ANKARA: Turkey Denies Minority Deal

Hurriyet
Dec 29 2008
Turkey

Turkey and France both refrain from signing a convention on the protection of minorities. A Council of Europe official warns Ankara it will feel the pressure during European Union negotiations, while Turkish officials point at Paris as an explanation for their opposition, saying Turkey honors its obligations under the Lausanne Treaty.

Turkey and France, whose paths are divergent on many issues in the European Union, from human rights standards to political criteria, are sticking to their guns over the ratification of a document on the protection of minorities.

Eight of 47 Council of Europe member states have refused to ratify the framework convention for the protection of national minorities. France and Turkey are the two countries that have never signed or ratified it.

"For both Turkey and France, it is difficult to reconcile the recognition of certain groups as minority groups with the principle of equality for all citizens irrespective of their ethnic,
linguistic, cultural and religious backgrounds," Alain Chablais, head of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a telephone interview.

Turkey and France base their arguments on constitutional grounds and argue the signing of the document would jeopardize the principle of equality among their citizens.

Both countries say every citizen is free to have his own religion, language and cultural background, but argue it is not up to the state to recognize or provide official support for specific ethnic identities.

Less participation "We do not share that argument, because the framework convention sets equality and non-discrimination as key principles, which are also enshrined in many other treaties like the European Convention on Human Rights," said Chablais.

He said the convention also required state parties to take special measures in favor of disadvantaged minority groups to ensure they enjoyed equality with the majority in practice. Persons who belong to a minority are in a disadvantaged position in many fields, he said,
adding that they participate less in public and political life and they have few opportunities to be educated in their mother tongue. "This (applying special measures) is considered fully compatible with the principle of equality by most European states," said Chablais.

While opposing ratification of the convention, Turkey consistently says it honors its obligations stemming from the Lausanne Treaty, the founding document of the Turkish Republic, which provides that Armenians, Greeks and Jews are national minorities. Turkish authorities
also say its Constitution does not allow for a recognition of other minority groups, as that would create a different status more favorable to other ethnic groups and would violate the principle of equality among its citizens.

Copenhagen criteria

The convention on minorities did not exist at the time Turkey and France joined the Council of Europe. After the 10 founding member states including France, Turkey was one of the first countries to become a member in 1949, meaning there was no legally binding
commitment for the two to sign the convention. But European officials say Turkey will feel pressure to sign and ratify the convention as part of the EU negotiations.

"The signing of the convention is not part of the Acquis Communitaire, but is explicitly mentioned in the Copenhagen political criteria," said Chablais. Turkish officials, however, point to EU member France to explain their opposition.

"This is of course an understandable reply by Turkish authorities in theory, but if Turkey sincerely wishes to share European values and join the EU I think that is no longer a sustainable argument," said Chablais.

He said the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms in the countries was tremendously different.

"In practice, France has a number of minority groups which enjoy education and language rights without any impediment, but in Turkey, you cannot put up street names in Kurdish for example, and you cannot open public schools that teach Kurdish. It is impossible." Aside from Turkey and France, Greece, Belgium, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco and Luxembourg have not ratified the convention on minorities.

ANKARA: Turkey Denies Minority Deal

Hurriyet
Dec 29 2008
Turkey

Turkey and France both refrain from signing a convention
on the protection of minorities. A Council of Europe official warns
Ankara it will feel the pressure during European Union negotiations,
while Turkish officials point at Paris as an explanation for their
opposition, saying Turkey honors its obligations under the Lausanne
Treaty.

Turkey and France, whose paths are divergent on many issues in the
European Union, from human rights standards to political criteria,
are sticking to their guns over the ratification of a document on
the protection of minorities.

Eight of 47 Council of Europe member states have refused to ratify the
framework convention for the protection of national minorities. France
and Turkey are the two countries that have never signed or ratified it.

"For both Turkey and France, it is difficult to reconcile
the recognition of certain groups as minority groups with the
principle of equality for all citizens irrespective of their ethnic,
linguistic, cultural and religious backgrounds," Alain Chablais, head
of the Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities, told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review
in a telephone interview.

Turkey and France base their arguments on constitutional grounds and
argue the signing of the document would jeopardize the principle of
equality among their citizens.

Both countries say every citizen is free to have his own religion,
language and cultural background, but argue it is not up to the
state to recognize or provide official support for specific ethnic
identities.

Less participation "We do not share that argument, because the
framework convention sets equality and non-discrimination as key
principles, which are also enshrined in many other treaties like the
European Convention on Human Rights," said Chablais.

He said the convention also required state parties to take special
measures in favor of disadvantaged minority groups to ensure they
enjoyed equality with the majority in practice. Persons who belong to
a minority are in a disadvantaged position in many fields, he said,
adding that they participate less in public and political life and they
have few opportunities to be educated in their mother tongue. "This
(applying special measures) is considered fully compatible with the
principle of equality by most European states," said Chablais.

While opposing ratification of the convention, Turkey consistently
says it honors its obligations stemming from the Lausanne Treaty,
the founding document of the Turkish Republic, which provides that
Armenians, Greeks and Jews are national minorities. Turkish authorities
also say its Constitution does not allow for a recognition of other
minority groups, as that would create a different status more favorable
to other ethnic groups and would violate the principle of equality
among its citizens.

Copenhagen criteria

The convention on minorities did not exist at the time Turkey and
France joined the Council of Europe. After the 10 founding member
states including France, Turkey was one of the first countries
to become a member in 1949, meaning there was no legally binding
commitment for the two to sign the convention. But European officials
say Turkey will feel pressure to sign and ratify the convention as
part of the EU negotiations.

"The signing of the convention is not part of the Acquis Communitaire,
but is explicitly mentioned in the Copenhagen political criteria,"
said Chablais. Turkish officials, however, point to EU member France
to explain their opposition.

"This is of course an understandable reply by Turkish authorities
in theory, but if Turkey sincerely wishes to share European values
and join the EU I think that is no longer a sustainable argument,"
said Chablais.

He said the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms in the
countries was tremendously different.

"In practice, France has a number of minority groups which enjoy
education and language rights without any impediment, but in Turkey,
you cannot put up street names in Kurdish for example, and you cannot
open public schools that teach Kurdish. It is impossible." Aside
from Turkey and France, Greece, Belgium, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco
and Luxembourg have not ratified the convention on minorities.

Ermenî (Armenian) about Kurdistan

A known Armenian blogger in Sweden called Ermenî writes about Kurdistan in this post (TRANSLATED FROM SWEDISH).

("En Armeniers tankar - Du kan kalla mig Ermeni" = The thoughts of a Armenian- You can call me Ermeni)

Why a Kurdistan really?

The Kurdish question is a long and complicated history and it is one of the oldest stateless nations on earth is not what you need me to tell right now. What you need me to tell you is that the NATO allies, Britain and the USA is on its way to try to destroy an oppressor of people, again, to crush the peshmerga who have fought against all comers. from Syria, from Iran, from Turkey and Iraq, in conflict after conflict since before I or any of my readers were born.

The Kurds have no state, they deserve to have one, and there is a large queue of oppressor nations determined to stop them. That is what you need to focus on.

There are more of them immediately displaced Palestinians than there were in 1948. Several thousands of them died in the slaughter which is operated by the Turkish army in the 1990s.

They stood and fought and died in large quantities. against the Baathists in Iraq when Saddam Hussein was our "bulwark against fundamentalist Iran." We owe them something.

That there is a historic Armenia in Kurdistan is well known, unfortunately, there was no majority Christians in the land, I wish it were so but it is, and has not been like that. However, we have AS MUCH right to Kurdistan as the Kurds.
According to me, I believe the Kurds can manage the Armenian soil best, the story has shown (although there are some Islamists in some villages).
The reason I believe that the Kurds have been throughout history, been open to all religions abrahamistiska except for certain occasions.

Turkey, we have seen treat Armenians, we were subjected to a genocide (one and half miljonav us were killed, also purchased Kurdish ashiret clans participated) and how they want to destroy our churches, not so long ago built a porn cinema in a Church and State granted this.

In Iran, all linked to convert to the Christian, Armenians have lived in peace with their balucher and Kurds. In Iraq, has even the government of Kurdistan built several Armenian churches Armenian schools (which I can display images in a day if interested!) And in Syria are Qamishli the city that should be an example for the whole of Kurdistan. Qamishli shows the true fraternity between the Assyrians, Syrians, keldaner and Kurds.


Biji Kurdistan

From Armenians to Kurds

Published: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1994

International Herald Tribune

Regarding "A Test for Turkey: Liberty or Oppression for Kurds in Parliament" (Opinion, Dec. 7) by Leyla Zana:

As one whose parents were Armenian subjects in the Ottoman Empire, I fully understand Leyla Zana's frustration with Turkey's persecution of its Kurdish population. But she deludes herself in hoping for the Turkish government's recognition of Kurdish identity.

Despite Turkey's denial, the Ottomans during World War I solved their "Armenian question" by perpetrating the first genocide of the century. Armenians fought for and established an independent republic in 1918. In 1920, Armenia was attacked and divided by Turkey and the Soviets. Armenia again gained its independence in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed.

The Treaty of Sèvres, signed Aug. 10, 1920, granted statehood to Armenia and Kurdistan. The treaty was not worth the paper upon which it was printed. The Kurds will never have recognition of their identity, surely not statehood, so long as historic Kurdistan is controlled by the likes of Turkey, Iran and Iraq. The Western powers and Russia could care less.

As a footnote, it is noted that the Ottomans during World War I instigated attacks by Kurds on Armenians. We might charitably attribute such acts to wartime conditions. In any event, I wish Mrs. Zana and the Kurdish people peace and security.

BEDROS ODIAN.

Buffalo, New York.

A message to Mr Hrant Dink mourners

• KurdishMedia.com - By Kameel Ahmady

A message to Mr Hrant Dink mourners: Kurdish people are eager for reconciliation and peaceful respect between ethnicities

It was with sadness that I heard last week of the death of Hrant Dink, who worked courageously and tirelessly for a Turkey where understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures, and open dialogue between ethnicities would triumph, instead of the intractability from many sides which currently reigns.

Later that week, I was also saddened to read some articles on websites, statements which for me so missed the point of Hrant’s life and work. I refer to those that were tinged with an anger and hatred that seemed to reflect this intractability and betray movement toward honest and respectful dialogue, both between ethnic groups and with the state. These were marked by the kind of chauvinism which we see all too often in (ethnic) nationalist ideologies; focussing on Kurdish suffering, they do little to empathize with the plight of Armenians. In conclusion, one such article invited us to view grisly images, which, though tragically honest in their depiction of the brutality of the Turkish state, were out of place in the context of a memorial to one man’s life.

This week at the funeral of Mr. Dink, mourners, in the thousands, poured into Istanbul’s streets, carrying placards which read “We are all Armenians now”. Even this was critiqued in mocking tones. Some have cynically raised the question that it is not reasonable for Turks to now be claiming kinship with Armenians, since their very ancestors participated in the genocide of 1915. However, let us not question or condemn this act out of turn. Cannot people admit to their past transgressions, and does this not display a will for future peace? I am sure that it is not necessary to remind my Kurdish friends that there were some of our people who participated in the slaughter of their Armenian neighbours perpetrated by the Ottoman state, just as there were many Kurds who fought to protect and save Armenians, hiding them in their homes.

Reconciliation calls for honesty, and a real will to respect the memory and experience of others; to put aside hatreds, however justified; to acknowledge that we all have elements of good and bad. The symbolic power of this gesture – “We are all Armenians” – a gesture of openness, and yes, even empathy, must not be underestimated. Indeed, this sort of identification with ‘the other’ may represent the greatest hope we have seen for a long time in the battle to overcome inter-ethnic tensions in Turkey. The Turkish state has been accused of making hasty and false remarks of condolence which exploit the death of Mr. Dink; I think such statements are no less guilty of this charge.

While I try to understand and even empathize with life experience in which violence and oppression lead to such rage, I cannot see it as justified in this context. Some of us have tried, and should continue to reaffirm our commitment to working with our friends in the struggle for democracy and human rights of Kurdish people; this includes a responsibility to be honest, to give a viewpoint which is not entrenched in ideology, but in ideals. We should challenge some of our extreme point of views to bring about change through openness and goodwill.

Will such statements help to promote the spirit of respect and communication that Mr. Dink advocated, often alienating him from even many fellow Armenians? My fear is that they will have the opposite effect, and indeed might easily be dismissed by detractors as just so much fanatical ranting.

Worse still, they degrade the memory of Hrant Dink and his achievements, by flying in the face of all he worked for. Hrant Dink lived his life and pursued his work with a sense of goodwill and openness towards all, including those who had been responsible for the attempted extermination of his people. Surely we can honour his memory by continuing in this spirit, and in offering the same to our perceived adversaries.

Let us show the world that the Kurdish people are eager for such reconciliation and peaceful respect between ethnicities. Let us embrace the legacy that he left for us.

Kameel maintains a website at: www.kameelahmady.com

Fadl I

Al-Fadhl ibn Muhammad al-Shaddadi (also al-Fadl ibn Muhammad, Fadl ibn Muhammad, Fadlun ibn Muhammad, Fadhlun ibn Muhammad, or Fadl I was the Shaddadid emir of Arran from 985-1031. Of mixed Kurdish and Armenian ancestry, al-Fadhl was called "Fadhlun the Kurd" by ibn al-Athir and other Arabic historians. Al-Fadhl was the first Shaddadid emir to issue coinage, locating his mint first at Partav (Barda'a) and was later transferred to Ganja.

According to ibn al-Athir, al-Fadhl led an expedition against the Khazars around 1030 but was ambushed and had to flee. The Khazars reportedly killed 10,000 of his soldiers. Since the Khazar Khaganate had been destroyed in 969, it is unclear whether these Khazars were from a successor state or kingdom located in the Caucasus, were subjects of a Kipchak or Pecheneg ruler, or whether ibn al-Athir was mistaken or was using "Khazars" as a generic term for steppe people.

Al-Fadhl died in 1031 and was succeeded by Abu'l-Fath Musa.

BAKU: General Veli Kucuk: "PKK Is Not Kurdish, But Armenian Problem"

Press AgencyDec 15 2008AzerbaijanIstanbul - APA.

Addressing the trial on "Ergenekon" in Turkey, retired General, member of World Azerbaijanis Congress Veli Kucuk said the criminal case and arrests had been prepared by the order of the US,APA reports quoting Haberturk.

Veli Kucuk said though investigation on "Ergenekon" had started beforethe establishment of Justice and Development Party (AKP), the operationbegan after Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with George Bush in theWhite House on November 5, 2007.

He said the secret witnesses givingtestimony against him were members of such terrorist organizationsas PKK, Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front and Hezbollahand refuted the accusations.

General said he had led the troops inborder regions for a long time and underlined that he had defendedthe friendship of Turks and Kurds.

"I said PKK did not represent Kurds, eastern problem of Turkey wasactually Armenian problem. Of course, some did not like it and that'swhy I am here," he said.Veli Kucuk's speech consisted of 101 pages. General's lawyer is hisdaughter Zeyneb.

Ermenîtiya dapîra Abdullah Gul lê dibe serhevde

Çima ku li ser pirsekê serokkomarê Tirkiyeyê Abdullah Gul mesela kampanyaya uzirxwestina şexsî hin rewşenbirên tirk ya ji ermeniyan wek derbirîna azadiya fikrî nirxand, nasyonalîstên tirk ketine pey wî, ermenîtiya dapîra (diya diya wî) wî tînin meydanê û bi vê dixwazin wî têxin bin tehdîdê ku goya ew wek serokkomar ji nirx û siyasetên dewleta tirk bidûr dikeve, li pey eslê dapîra xwe dihere.

Canan Aritmana CHP-yî îşev derket saeta nuçeyên esasî ya kanala Starê û îdîa kir ku diya diya Abdullah Gul ermenî ye. Li ser pirsa ku wê ev agahî ji kîjan çavkaniyê girtiye, Aritman îdîa kir ku wê agahî ji xizmên Gul ên dereceya yekê wergirtiye. Li ser vê rojamevanê nuçeyan pirsî ku gelo ew kes xalê Abdullah Gulî Ahmet Şatoğlu ye, Aritmanê ne got ‘erê’, ne jî ‘na’.

Li ser rexneyên ku ev ne rojnamevanî ye ku li eslê ermenîtiya Gulî tê gerîn, rojnamevana nuçeyan bi kuşpeneyî got, ev wazîfa wê ye, ew bibîrdixe ku Abdullah Gul divê ne siyaseta koka xwe ya etnïkî, lê ya dewleta tirk bike.

Nasyonalîstên tirk hê ji roja serdana Gul a Ermenîstanê bahaneyan lê digerin.

Netkurd.org

Dr. Stanton at Armenian Genocide Observance - Kurds in Turkey

Dr. Gregory Stanton, current President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars and founder of Genocide Watch, offers his keynote lecture at the 2008 Capitol Hill Observance of the Armenian Genocide, organized by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. April 23, 2008.

Kardes Turkuler to Perform in Yerevan

Yerevan Sayat Nova and Kardes Türküler will perform together Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish, Georgian, Arabic, Gypsy and Laz songs including thewell-known Ov Hayots Ashkharh, Krunk, Bingyol, Ya Hawa, Kamancha, Medet,Cilicia, Ella Ella, Demme and others.Kardeþ Türküler came into being in 1993, as a concert project by theBoðaziçi University Folklore Club which aimed to interpret folksongs ofpeoples living in Turkey in their original languages.

First they preformed Turkish, Kurdish, Azerbaijani and Armenian songs. Later, the Kardeþ Türküler project broadened its repertoire to include songs from other cultures suchas Laz, Georgian, Circassian, Roma, Macedonian and Alevi.

The last album ofKardeþ Türküler, "Bahar" (Spring), was released in 2005.

More information onKardeþ Türküler can be found on their website:
http://www.kardesturkuler.com/en/

Gotinên kurdî-îranî di ermenkî da

[SWÊD, 17/11 2008] Ax (xwelî) – Hox Zimanzanê ermenîyan yê herî mezin di pirtûka xwe ya zanyarî ya “Hayêrên armatakan bararan” (“Ferhenga têrmînologî ya ermenkî”, 1977, Yêrêvan, rûpel 177) dinivîse, ko kurdan gotina ax di sedsala 11an da ji gotina ermenkî hox hildane. Lê ew şaş e, ji ber ko koka wê gotinê îranî ye. Ew gotin di gelek zaravên îranî da wek xwelî, kozî û tenî hene, wek: di farisîya navîn da xval tê maneya tenî, di goranî (kandûlayî) da xul, hul, bi lûrî xol têne maneya xwelî, kozî, bi zazakî wel tê maneya kozî. Koka van gotinan ji gotina îranîya kevin hwarda tê, di hindawropî da suordo ye. Ango, ev gotin ji îranî derbazî ermenkî bûye. Axil (axur, axûr) – Axor Ev gotina îranî ye, bi farisî ”axûr”, bi afxanî ”axor”, bi ermenkî ”axor” dibêjin. Herduyên dawî ji farisî derbaz bûne. Bi farisîya kevin ”axer” e û tê maneya cîyê naxirê û ji gotina ”a-xer” çê bûye, ew jî ji gotina ”xerten” (xwerin /äta (bi swêdî) çê bûye. Azad – Azat Ji îranî bi eynî maneyê derbazî nava ermenkî bûye û bûye ”azat”. Di îranîya kevin û avêstayî da ”azate” ye, ko tê maneya azad, zane, aqilmend, di farisîya navîn da ”azat” e, di farisî da ”azad” e û tê maneya azad. Efsûs – Apsos Ji gotina farisî ”efsus”. Di îranîya navîn da ”efsos”. Gorî Nyberg H.S. (A Manuel of Pahlavi, Wiesbaden) ew di îranîya kevin da ”epesreu ra” ye, ko ji gotinên ”epe” û ”srev” çê bûye û tê maneya ”guhdarîkirin”. Di îranîya îroyîn da tê maneya ”heyf, mixabin”. Ji wira jî ketîye nava ermenkî û bûye ”apsos”, di tirkî da bûye ”efsus”. Endam – Andam Ev gotina farisî ye û maneya can, laş, perçekî laş dide. Di avêstayî da ”hendame” ye. Di kurmancî da piranî wek ”uzv”, bi swêdî ”medlem” (wek nimûne: endamê partîyê) tê bikaranînê. Di ermenkî da bûye ”andam” û bi eynî fikirê tê bikaranînê. Embar (imbar) – Ambar Ev gotina di gelek zmanên îranî û ne îranî da heye, lê koka wê ji gotina farisî ”embar” (enbar) e. Di farisîya kevin da: ”hem-ber” (Grundriss der iranishcen Philologie). Di îranîya kevin da ”per” tê maneya “dagirtin”. Di avêstayî da ”perena” ( ) ye, ko tê maneya ”tije”. Hema bêje di hemû zmanan da tê maneya kîler, cîyê xweykirina êr, gênim, rûn û h.w.d. Di ermenkî da bûye ”ambar” û bi wê maneyê tê bikaranînê. Binelî (binecî) – Bnak Ji gotina îranî ”buna”, ko tê maneya mal, xanî, hêwirgeh û paşpirtika tirkî ”lî” çê bûye û ketîye kurdî û farizî jî. Di farisîya navîn da ”bunek”, di bêlûcî da ”bunag” e û tê eynî maneyê. Di ermenkî da bi eynî maneyê bûye ”bnak”. Bizîşk (pazîşk, pizîşk) - Bjîşk Bi avêstayî ”beêşeze”, bi hindîya kevin ”bhêşeja” (kesê qenckir, dermanê pakkirinê). Di farisîya navîn da bêjîşk, bzîşk, bi farisîya niha ”bizîşk”, ”pizîşk” (doktor, qenckir). Di ermenkî da bûye ”bjîşk”. Çol – Çol Ev gotina farisî - ”çûl” di kurdî da bûye ”çol” (berrî, lê ne qûmistan). Ji farisî derbazî tirkî bûye, bûye ”çöl” (deşt). Di afxanî da jî ”çol” e. Bi erebî ”şewl” e. Ji farisî derbazî ermenkî jî bûye û bi eynî fikirê wek ”çol” tê bikaranînê. Dadwer – Datavor Ev gotin ji gotina farisî ”dadver” (kesê heq), ji wê gotinê jî gotina ”dawer” (hakim) çê bûye; di farisîya navîn da ji vê gotinê ra ”datavar” hatîye gotin, bi ermenkî jî bûye ”datavor”. Di kurdî da ”dadwer” tê maneya hakim, ango kesê ko dadê dike, gotina ”dad” jî tê maneya ”mehkeme”. Di kurdîya me da dibêjin. “Wê dada te bikin”. Dadxwez – Dataxaz Wek ko me li jorê got, ”dadwer” tê maneya hakim, lê li vir gotina farisî ”dadxwez” tê maneya kesê ko dadê dixweze (bi tirkî sawcî, bi swêdî åklagare) û ev yek di kurdî da jî wisan e. Ji farisî derbazî nava ermenkî bûye û bûye ”dataxaz”. Dijmin – Tşnamî (Dûşman) Ji gotina farisî ”duşman” çê bûye, ko ew jî ji farisîya kevin ”duş-mana”, ji avêstayî ”duş-mainyu” çê bûye û tê maneya dijmin. Ev gotin ji farisîya kevin derbazî nava ermenîya kevin bûye û bûye ”dûşman”, paşê guhêrîye û di ermenkîya niha da bûye ”tşnamî”. Dijwar – Djvar Ji gotina farisî ”duşvar” (di farisîya navîn da: ”duşx’ar”) çê bûye û tê maneya ”zehmet”, ”giran”. Di kurdî da bûye ”dijwar” û bi wê fikirê ji farisî derbazî nava ermenkî bûye û bûye ”djvar”. Doşav – Doşab Doşab tê maneya şerbetê, an jî ava şîrin, ko ji şîreya trîyan tê çêkirinê. Ew ji du gotinan çê bûye: ”doş” û ”ab” (ab/av). Profêsor Tsabolov di pirtûka xwe ya zanyarî “Ferhenga zmanê kurdî ya êtîmologî” da hewil dide îzbat bike, ko gotina ”doş” ji farisî tê û tê maneya xweş (wek ”doş-aram”: xweş, lezet, ”doş-armih”: evîn, di îranîya kevin da ”dauş”, bi avêstayî ”zaoş”, ko herdu jî tên maneya lezet dîtin, di hindîya kevin da jî ”joşa”, ko tê maneya lezet). Lê bi bawerîya min ew ji gotina ”dotin” e, ko bûye ”doş” (ew di gotinên ”doşanî”, ”çêlekdoş” da xuya dibe), ango trî hatîye dotin û bûye ”doş+av = doşav”. Gamêş – Gomêş Ev gotina îranî – ”gamêş” ji gotinên ”gav+mêş”, ango ji gotinên ”ga+mîh” çê bûye. Di kurdî da herfa ”ş” maye, ji ber ko esilê wê gotinê ji îranîya kevin ”maişa” tê, ko tê maneya mî. Bi bêlûcî jê ra dibêjin ”gawaiş”, bi bextîyarî ”gomîş”. Û ji îranî jî derbazî ermenkî bûye û bûye ”gomêş”. Gaz – Gaz Gaz tê maneya 113 sm, an jî arşînek, ango têrmîna pîvandinê ye. Wek ko akadêmîkê ermenî H.Açaryan di pirtûka xwe ya zanyarî “Ferhenga zmanê ermenkî ya êtîmologîyê ya bingehîn” da (bi ermenî), di cilda 1, rûpelê 479an da îzbat dike, ev gotina ji farisî derbazî nava kurdî û ermenkî bûye. Ango gotina îranî ye. Gêlaz – Kêras Ev gotin ji farisî (gîlas, gêlas) derbazî nava gelek zmanan bûye û derbazî ermenkî jî bûye û bûye ”kêras”. Bona himberîhevkirinê em destnîşan bikin, ko bi zazakî dibêjin ”giryas”, tirkî ”kiras”, erebî ”kerez, kerîz”. Koka van hemû gotinan ji hurumî (yûnanî) tê. Û ji wira jî derbazî latînî bûye (cerasus, ceresia), ji wir jî ketîye fransî ”cerise”, rûsî ”çêrêşnya”, îngilîsî ”cherry”, almanî ”kirsche” û h.w.d. Gizêr – Gazar Ev gotin jî ji ”gezera” farisî derbazî nav ermenkî bûye. Bona himberîhevkirinê em bêjin, ko bi afxanî jê ra dibêjin ”gaz re”. Di ermenkî da bûye ”gazar”. Di hindîya kevin da ”garjere”, pencebî ”gajjer” (navê hêşinayîkê ye, qewlî Reşo va, navê gîhayekê ye), bi erebî ”jezer”, tirkîya osmanî ”gizri”. Gîrfan – Grpan Ev gotina di kurmancî da tune, lê di soranî û goranî da heye û tê maneya ”berîk” (bi erebî cêb). Bi ermenkî bi eynî maneyê dibêjin ”grpan”. Gopal – Kopal Ev gotina farisî ye û tê maneya darê destan, kevezan û ji ”kob-al” çê bûye. ”Kob” ji lêkera ”koftan, kobîdan” e, ko tê maneya lêdan, lêxistin (di kurmancî da ”kutan” heye, ango ”kut-an”). Li vira ”al” paşpirtik e. Di farisî da guhartina herfa ”b” bi herfa ”p” va tiştekî normal e. Ermenî vê gotinê wek ”kopal” bi eynî maneyê bi kar tînin. Gulor (gilover) – Klor Bi farisî gotina ”gulûle” tê maneya top, gulle, bi goranî ”gulûlîa, gule”, ko tê maneya ”gulok”, di hindîya kevin da ”glau” top e, bi zazakî dibêjin ”gilover, gilor”. Em wê jî bêjin, ko ”gulle” (fîşek), ”guloka” têlan jî gilover in. Gotineke kurdî heye, dibêje: “Hewşa me ”klor” e, kê tê mala me kil û kor e”. Ev gotin derbazî nava ermenkî jî bûye û bûye ”klor”, ko tê maneya gilover. Em wê jî bêjin, ko di goranî da gotina ”kulîrî” tê maneya “nanê gilover”. Hemal – Hambal Şik heye, ko ev gotina ji erebî (hemmal) derbazî nava farisî (hemmal) bûye. Bi kurdî ”hemal” e û ji kurdî jî derbazî nava ermenkî bûye û bûye ”hambal”. Di hemû zmanan da ev gotin wek paleyê barbir, piştokêş tê bikaranînê. Hêl – Hêl Ev gotina, ko tê maneya kardamon, ji farisî (hîl) derbazî nava erebî (heyl), afxanî (hêl), ermenkî (hêl) bûye. Di hindîya kevin da ”ela” ye. Bi kurdî ”hêl” e. Hîm – Hîmk (hîmn) Êtîmologîya vê gotinê ne bêlî ye, lê bona himberîhevkirinê em bêjin, ko bi zazakî gotina ”hîm” tê maneya bingeh. Di kurmancî da tê maneya kok, bingeh, reh. Bi ermenkî gotina ”hîmn” tê maneya bingeh, lê ”hîmk” tê maneya fûndamênt (bi swêdî basis, grundval). Hol – Hol Ev gotina di kurdî û ermenkî da tê maneya vizikê. Êtîmologîya vê gotinê ne bêlî ye, lê di kurmancî da xên ji vizikê tê maneya topê jî. Kurdên Ermenîstanê ji berê da li gundan ji lîstika topa ser bûzê ra digotin ”hola” ser bûzê. Di sondeke êzdîyan da jî gotina ”hol” tê bikaranînê: “Hol hola siltan Êzîdê Sor e”. Li vir gotina ”hol” benê ko davêjine situyê êzdîyekî ye û ew ben gilover e. Ji tiştên ko gulol dibe, bi awayekî din jê ra dibêjin ”hol” dibe. Hezar – Hazar Ev gotina ji îranî derbazî nava ermenkî bûye. Bi farisî ”hezar”, bi avêstayî ”hezerjra”, farisîya kevin ”hezehre”, hindîya kevin ”sehesre”, bêlûcî ”hezar”. Di ermenkî da bûye ”hazar”. Comerd – Comard Ev gotina îranî ji du beşan e: ”cewan+merd”. Di kurdî da bûye ”comerd” û tê maneya mêrê ciwan, ango mêrê xurt. Ji îranî derbazî nava ermenkî û tirkî bûye. Bi ermenkî ”comard” e, bi tirkî ”cömert” e. Kizirandin – Kizêl Gotina ”kiz” di farisî û kurmancî da heye. Ji wê gotina ”kizirandin” (kizirandina mirîşkê) çê bûye. Ji îranî jî derbazî ermenkî bûye û bi eynî maneyê bûye ”kizêl” (kiz+êl). Ew derbazî tirkî jî bûye; ”kyzermek” (sorbûn), ”kyz-mek”, an jî ”qyz-mak” (kelandî), ”qyzertmek” (qelandin, sorkirin) ”kyzdyrmek” (sincirandin). Di kurdî da bezê (dûv) sorkirî (qelandî) ra dibêjin ”kizik”, tiştê ko dişewite û bîna şewatê jê tê, dibêjin “kizûrî bûye”, yek ji yekî ra dibêje: “Kizîn dilê min ketîye”, “Dilê filankesê dikizire”. Ev gotin di gotineke pêşîyan da jî xuya dibe: “Bîna kiz tê ji mala diz”. Kîp – Kîp Bi farisî û kurdî gotina ”kîp” tê maneya rex hev, kêleka hev, wisa ko wek dibêjin “ba tê ra derbaz nabe”. Bi ermenkî tê maneya şidandî (qayîşa şalê xwe şidandîye), di tirkîya osmanî da tê maneya zexm, bi hêz, qayîm. Îzbata ko ev gotin ji kurdî derbazî nava ermenkî bûye ew e, ko di kurdî û farisî da ew gotin têne eynî maneyê, lê di ermenkî û tirkî da maneyên wan nêzîkî maneyên kurdî û farisî ne, lê ne eynî ne. Kîs (kîsik) – Ksak Bi erebî gotina ”kîs” (pirane kiyese) tê maneya çewal, çelte, bi farisî jî tê eynî maneyê. Zanyarekî rûs Bêlkîn V.M. di pirtûka xwe ya zanyarî (“Lêksîkologîya erebî”, rûpel 100) dinivîse, ko bi fikira çend zmanzanên ereb ev gotin ji îranîya navîn derbazî nava erebî û tirkî bûye. Di tirkî da ”kis, kese” ye. Gotina ermenkî ”ksak” jî, ko tê eynî maneyê, ji gotina ”kîs” a îranî çê bûye. Balkêş e, ko bi gurcî ”kîsa” ye, bi akadî ”kîsu” ye. Kurdzan Tsabolov R.L. ser wê bawerîyê ye, ko koka vê gotinê ji yûnanî ye, ko tê maneya pizdang. Em destnîşan bikin, ko pizdang jî mîna ”kîsikê” ye. Eger em hinekî dûr herin, belkî gotinên swêdî ”kissa” (tê maneya “mîztin”), ”kista” (tê maneya “qutî”, “sandoq” û “şirdan”, ango “cîyê xwerinê”, “mîda”) jî ji ”kîsê” tên, ko ew jî ne gelekî nêzîkî aqilan e. Kurîk – Kûrak Di farisî da kurê kerê ra dibêjin ”kurre”, bi zazakî ”kurrî”, bi goranî ”kurrî”, bi bêlûcî ”kurreg” û h.w.d. Ji îranî derbazî nava ermenkî bûye û bûye ”kûrak”. Bi kurmancî piranî dibêje canû, cenû, caş, caşik, lê ”kurîk” jî dibêjin. Ne dûr e, ko gotina ”kurîk” ji gotina ”kur” çê bûye. Mûm – Mom Ev gotina bi eynî maneyê di farisî da ”mom, mûm” e, bi tacîkî û çend zmanên îranî yên din da ”mum” e, di ermenkî da ”mom” e. Îzbateke wê yekê, ko ev gotin ji kurdî derbazî ermenkî bûye ew e, ko di folklora me da ev gotin di gelek cîyan da heye, wek di gotinên pêşîyan da: “Xema kor e, ko ”mûm” buha ye?”, “Merî tilîya xwe bike mûm, ber filankesê vêxe, dîsa naşêkirîne”, “Mûm ronkayê nade bin xwe". Şapik – Şapîk Bi ermenkî ji kirasên şevê ra dibêjin şapîk. Ermenîyên Roavayê ji kirasê rojê ra jî dibêjin şapîk (bi swêdî skjorta). Di kurdî da jî di gotina şal û şapik da şapik kiras e. Koka wê gotinê, ango şep ji farisîya navîn hatîye û tê maneya şev. Guhastina herfa ”p” ya îranîya kevin bi herfa v di kurdî da tiştekî qebûlkirî ye. Wek di îranî da gotina ”ap” di kurdî da av e, fşûpan di kurdî da şivan e, tapa (an jî tepe) di kurdî da tav e, şep di kurdî da şev e û h.w.d. Hinek gotin jî hene, ko xuya nake ka ev gotin ji wan herdu zmanan ji kîjanî derbazî zmanê din bûye. Wek: Bizûz – Bzêz, Kap – Kap, Kaşkirin – Kaşêl, Kotan – Gûtan, Legan – Lagan, Laçik – Laçak, Lewaş – Lavaş, Merek – Marak, Paç+kirin – Paç+êl, Maş+yayî – Maş+vas, Mêxik – Mêxak, Mûm – Mom. Bizûz – Bzêz Ev gotin ji kurdî derbazî nava ermenkî bûye û bûye ”bzêz”. Di hevokan da: “Şer mîna bizûzê dikeve nava merîyan”, “Kul dibine bizûz, dikevine nava canê me”. Gotina pêşîyan: “Ba bizûza berfê ye, merî bizûza çiyê ye”. Kap – Kap Gotina ”kap” di ermenkî da tê maneya guloka têlan, şirît, ”kap+êl” tê maneya girêdan. Di kurmancî da jî ji benê ko davêjine situyê golikan ra dibêjin kapê golikan. Yekî ko ji zar û zman ketîye, dibêjin “kap ketîye zmanê wî”. Merivê ko teslîm dibe, bi kurdî jê ra dibêjin, “kete kapê xwe”. Kaşkirin – Kaşêl Ev gotina kurdî (kaş+kirin) di ermenkî da ”kaşêl” e (kaş+êl) û tê eynî maneyê. Di kurdî da ev gotin di gelek cîyan da tê bikaranînê. Wek di gotineke pêşîyan da tê gotinê: “Xwedê merivan şaş neke, şaş dike bira feş neke, feş dike bira ji erdê ra ”kaş” neke, ”kaş” dike bira berkaş neke”. Hinek caran wek kişandin (bikişîne) tê bikaranînê, wek “Meytê şêr bi erdê ra kişandin”, “Cixare kişandin” û h.w.d. Gotina ”kaş” di ermenkî da tê maneya pîvandina giranîyê jî. Di kurdî da jî hema bêje wisan e: “Ji kerema xwe ji min ra du kîlo sêv bikişîne”. Kotan – Gûtan Ev gotin bi kurdî ”kotan” e, bi ermenkî ”gûtan” e, ko di herdu zmanan da jî tê eynî maneyê. Legan – Lagan Bi farisî ”legen” e, bi zazakî ”lengan” e, bi tirkî ”lixan” e, bi erebî ”leqqan” e, bi ermenkî ”lagan” e. Di hemû zmanan da jî tê eynî maneyê. Laçik – Laçak Bi farisî ”leçek” e, bi azirî ”liçek” e, bi kurdî ”laçik” e, bi ermenkî ”laçak” e. Xuya ye koka wan ji ”lacinia” latînî tê, ko tê maneya pîne, dezmal. Di hemû zmanan da jî tê eynî maneyê. Lewaş – Lavaş Bi farisî ”levaş” e, bi tirkî ”leveş” e, bi ermenkî ”lavaş” e. Di kurdî da bi du awayî tê gotin: ”lewaş” û nanê ”loş”. Di hemû zmanan da jî tê eynî maneyê. Maç (Paç) – Paç Gelek kurd ji ”paçkirinê” ra dibêjin ”maçkirin”. Kurdên Sovyeta berê û Serhedê dibêjin ”paç”. Ermenî jî dibêjin ”paç”. Tiştekî balkêş e, ko ”maça” cot di ermenkî da jî ”maç” e û tê eynî maneyê. Bi farisîya bakur da jî ”maç” e, bi farisîya navîn ”amac” e, ko tê maneya kotan. Merek – Marak Bi kurmancî ”merek”, bi zazakî ”merekî” ye, bi ermenkî ”marak” e. Di hemû zmanan da jî tê eynî maneyê. Maş+yayî – Maş+vas Ev gotin di herdu zmanan da jî tê eynî maneyê, ango maşyayî, pizinî, peritî. Mêxik – Mêxak Mêxika kurdî û Mêxaka ermenkî navê kulîlkekê ye (bi swêdî: nejlika). Herwiha di herdu zmanan da navê baharetekê ye jî (bi swêdî kryddlejnika). Tiştekî balkêş e, ko di kurdî (mix) û ermenkî (mêx) da herdu gotin jî têne eynî maneyê, ango bizmar. Bi rûsî ji wê kulîlkê ra dibêjin gvozdîka. Li vir jî gvozd tê maneya mix, bizmar.

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Nivîskar: TÊMÛRÊ XELÎL temur_xelil@hotmail.com

Kurdish, Armenian to be taught at university

SOURCE : HURRIYET

The lack of any Kurdish or Armenian language departments at universities does not mean it is not allowed, says the head of higher education watchdog, adding that if such a demand came from universities, the matter would be assessed. Turkish universities offer in-depth knowledge of long-extinct civilizations of Sumerian, and Hittite culture, but none as yet has a department devoted to Kurdish and Armenian languages, or Hebrew. A recent proposal by the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, deputy Osman Özçelik to open a department on Kurdish language at Istanbul and Dicle universities has highlighted this deficit. "If universities make such a proposal, we can discuss the issue with our friends and do what is necessary," President of Higher Education Board, or YÖK, Yusuf Ziya Özcan told daily Radikal. A department on Armenian language and literature is expected to be launched next year at Nevşehir University. "At least three professors who can teach the subject are required before the department is operational. We are talking with professors in Turkey who wrote about Armenian literature," Nevşehir University Rector Filiz Kılıç told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review yesterday. "A department on Armenian literature is a critical subject, and it is a long due project. Turkey should have had several similar departments long ago," Kılıç said. "Classes will necessarily include particularities of the Armenian language and literature, but the specific content will be written once the professors start their job," she said."It is not clear whether the department will be ready for the 2009-2010 academic year, but we want to start it after adequate preparations," Kılıç said. Nevşehir University has departments on Hebrew and literature as well, but the priority is now in making Armenian language and literature an operational department, Kılıç said. Greek language and literature has been taught at Istanbul University since 1983 and in Ankara University since 1936. ’No obstacle before Kurdish department’ The academic world received the demand to open Kurdish language and literature departments favorably, stressing that it could contribute to societal peace. Mardin Artuklu University Rector Serdar Bedii Omay said they had launched work to open a department at their own university and will submit the proposal to YÖK as soon as possible. Drawing attention to the importance of opening up such a department in terms of social peace, Omay said such a department would reap great benefits for the country. Meanwhile, YÖK authorities noted that there was no constitutional hurdle against the proposal. President of YÖK’s education committee Halis Ayhan argued that it is even a late decision. "The education language is determined as Turkish in the constitution, and as long as it does not contradict with the article of the constitution, I have no objection to opening such departments," he said. Well-known for its Language, History and Geography Faculty, Ankara University is one of the institutions that reacted positively to the idea. "If our Language, History and Geography Faculty offers to open a department, we will work on the subject with pleasure," said Ankara University Rector Cemal Taluğ. Two universities in east and southeast Anatolia, where the Kurdish population is high, also presented a positive stance on the subject. Hakkari University Rector İbrahim Belenli said he saw no harm in opening a Kurdish language department. "A Kurdish language and literature department may be opened within our Faculty of Science and Letters. We don’t have the related faculty yet, however, when the laws to open the department are convenient and such a proposal is made within the university, I can submit it to YÖK," said Şırnak University Rector Ali Akmaz. Special courses in Kurdish were opened in recent past but none of the universities have a program on the Kurdish language.

LONDON - "The Minorities of Turkey face continuing Cultural Genocide"

An invitation to attend a meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations' Genocide Conventionon

Tuesday, 9th December 2008

Theme:
"The Minorities of Turkeyfacecontinuing Cultural Genocide"

Venue: Committee Room 17,
The House of Commons, WestminsterTime: 12 noon
FREE EVENT

Agenda:1 The recent comments by the Turkish Prime Minister and Defence MinisterPrime Minister Recep T. Erdogan, on 4th November 2008 (at the press conference for the visit of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fuad Siniora), said that "Turkey consists of one nation, one flag and one land and that anyone who is not in agreement with this should leave the country".On10th November, in Brussels,Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül celebrated the genocide of Armenians, praising the policy of what he termed the "deportation", because it allowed the construction of the Turkish nation. And he added: "Would it be possible today to maintain the same national State if the existence of Greeks in the Aegean region and of Armenians in several regions of Turkey had continued as before?"
2 The Human Rights of Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Crypto-Armenians, Crypto-Assyrians.

Speakers:

• Prof. Gregory Stanton(President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars)

• Desmond Fernandes(Author of The Kurdish Genocide in Turkey andThe Kurdish and Armenian Genocides: From Censorship and Denial to Recognition?)

• Khatchatur Pilikian(Presenting his paper: 'Genocide's Ultimate Aim - Plunder and Annihilationof Multi-Culturalism')

• An Assyrian speaker from Turkey

Sponsor and Chair : Dr. Bob Spink MP (Independent)

Co-organisers :
Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides,(SVAG)
Nor Serount Cultural Association
CHAK (Centre of Halabja)
supported by
The Seyfo Centre

RSVP to eilian@nant.wanadoo.co.uk 07876561398 or 07718982732

60th anniversary of the UN Genocide Convention

A warm invitation to two important meetings to mark the 60th anniversary of the UN
Genocide Convention, on tuesday, 9th December

1 "The Minorities of Turkey face the continuing Cultural Genocide"

In Committee Room 17 of the House of Commons

at 12 noon, 9th december

Agenda:
1 The recent comments by the Turkish Prime Minister and Defence Minister

Prime Minister Recep T. Erdogan, on 4th November 2008 (at the press conference for
the visit of the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fuad Siniora),said that "Turkey consists
of one nation, one flag and one land and that anyone who is not in agreement with
this should leave the country".

On the 10th november in Brussels,Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül celebrated
the genocide of Armenians, praising the policy of what he termed the "deportation",
because it allowed the construction of the Turkish nation. And he added: "Would it
be possible today to maintain the same national State if the existence of Greeks in
the Aegean region and of Armenians in several regions of Turkey had continued as
before?"

2 The Human Rights of Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Crypto-Armenians,
Crypto-Assyrians

Speakers: Des Fernandes

Prof Gregory Stanton (President of International Assoc. of Genocide Scholars)
An Assyrian speaker from Turkey

Sponsor and Chair : Dr. Bob Spink MP (Independent)

Co-organisers : Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides,(SVAG)
Nor Serount Cultural Association
CHAK (Centre of Halabja)
supported by
Seyfo Centre

RSVP to eilian@nant.wanadoo.co.uk 07876561398 or 07718982732

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 The present ethnic cleansing of the Minorities of Iraq-
will Britain take some responsibility for a solution?

in Room 2A of the House of Lords

on Tuesday, 9th December

6.30 p.m. till 8.00 p.m.

Co-organisers: "Lobby for the Christians and other Minorities of Iraq"
Centre of Halabja, (C.H.A.K.)

Confirmed speakers:(all speeches will be brief)- :Dr Layla Alrummi of the Mandaean Human Rights organisation Researcher Nicola Craven on Mandaean refugees in Syria
Archbishop Toma,(Syriac Church) , Fr. Khoshaba Georges,(Ancient Church of the East)
Fr Habib (Chaldean Church)--- one joint statement Neville Kyrke-Smith, the National Director of Aid to the Church in Need UK Adnan Kochar of CHAK (Halabja Centre) on Yezidis and Kurdish-Minority relations The Syrian Ambassador HE Dr. Sami Al Kiyami on aid to refugees in Syria

Themes of the discussion
1 Protection of, and aid to Minorities in Iraq
2 Aid to minority refugees in Syria .
3 The UK's closed doors to Iraqi Minority assylum seekers
4 Co-ordinated lobbying of the government and parliament
5 "What leverage, if any, does the UK have on the Iraqi government?"
5 "Towards an Assyrian-Kurdish dialogue"

Sponsor and chair: Lord Alton

Press Release
Armenia Solidarity
Nor Serount Cultural Association
C.H.A.K.(Centre of Halabja)

The 90th anniversary of the betrayal of Armenia and the Assyrian/Suriani and
Kurdish nations in the Mudros Armstice (signed by Britain and Turkey on the
30th october 1918) was commemmorated this weekend in front of the Prime
Minister's home at 10 Downing Street, London and at the cenotaph.

Armenians, Assyrians and Kurds gathered to remind the signatory nations that
both countries have a heavy responsibility for the predicament of today's
Assyrians, thousands of whom live impoversished lives as refugees from Iraq in
Syria.

The speeches contained the following:
"The genocide of 1915 ensured that Tur Abdin, Hakari and other regions were
emptied of their Assyrian/Suriani population. Likeiwse for Armenians from Western
Armenia( Van, Bitlis, Moush, Erzurum etc)

Certainly .Turkey has a responsiblity to provide for the return of thousands
of Assyrian/Suriani Refugees and make a committment to some degree of
autonomy. This would provide another option for those currently languishing in
poverty in Syria.
The EU, and especially the UK has a responsibility to bear the financial cost of
this resettlement if Turkey is allowed membership.
We accuse Turkey of continuing cultural genocide, with the UK giovernment
deliberately looking the other way and complying with the crimes of its
strategic and financially lucrative ally
I
The following letter was delivered.

To The Prime Minister and the Foreign Serretary,
Armenia Solidarity
Dear Sirs,
This week we mark the nintieth anniversary of the Great Betrayal of
Armenians and Assyrians in the Mudros armstice with Turkey (30th october
1918). We ask you to consider what measures of restitution are suitable as
we believe that it was criminal of Britain to agree to the terms of the
armstice.The lack of a homeland for Assyrians and the continued Turkish
control of Western Armenia is a direct result of the armstice.The Assyrians
in particular have been subjected to subsequent massacres emanating from
Britain's hand in the creation of Iraq, a centralised state without
provision for the protection of minorities. It is indicative of our
selective amnesia about our past responsibilities that only two MPs have
signed the EDM on the 75th anniversary of the Simel massacre of Assyrians in
1933 soon after the end of the British Mandate.
The latest pogrom of Christian Assyrian and Armenian Christians in Mosul
two weeks ago must surely worry our consiences. We appeal to you not to
persist in ensuring that Britain continualy assumes the role of a Pontius
Pilate with respect to this problem
The continuing cultural Genocide in Turkey, with the descendants of
forcibly Islamized Armenians and Assyrians still living in fear of
disclosing their identities, and Armenian and Assyrian heritage
deliberately destroyed, must be addressed before Turkey makes any progress
towards EU membership.
We request a private meeting with you to discuss these matters. The
article below may refresh your memory concerning Britain's past dealings.
Regards,
Eilian Williams
Bagrad Nazarian

Enclosed are details of the nature of the betrayal
The Mudros Armstice(30th october 1918) did not contain
conditions on Armenia or the Assyrian homeland. It left the 6 Armenian villayets
under the
sovereignty of Turkey and no provision was made for the repartiation of
Armenian refugees and deportees to their homes.There was no occupation of
statregic points by the Allies and no provision for the release of women and
children. There was no disarming of the Turkish army.it would have been
possible to gain concessions surely from the Turks, as 3 out of 4 proposals
for peace from Turkish sources included concessions on Armenia.The armstice
was hastily signed in order to ensure that the victorious fleet sailing into
Constantinople would be commanded by a British rather than a French admiral!
In order to secure the Dardanelle straits, Palestine and Mesopotamia for
Britain, concessions were given to the Turks over Armenia.The draft terms of
the armstice were discussed in six war cabinet meetings. The British
priorities were set: there was no mention of Armenia at all.Almost all the
concesions made at Mudros were at the expense of the Armenians.The
conditions were set which eventually enabled the Turks to gain complete
control of Armenia and even gain part of "Russian" Armenia.
Balfour wrote the Supreme Council 's reply to the Turkish delegation in
july 1919. He characterised the "calculated atrocity" of the wartime Turkish
massacres as equalling or exceeding "anything in recorded history". Lord
Curzon, his successor as foreign secretary agreed that Turkish rule over the
subjrect races should no longer be allowed.
Activist Emily Robinson maintained that armstice terms had provided for
the return of all prisoners of war. Yet only male prisoners were released
and "about 100,000 Armenian women and children remained captives still" As a
result of her efforts, the League of Nations had appointed in 1920 three
commissioners to enquire into the conditions of these detainees.. In 1923
however in reply to her enquiries, the Foreign Office had written that the
Turks at Lausanne "refused to allow the work of the comission to continue".
She was outraged. This meant, she wrote to Canon J.A.Douglas that the Turks
have flouted the desicion of the League and that they had been upheld by the
victorious powers Grieved that the Allies would go to any lenth to secure
concessions to themselvesinstead of carrying out pledges to liberate Turkish
Armenia,she wrote"By betraying Armenia the Allies have
destroyed not only faith in themselves but in other things as well"

During The Paris Peace Conference Britain behaved shamefully towards the
Assyrians, preventing two of their delegations from attending the
conference.

Kurdish-Armenian-Assyrian-Turkish protest!

Association of the Democrat Armenians of Belgium
Kurdish Institute of Brussels
European Armenian Federation
Associations of the Assyrians of Belgium
Info-Turk Foundation

Source: http://www.info-turk.be

Enough With This Turkey!

On the occasion of the Dersim Conference held at European Parliament on November 13, 2008, five Brussels organisations belonging to different communities coming out from Turkey have issued the following joint declaration:

For three millennium, Anatolia has been the homeland or have passed through it countless people. It is a land where coexisted and coexist today Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks, Arabs, Kurds, Turks, Jews, Zazas, as well as a number of other minorities such as Lazes, Circassians, Pomaks, Yörüks, and others.

Certain of these people and the majority have adopted the Apostolic Christianity, others have converted to Roman Catholicism or Orthodoxy, some became Nestorians or Chaldeans; while others turned Sunni Muslims, Shiites or Alevi Muslims; and still others remained Yezidis or Mazdeists or kept their shamanic beliefs.

This coexistence naturally led to disputes - sometime very violent - but it led also and above all to a cultural closeness and to an ethnic intermingling which challenge all ideologies that are based on racial or linguistic purity: today, the overwhelming majority of Turkey's inhabitants are of mixed origins.

However, the Ottoman Empire and then after it the Kemalist republic have artificially reshaped the land's multy-ethnic identity by reducing the dominated people into slavery, by denying their identity, and then by promoting the doctrine of the Turkish "race" as the "essential being". This fascist like thinking has led the authorities perpetrate abominable mass murders such as:

• * The Armenian and Assyro-Chaldean Genocide (1915-1916)

• * The Koçkiri massacre of Kurds, Alevis and Kizilbachs (1919-1921)

• * The brutal expulsion of Greeks (1923-1924)

• * Massacres of Kurds and Assyrians after the revolt of Sheikh Said (1925-1928)

• * The Dersim Massacre of Kurds, Alevis and Kizilbachs (1935-1938)

• * The iniquitous laws and the deportations of Armenians, Jews and Greeks (1942)

• * Pogroms of lstanbul and Izmir against Greeks, Armenians and Jews (1955)

• * War against Kurds (since 1984)

It has to be recalled, that since its creation, the Kemalist republic targets and represses all political opponents to the regime, whatever their ethnic origin, including Turkish democrats.

Lastly, the ultranationalist and genocide denial policies of Ankara utilise the Turkish immigrants in the European countries and with the complicity of certain local European political leaders incite them to hatred towards the Armenian, Assyrian and Kurdish communities.

Facing this ideology to hate and its bloody consequences, the peoples of Anatolia:

• * Rebuke the idea of any racial of religious supremacy and reaffirm their indefectible attachment to the individual fundamental rights of all the Turkish citizens as well as to the collective rights of the people living in this State;

• * Reject the fiction of a monolithic Turkey as extolled by the Turkish State and, on the contrary, call upon the State to pride on the ethnic wealth and diversity of the Anatolian people;

• * Ask again the Turkish State to rehabilitate itself in rehabilitating the victims of its past exactions, in committing itself on the path of the political recognition of these exactions and in giving an end to their denial or glorification;

• * Proclaim their conviction that the incapacity of Turkey to progress on the path of democracy, as well as the state of economical and social backwardness of its eastern provinces are closely linked to the war conducted by this State towards its own citizens;

• * Reaffirm their commitment to keep on the political struggle so that Turkey recognize, denounce and disassociate from its past and present crimes; to transform it into a democratic State which would respect its minorities as its various political forces, united in their diversity.

Kurds in the loop of the Armenian adventure

From Kurdistan.ru

Wednesday, 06 August 2008

Beginning from the last century, Kurds periodically became the object of speculative and adventurous games. The head of the national union of [ezidov] of the peace Of [aziz] Of [tamoyan] it turned to Yerevan authorities, to the government of Iraq, United Nations in connection with the assignment to [ezidam] of autonomy into the places of their stay. In the undercurrent of the rotation of speaker[a] of official Yerevan under the term autonomy are clearly outlined occupied by Armenians the Azerbaijan earth. However, the need for its request proceeds allegedly from the disturbance of the rights of the Kurds of [ezidov] by their Moslem brothers, which, in the opinion [A]. [Tamoyan], is manifested in the identification of Kurds with [ezidami]. Theme for [Etnoglobusa] in the exclusive interview comments on the Kurdish writer Ahmet [Apo].

- Armenian politicians for the first time do not attempt to present [ezidov] as individual ethnos.
I as men not the first day, which is occupied by these problems, from the first days traced in this the very thin policy of Yerevan, directed toward the expansionism. Separate Azerbaijan and Turkish media outlets inflate, that in that occupied of Armenia highland Karabakh are placed the armed forces [PKK]. However, Armenian of policy, relying on these given, they declare, which Azerbaijan wants to use this information as occasion for the beginning of military actions in highland Karabakh.
I count, this by the sequential trick of Yerevan, which is attempted sequential time to use a Kurdish map for the reinforcement of its occupational policy on the occupied Azerbaijan lands.
In 1993, official Baku turned to the world community in connection with the occupation by the Armenian armed forces of the adjacent highland Karabakh Azerbaijan territories. Yerevan authorities began [kontrigru] by several Kurds by [ezidami] and the Moslem Kurd from Azerbaijan Of [vekila] Of [mustafaeva]. They, coming out on the Yerevan television, reported creation in [Lachynskom] the region of Kurdish autonomy occupied, on the base of red [Kurdestana] existed in Azerbaijan in the twentieth years.

I will immediately state that in those years in Azerbaijan were formed the districts, including since 1923. until 1929. there was a Kurdish district, which later was abolished together with others, in connection with the liquidation of districts. No red [Kurdestana], as the autonomous administrative district in the composition of Azerbaijan there did not exist and all discussions around this bear speculative nature.

It asks itself, if actually Armenians then worried about the fate of the autonomy of Kurds, then why from Armenia in the connection [armyano]- Azerbaijan conflict brutally evicted tens of thousands of Kurds of Moslems, woman, children, old men were killed and proved to be in the Armenian captivity, whose fates are not still known.
(about this read - http://www.ethnoglobus.com/index.php?page=full&id=108)
Why thoughtful Armenian authorities did not grant autonomy in Armenia to Kurds.

However, Armenia using a Kurdish map, it attempted to demonstrate to the world community, that the occupation By [lachynskoy], [Zangelanskoy], The [gubadlinskie] and [Kelbadzharskie] regions, was realized not by them, but by the Kurds, who want to renew their autonomy in this territory. The group of the persons, the represented as leaders the so-called Kurdish autonomy were located in [Lachynskom] the region occupied only week. Further naturally everything was forgotten.

The present activity Of [a].[Tamoyana] hides in itself an attempt at the resuscitation of Kurdish map in highland - a Karabakh question. Official Baku, from the support of the international organizations and West with each day increasingly more zealous requires fast resolution of highland Karabakh conflict. Yerevan, driven in to the blind alley, resisting before the growing pressure in a question of regulating conflict, searches for the new levers of pressure. Statements [A].[Tamoyana] about the assignment to [ezidam] of autonomy is made up by the same intentions.

It is confident, that, speaking about the autonomy for [ezidov], [Tamoyan] bears in mind those occupied by Armenians Azerbaijan territories.

I.e., [ezidy], requiring the assignment by them of autonomy, must preserve for Armenia The [lachynskiy] corridor, which it is discussed in the course of the peaceful of the talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the context of the exchange of territories. Unfortunately, the Kurds of [ezidy], again become change map for Yerevan, in what they are guilty themselves.
Armenia never will allow creation, what or autonomy in the occupied territories, those more it will not allow the arrangement in highland Karabakh of the armed forces [PKK]. The Azerbaijan earth were occupied not for the Kurds. Armenian politicians and then now attempt to lead into error the world community, the not always being examined essence matter.
Concerning, the Kurds of [ezidov], it is necessary to recall that since the beginning of the propagation of Islam 90% Kurds was accepted the Mohammedanism. Small part, being covered in The [shangal] mountains in Iraq, preserved its original religion - [ezidizm]. In the 60- years I graduated from institute in Armenia and worked in the newspaper Of [rya] Of [tyazya] (new way), which is published in Yerevan. There all colleagues were Kurds by [ezidami], I was only Muslim. But we spoke in one language - on the dialect of [kurmandzhi]. Our epos, traditions, folklore are united. In that case as we can be different peoples. According to official data in the Soviet period in Armenia they lived 53 000 Kurds of [ezidov] and Moslems. 20 000 Kurds of Moslems were evicted from Armenia. In such a case as in Armenia they can live 50 000 Kurds of [ezidov].
In the International conferences it was repeatedly met with the Kurds by [ezidami], which themselves declare, that the majority of community left from Armenia and now compact they live in the different regions of Russia and CIS. In Armenia barely it remained Kurdish intelligentsia. Is stopped the activity of the Kurdish newspaper Of [rya] Of [tyazya]. The time of the radio of transfers in the Kurdish language on on to Armenian radio, is reduced from one-and-a-half hours to 15 minutes. Closed Kurdish department in the Academy of Sciences of Armenia. But in Azerbaijan Kurds [ezidy] in one historical stage did not live.

- In Russia is created the Kurdish encyclopedia, where the Azerbaijan historical personalities, writers present as by Kurdish. The actually this encyclopedia revives the ambitions, which exist among the Kurdish community. By these actions, the creators of this encyclopedia resemble the Armenians, who constantly deal with awarding strange cultures. Kurdish culture so whether poor which does need awarding of strange culture?

- To me it is known about the creation of this encyclopedia. I think that the Azerbaijan authors of Kurdish origin can be included in encyclopedia. If it is actual, as writes press in the encyclopedia Of [a].[Bakikhanov], [Kh].[B].[Natavan], [Ashug] they are ruby-colored, [A]. Vieilles and other Azerbaijan eminent figures are represented as Kurdish, then this bears the purpose of the hunting of peoples.

I was personally familiar with writer Ali [Veliev]. This major personality the writer, who was Azerbaijanian. It was orphan and it brought up in the Kurdish family, it was respectively grateful to them, also, with the large respect and it related by heat to this people. The same can be said and other personalities.

I consider that those, the writers, who present the Turkish epos Of [kerogly] as Kurdish, are not absolutely familiar with the Kurdish spirituality and the traditions. If it is actual [Kerogly], Kurdish epos, stolen by Turks, then why there is no its Kurdish version. There is this version of some authors, that [Kerogly] he was on the origin Kurd. But in the oral creation of the Kurdish people of concrete epos by the name There is no [kerogly]. In Kurds are a set their heroic epos as smoke smoke, [Alie] [Khardie], [Gyar] in [Kylyk] and others with the national coloring and the spirituality, which for some reason remain out of the field of propaganda. It wished the Kurdish epos to be transferred into the foreign languages, for the creation of idea about the Kurdish folklore among other peoples.
Being repulsed from similar statements, the Azerbaijan authors [opravdanno] can as the answer write that the Kurds do not have their culture, literature, traditions, folklore, history and they are forced to appropriate strange intellectual wealths. Some Kurdish scientists, knowing anything about the works of ancient Kurdish culture, folklore, cannot it propagandize. For peace it is necessary to show the models of present Kurdish culture and folklore, but not appropriated. Kurdish people folklore culture one of the rich in the east and does not need strange intellectual wealths.
Unfortunately, Kurds again proved to be drawn into the adventure. I as Kurd do not need Azerbaijan writers and poets, since our written language departs in IX century to the works of Ali [Khariri]. Kurdish people during its history grew the sufficiency of personalities, with which it is worthwhile to be proud and to propagandize. It is certainly simpler, to be occupied by intriguing, than to transfer the Kurdish authors and to acquaint by them the world reader.

Azeri media: Obama’s Sympathy towards Armenian, Kurdish Lobby can Harm US-Turkey Ties

Azerbaijan, Baku, 7 November/ TrendNews, corr B. Hasanov/ If Barack Obama’s pro-Armenian position he demonstrated during election campaign and his sympathy for Kurds influences his political decisions during his presidency, it can harm US-Turkey relations to a great extent.

“During Obama’s term of office, serious contradictions can appear in foreign policy of the United States and Turkey,” well-known Turkish expert Husnu Mahalli said to TrendNews by telephone from Istanbul.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has sent a congratulatory letter to the newly-elected US president Barack Obama. In his letter, Gul expressed his hope that US-Turkey ties will strengthen, CNNTURK reported.

Turkey-US ties strengthened after World War II. During cold war, Turkey became one of the major allies of the Unites States in a fight against enlargement of the Soviet Union and socialist bloc to West. At that time, US rendered economic and military assistance to Turkey. Instead, Turkey took part in the Armed Forces in Korean war in 1950-1953. In 1952, Turkey was admitted to NATO, military wing of Western bloc led by US. In 1954, Turkey permitted US to build Injirlik military base in its territory. This base played a great role during cold war, first war in the Gulf and the Iraqi war.

In 1980s and 1990s, Turkey-US relations further enhanced and in 1991 Turkey supported US to a great extent in the first Gulf war. However, so-called claim of “Armenian genocide” that appeared during these years caused political tension in US-Turkey relations. When US wanted to use Turkish territory for intervention into Iraq in 2003, Turkey answered in the negative which evoked a big tension between the two countries. However, there has been a thaw in Turkey-US relations since 2007. Kurdish Labor Party and so-called Armenian genocide are the most vulnerable issues in Turkey-US ties.

Turkey is concerned over certain statements made by US President barrack Obama during election campaign. In particular, Turkey is concerned over Obama’s pro-Armenian approach to the issue of “Armenian genocide”. Mehelli said there is a reason for concerns. “During election campaign Obama said he recognizes “Armenian genocide” and gave consent in a written form that he will raise this question in the Congress.

Obama’s Political position does not coincide with that of Turkey not only is the issue of genocide, but also in the issue of Kurds, he said. Mehelli attributed Obama’s different position to the people around him. “Vice President Joseph Biden has good relations with Armenian lobby and has a great sympathy for Kurds. His position can cause problems in US-Turkey relations in future,” Mehelli said.

Shanli Bahadir Koch, Strategic Studies Center for the United States said Obama’s attitude towards Armenian and Kurdish lobby can lead to a political tension between then two countries. The most alarming issue is Obama’s position towards the so-called “genocide”. There are some alarming points in Obama’s position towards Kurds as well. If Obama pulls out US troops from Iraq in a short-term period as he promised, in order to hinder Turkey to intervene into North Iraq, he will demand Turkey to recognize Kurdish administration in Iraq and establish good relations. Excluding “genocide” and issue of Kurds, there are many points in Obama’s foreign policy coinciding with that of Turkey. “Obama’s efforts to solve Near East and Iraq problems through dialogue fully coincide with the political position of Turkey, Koch said to TrendNews by telephone from Ankara.

European expert Svante Cornell believes that Obama’s foreign policy line will depend on a team he will choose. “One can analyze Obama’s foreign policy after he appoints the secretaries of departments,” Kornel said to TrendNews by telephone from Stokholm. He said US presidential candidates always make such statements during election campaign. However, they act on the base of realities after they assume office.

Newly-elected US President Barack Obama will assume office on 20 January 2009.

Obama’s stand on Genocide and Kurdish issues contradicts Turkey’s position

/PanARMENIAN.Net/



If Barack Obama’s pro-Armenian position he demonstrated during election campaign and his sympathy for Kurds affects his political decisions during his presidency, it can harm the U.S.-Turkey relations to a great extent, a Turkish expert said.

“During Obama’s presidency, serious contradictions can appear in foreign policy of the United States and Turkey,” Husnu Mahalli said.

Turkey is particularly concerned over Obama’s plegdes to recognize the Armenian Genocide and raise the issue in Congress, Mehelli said.

“Furthermore, Vice President Joseph Biden has good relations with Armenian lobby and a great sympathy for Kurds. His position can cause problems in U.S.-Turkey relations in future,” he added.

Sanli Bahadir Koc, expert at the Center of Strategic and International Studies said Obama’s attitude toward Armenian and Kurdish lobby can lead to political tensions between then two countries.

The most alarming issue is Obama’s position on the Armenian Genocide, according to him.

“There are some alarming signals in Obama’s stand on the Kurdish problem. If Obama pulls out U.S. troops from Iraq in a short-term period as he promised, in order to prevent Turkey from intervening into Northern Iraq, he will urge Turkey to recognize Kurdish administration and establish relations with it,” he said, Trend Azeri news agency reports.

CIA about the Armenians in southern Kurdistan,

Source: http://www.foia.cia.gov/

Article about the close connection between the Armenian and Kurdish languages

Read the full article here


Parts from the article:

Bi kurdî:
Ejdehek, Ejdeher

Bi ermenkî:
Ajdahak

...

Some of the similar words in Armenian and Kurdish (nomad): Koçerî – Koçarî

Article - Kurds Of Armenia Against Turkey

Source

Waving the Kurdish and Armenian flags to and fro and with the pictures
of Ocalan on the flags, groups of Kurds organized a protest today
near the Shahumyan square to demand the release of head of the PKK
Abdullah Ocalan.

"We demand Turkey to release Ocalan. We condemn the Turks for that
act of terrorism and for torturing our Ocalan. As long as we live,
we are going to fight for our freedom," said Sevil Amoyan.

Kurdish leader Ocalan has been in the Imali prison for 10 years for a
conspiracy and has been treated violently. Recently, there are more
threats that the Turks are ready to exterminate him. As a state,
Turkey is no different from the prison. This time the violence is
aimed not only at one person, but also the Kurds, who have found
themselves as hostages and have rose to defend their leader from
possible encroachments," said protester Emij Elyan.

The protesters moved towards the UN office where they handed the
statement made by the "Kurdistan" committee of Armenia stating the
following:

"We call on all humanity, states and international organizations
to combine efforts and establish democracy in Turkey, eliminate the
threat of extermination of the Kurds and secure peace and justice in
the world."

We Stand For The Brotherhood Of The Peoples Of The World

Parliament of Kurdistan in Exile
129a Avenue Louise
1050 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: +322-539-3033
Fax: +322-539-3887

Press Release #1
April 23, 1995

We Stand For The Brotherhood Of The Peoples Of The World

In addition to the Kurds, there are Armenians and Assyrians living in Kurdistan. The invasion and occupation of their lands have adversely affected all three constituent peoples. The implementation of divide and rule policies have resulted in internal feuding. The natives of millenniums have fought one another and forced each other to migrate.

A most telling example of this policy was put into action in 1915. For a few years, we were provoked to kill one another in order to benefit our self-appointed leaders.

On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman administrators began a policy of annihilating the Armenians and the Assyrians. This was a plan long in the making, meticulously carried out with the aid of some tribal Kurds who were organized into an auxiliary force, the 'Hamidiye Alaylari' or Hamidiye Brigades, of the Istanbul government.

Today, a similar force has been established, the 'Koy Koruculari' or village guards. In that singular act of brutality at the turn of the century, millions of Armenians, Assyrians, and
Kurds were murdered and many more were forced to embrace the coldness of diaspora.

The policy of divide and rule has been inherited by the new Turkish government in Ankara. The same hideous crimes are now inflicted on the Kurds.
At times, the Kurdish religious communities are provoked into fighting one another, as the Alevis and Sunnis do from time to time. A more sinister plan is the empowerment of an
auxiliary force of mercenary Kurds to fight against their fellow Kurds who are on the side of freedom and liberty. New chapters of blood and pain, suffering and migration are written daily in the history of Turkey.

A cursory look at the history of the Ottomans reveals more about the nature of the Turkish state's practices. In Asia Minor, historians tell us, there were once vibrant societies, different
languages, and various cultures. Today, there are no vestiges left of these communities. A similar policy is now in the works for Kurdistan: Some Kurds are killed, many are legally and forcibly made to become Turks, and more are forced to flee in an attempt to end the way of life which is known as Kurdistan.


As the Chair of the Executive Council of the Parliament of Kurdistan in Exile, a representative body of the Kurds in diaspora, I am urging the world public opinion not to let history repeat itself and not to remain silent to the annihilation of the Kurds.


Tomorrow is the 80th anniversary of the massacres of the Armenians and the Assyrians. Let history note that we at the Parliament of Kurdistan in Exile share the pain of the survivors
and their relations. We unequivocally denounce the act and condemn the perpetrators of this inhumanity, the Ottomans and their collaborators of the Kurdish auxiliary forces. We urge you all to do the same.

Zubeyir Aydar,
Chair of the Executive Council

Armenians of Mosul - Southern Kurdistan

(Armenian flag in Mosul)

Most of the Armenians originally came from Iran and first settled in the southern part of Iraq. While they have been moving into Iraq for several centuries, the largest movement of Armenian people came during the early twentieth century as they fled the persecution of the Armenian Genocide.

It is estimated that there are about 20,000 Armenians living in the entire country with communities in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Kirkuk and Dohuk.

Around 15.000 Assyrians have left Mosul the last month because of attacks from fundementalists and terrorists (the city is in the middle of iraqi Kurdistan and Iraq).

This was published in Panorama last week about the Armenians in Mosul during this attacks:

The situation in Mosul city, Iraq is calmed down and 40 Armenian families living in the city and the Armenian Church are not under threat, said Tigran Balayan, the head of public relations department of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia. “We are in contact with the church and we know that the Government sent military forces to defend local people,” said T. Balayan.

Remind that on Sunday Armenian businessman Farkes Batul was murdered in the aftermath of extremists’ attack.

On Dec. 7, 2004, an armed group of commandos stormed an Armenian Catholic church in Mosul, ushered everyone out of the building, then detonated two bombs, reducing the church to rubble. Some two hours later, a group of armed men attacked the Chaldean bishop's residence in another part of the city.

During the Persian Gulf War, of the 1,500 Armenians living with the predominant Kurd population in the northern town of Zakho, three soldiers serving in Saddam Hussein's military were killed in coalition air strikes in Kuwait, Basra, and Mosul, respectively.

Many Armenian fled to southern Kurdistan, Mosul during the Armenian genocide in 1915. Here is one story from a surviver that fled to Mosul:

An Armenian woman Mariam Sepan Sarkismeherian said that her family was originally from Dehe in Armenia, and had fled to Mosul after the 1915 genocide.Only her father survived from his whole family. They all said that they were too afraid to go back to Mosul. Even if things improve, the terrorists will always come back, because they want the “Christian infidels” to leave. Many of the people said that they would be willing to go to Europe if they were accepted.

Avzrok - Armenian village in southern Kurdistan

(Text: "Orthodox Armenian Church of Avzrok" built in 2000-2001)

Avzarok in Kurdish) is a village in the Iraqi province of Dohuk. The village is split into two areas: one populated by Armenians and the other by Assyrians. The name of the village comes from the Kurdish language; av - water and zrog - yellow.


It was built for the first time in 1932 when the Armenians of Zakho and its suburbs decided to establish the village and settle in it. The village was subject of destruction in 1975. The Armenian inhabitants of Avzrog don't speak Armenian. They use Arabic and Kurdish languages instead. Despite this, Armenians in Avzrog maintain their Armenian social identity like folklore and names. Avzrog has a total population of about 300 people.
The village of Avzrog is located in the Sulaivany area in the western part of Dohuk. The Sulaivany area is situated between Sumail and the mountains south of Zakho. Avzrog is 30 km from Zakho.
It was built for the first time in 1932 when the Armenians of Zakho and its suburbs decided to establish the village and settle in it.

The village was destroyed in 1975 and the people were forced to flee. They were replaced by Arab tribes as a part of the arabization policy of Saddam Hussein’s regime. The arabisation policy was concentrated in the region of Sulaivany.

Following 1991, with northern Iraq out of control of the central regime protected by the UN and administered by a local government, the Arab tribes fled the region and went back to their original homes, mainly south of Mosul.

The Armenian inhabitants of Avzrog don't speak Armenian. They use the Kurdish language. Despite this, Armenians in Avzrog maintain their Armenian social identity like folklore and names.

Avzrog has a total population of about 300 people.