concentrate their efforts on demanding fair compensation or return of all they lost during the Genocide. Similar lawsuits should be filed with the European Court of Human Rights, since Turkey is a member of the European Council and is obligated to comply with the court’s verdict.
It would be highly desirable to have the Armenian Bar Association or a similar entity coordinate such legal action and provide the necessary counsel and resources for future lawsuits. It is important to coordinate such actions with the government of Armenia, regardless of whether it formally joins in the lawsuit. The unified Diaspora structure, proposed in an earlier column, could well serve as a coordinating body for lawsuits dealing with pan-Armenian issues.
Such lawsuits must be filed with utmost care, preparation and professionalism, as they impact the entire Armenian nation. Should any of these lawsuits not move forward due to procedural reasons, the Turkish government would quickly claim victory by misrepresenting the court’s decision. Needless to say, judges handling such politically sensitive cases involving foreign governments are expected to come under intense pressure from both Ankara and Washington!
After seeking genocide recognition for almost a century, Armenians must now devote their time and energy to pursue all legal avenues -- U.S. Federal Courts, courts in various countries including Turkey, the European Court of Human Rights, and the World Court in order to recoup their massive losses and regain their historic rights.
Justice delayed is justice denied!
Monday, August 02, 2010
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