Basque Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide

And so the list grows.

The Basque Parliament included 6 articles in which it affirms the authentic character of the Armenian Genocide; denounces Turkey’s systematic negationism and rejects the frontier and economic blockade imposed on Armenia.

Moreover, the Parliament, under the signature of the president, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, declares sympathy to the Armenian people, and supports their efforts to consolidate its democratic process and to affirm in the Caucasus area a stable space of cooperation and freedom.

Thanks, guys! I suppose it takes a group of people who have been oppressed through the ages to recognize everything that Armenians have struggled through and all those things that we continue to fight for today.

Source: PanArmenian

German Turks Support Genocide Recognition

You certainly don't see this everyday.

On the initiative of "Union against Genocide" an event will be organized in Frankfurt April 24, dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. Organizers demand to proclaim April 24 as a universal mourning day for all nations of Turkey.

"Immigrants from Turkey feel great sorrow concerning the fact, that today genocides, which took place 92 years ago and were committed between 1915-23 towards Christian nations of the Ottoman Empire with the aim to exterminate them, are being denied."

To clarify, this is a call for Turkey to recognize all of its genocides: against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and others.

Source: PanArmenian

Armenian Terrorists: Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

As I've said before, this blog serves to discuss anything and everything to do with Armenia. Unfortunately, there are some things that most people don't talk about or maybe even don't know about, such as terrorism.

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia - better known as ASALA, also known as The Orly Group or 3 October Organization - is the most infamous of all Armenian terrorist groups. The organization was founded in 1975 in Beirut, Lebanon by Hagop Tarakchian and Hagop Hagopian. ASALA's was founded to force the Turkish government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the Armenian Genocide, pay reparations, and return Armenian lands. They planned to accomplish these objectives by assassinating Turkish diplomats and politicians, though they have killed many civilians, as well.

Some of their acts include: assassination of Turkish ambassador to Austria Danis Tunaligil in Vienna in 1975 , assassination of the First Secretary of Turkish Embassy Oktay Cerit in Beirut in 1976, killing 9 people in the bombing of Ankara airport in 1982, and killing 8 people in the bombing at Orly Airport in Paris in 1983. It is believed that ASALA has killed a total of 31 people, including women and children, and wounded many others.

As of today, ASALA is not believed to be active.

Sources:
NPS
WorldStatesmen

Presidential Hopeful Barack Obama Wants Genocide Recognition

As 2008 rolls near, politicians and presidential hopefuls are taking the streets and attemping to buy votes with words. They promise this, they promise that, only to most likely not deliver once they're in office. We've seen it a million times, really. Bush made certain promises about the genocide prior to his election, but forgot completely after he became president. Here's what Barack has to say:

Sen. Obama stated that the Armenian Genocide was one of the most horrific tragedies that occurred during the 20th Century by the Turkish Government. He also stressed the importance of working to end the campaign of denial and speaking the truth, which in some instances has unfortunately jeopardized peoples’ careers.

The first issue, whether or not you believe his words, is him getting elected. In my humble opinion, he has no chance of winning enough electoral votes to do that, especially because he is black and a certain many states just aren't ready for that.

Source: PanArmenian

Scary: Richard Hoagland's Final Chance

When will this Genocide denier go away?

To overcome the controversy over the appointment of Richard Hoagland, U.S. President Bush's ambassador designate, to serve in Armenia, President Bush may use a "recess appointment" mechanism to bypass the opposition raised in the Senate against Hoagland's nomination.

...under U.S. law, presidents are vested with an authority to appoint officials at times when Congress is in recess. And Congress' next recess comes next month, between Feb. 18 and Feb. 25. If a recess appointment nevertheless happens, Hoagland's tenure would last until the next Congress convenes in January 2009.

This is exactly what Armenia needs: an anti-Armenian ambassador who won't be effective or popular and won't get the job done as a result.

I'll make sure this story ends well for all of us!

Source: ArmenPress

The Dalai Lama on the Armenian Genocide

You may have heard of him, but who is the Dalai Lama? Dalai Lama means "Ocean of Wisdom" and they have been the politican and spiritual leaders of Tibet for a very long time. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th. He has a few words on the Armenian genocide:

“Undoubtedly, you have right to keep your national originality, your culture. As to sufferings that you have experienced in the past...today the best way to solve the conflicts, including those, which became results of mistakes committed in the past, is dialog in the spirit of truce. And here a special role plays the ability to forgive.

The ability to forgive does not mean oblivion of what happened in the past. Remember your sufferings. Let the others know about it, but at the same time do not keep evil in your heart. There is no sense in it. It is more expedient to try to work out an acceptable solution based on the new realities

And when you think about it, isn't he right? Obviously, we have to remember what happened and educate our future Armenians and others, but we can't hold a grudge after Turkey officially takes responsibility for its acts. Will it be hard? Yes, but one should not keep evil in the heart. Ocean of Wisdom, indeed!

Source: Yerkir

Jewish Lobby Does Not Want Armenian Genocide Resolution

One would think that holding Turkey accountable for its crimes against humanity and acknowledging the events of 1915 would be in tune with Jews. After all, they met a similar fate, which was seemingly inspired by the world's lack of care for the Armenian Genocide. But politics always goes before humanity:

A member of the Jewish lobby in the United States said “if Turkey doesn't do something, the Armenian genocide bill will pass in the U.S. Congress despite our best efforts to block it...”

In his words, neither the Jewish lobby nor President George W. Bush's last-minute efforts will stop the bill.the U.S. Jewish lobby which has always managed to block the Armenian genocide bill in the past has warned the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “either do something or be ready to face the consequences.”

...he didn't even want to imagine what it would be like if Turkish-U.S. relations were further crippled by the Armenian bill after the row over Iraq. U.S. diplomats express similar concerns. However, the bill has already turned into a scare for the Jewish lobby in the United States. The only hope, for now, is Turkey's opening up its border with Armenia. Thus, the year 2007 is pregnant with a crisis that would leave even crises over the presidential elections and the general elections in the shadow, with the Jewish lobby already warning the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the yet unborn child.

Hard to believe, huh? Well, not really. Of course, from the point of view of justice, historical fact, human rights, and so on, it is ridiculous and filthy what these people are preparing for. But why are Jewish politicians so close to Turkey?

It's easy, really: the United States, Turkey, and Israel have a strong alliance together. Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Israel as an independent country, and since then it has remained a close political and military ally. Turkey also benefits the United States due to its strategic location and secular (relatively speaking) government, providing the superpower with bases from which to wage wars and protect its interests in the generally unstable region. For all this, Turkey receives money, investments, other economic aids, weapons, training, and much more, and enjoys the company of two very powerful countries.

Hypocrisy has never been so clear.

Source: PanArmenian

Argentina Officially Recognizes Armenian Genocide!

Great news for Armenians the world over!

President of Argentina Nestor Kirchner approved the draft law proclaiming April 24 the Day of tolerance and respect among nations, and on this day the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire will commemorated...

The draft law, introduced by the Hay Dat Commission, was passed by the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina's Parliament on November 29, 2006 and approved by the Senate on December 13. The law recognizes the Genocide of the Armenian nation in Turkey in 1915-1923 when 1.5mln Armenians were massacred.

"The Armenian Community of Argentina expresses its gratitude to the authorities of the country for the step which has become a successive stage in the combat against the crime against humanity and restoration of historical truth and justice, a process that is going on throughout the world," the statement says.

"Thus Argentina appeared on the international scene as a country that demands restoration of the truth and justice," the Commission reported.

Armenia Blog wants to thank Argentina for its official recognition. This is a victory for all people, not just Armenians. It is the duty of man to prevent any such genocides in the future and to educate progeny of what evils have been perpetrated in the world by humans against other humans, whether against Armenians or others.

Source: Arka