armenica.org

Hi! We have at last got a copy of the DVD from the Genocide Conference in Stockholm, Sweden on November 15, 2005. We have edited and put online a 60 minute long lecture by Prof. Vahakn N. Dadrian on the subject of the Armenian Genocide: http://www.armenica.org/multimedia Since earlier we have also an interview with Prof. Taner Akcam (about 20 min. long).

Hi! We have now added a new section containing images and information about Armenian churches, monasteries and other monuments. We will update and extend the contents as we go on: http://www.armenica.org/cgi-bin/history/en/getCollection.cgi I hope you will find its contents interesting. Vahagn Avedian Armenica.org

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION for Justice and Democracy Avenue de la Renaissance 10 http://www.eafjd.org/rubrique.php3?lang=en EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SET TO SEND INVESTIGATION TEAM TO EXAMINE AZERBAIJAN'S DESECRATION OF DJULFA CEMETERY -- South Caucasus Delegation Set to Travel to Region at the End of April STRASBURG (FRANCE) - Speaking at an official conference on Thursday, April 6th, the President of the European Parliament was joined by the leaders of its political parties in strongly approving the body's decision to send a delegation in Djulfa, in the Nakhichevan region of Azerbaijan. The aim of the mission is to investigate the destruction by Azerbaijan of the Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, a treasure of world architectural heritage that was effectively destroyed and replaced by an Azerbaijani military facility. The EP leaders unanimously decided to entrust this mission to the Commission on EU-Armenia parliamentary cooperation rather than to an ad-hoc delegation, as it had initially been planned. The mission is being sent in accordance with the Parliament's resolution "on cultural heritage in Azerbaijan," which was adopted in February of 2006 (P6_TA(2006)0069). This measure “demands that Azerbaijan allow missions, including experts working with ICOMOS, who are dedicated to surveying and protecting archaeological heritage, in particular Armenian heritage, onto its territory, and that it also allow a European Parliament delegation to visit the archaeological site at Djulfa." The delegation will be composed of ten Members of the European Parliament (MEP) who are members of the Commission of EU-Armenia parliamentary cooperation group. They are set to travel to Djulfa as part of their trip to Armenia from April 17th to 21st. Prior to travelling to Djulfa, they will need to get the necessary authorisations from the Azerbaijani authorities, the same authorities responsible for the desecration of the cemetery. The delegation will include the following MEPs: Mme Marie-Anne Isler-Béguin, présidente (Verts, France) M. Arpad Duka-Zolyomi, vice-président (PPE, Slovaquie) M. Alessandro Battilocchio (NI, Italie) M. Johannes Blokand (IND/DEM, Pays-Bas) Mme Frederika Brepoels (PPE, Belgique) M. Robert Evans (PSE, R.-U.) Mme Siiri Oviir (ALDE, Estonie) Mme Gabriele Stauer (PPE, Allemagne) M. Hannes Swoboda (PSE, Autriche) M. Tadeusz Zwiefka (PPE, Pologne)

This is a very interesting documentry about Orhan Pamuk, his statement about the Armenian Genocide and Turkish nationalism: http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2006..._pamuk_200k.asx

Armenica Email: admin@armenica.org http://www.armenica.org Press Release March 29, 2006 Let's "Light the Night" The organisations Armenica and ArmeniaDiaspora would hereby like to inform you about their world wide campaign of "Light the Night". The content of the campaign is stated below and further information can be viewed at http://www.armenica.org/light-the-night On the eve of April 24th, we encourage all to "Light the Night" by lighting a candle through the night of the 23rd and into the morning of the 24th, in remembrance of the 1.5 million souls that fell victim to the annihilation machine of the Ottoman Empire. Each lit candle placed on the window sill will represent a soul lost throughout the years of 1915 and 1923. Together, let's "Light the Night"; let's vow to remember, to never forget, and to pursue justice and peace for all humanity. The "Light the Night" campaign started last year in connection to the 90th remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide and we wish to continue this campaign hoping that it will be a permanent tradition. Last year the campaign received wide TV and radio coverage in Armenia and this year Printinfo has volunteered to contribute to the campaign by printing flyers free of charge for distribution within Armenia. We hope that you aslo could join us in this tradition. For campaign flyer, banner, and other information, please visit http://www.armenica.org/light-the-night and help us spreading this information to as many as possible. This information is also available at http://www.armeniadiaspora.com With best regards, Armenica Editorial Staff http://www.armenica.org info@armenica.org

Cultural Vandalism or Raping History? Where is the civilized Europe? Where is UNESCO? Why does no one intervene? This movie clip, dated December 14-16, 2005, shows how Azerbaijani soldiers, with heavy machinery, destroy the last evidence of Armenian presence in Nakhichevan, the historical Armenian province which together with Nagorno Artsax was given away to the neighbouring Azerbaijani Republic. As a result of the implemented Soviet policy, Nakhichevan was at last depleted of its entire Armenian population. The clip confirms firmly the fact that the organiser of this cultural genocide is none other than the Azerbaijani government. Obviously, Azerbaijan is firmly determined to prevent “another Artsax” by erasing the slightest indication of Armenian existence in Nakhichevan. The living Armenians have since long time ago forced to leave the region, but apparently there is also a fear of the dead and buried Armenians and their cries beyond the grave. Nakhichevan is an exclave which belongs to Azerbaijan but Armenia’s territory separates them apart. Nakhichevan borders, however, on Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. It was from this area that the Persian King Shah Abbas, during the Persian-Ottoman war, forcibly relocated about 150,000 Armenians year 1620 and resettled them in the outskirts of his capital, Isfahan. The place for this barbarian action caught on tape is a cemetery with thousands of Khatchkars, “Cross stones”, invaluable historical and cultural monuments from the period between 15th and 16th centuries. Several Armenian organisations and authorities, among other the Foreign Ministry, have handed in official protests to UNESCO and other international organisation, but also to the US embassy in Azerbaijan. This action makes one to recall the recent desecrations of Jewish cemeteries in different European cities. But unlike the immediate media coverage and attention given to these criminal acts it seems that no one bothers to care about this last act of cleansing the last evidence of Armenians in Nakhichevan. Will the world and Europe just stand by and watch while this rape of history takes place? For pictures and movie clips, please visit: http://www.armenica.org/ or http://www.armenica.org/history/old-jougha/index.html

Just some clarifications: * We have never in any way claimed that the Armenian history is 2 800 years. We have merely said "Presenting 2 800 years OF Armenian History", which should imply that this is the time span which we have chosen to present on our site at this moment. * The name Armenia might be 20 000 years old, but it was first mentioned officially as a country of its own by King Darius I, in the 6th century B.C. That is when we start referring to Armenia as a "country". Everything else is simplifying this aspect. When did Armenia become Turkish? 11th century? No, in the late 16th century, because that was when they gained controll over the entire Armenian Highland, while until that Armenia was under the controll of different Seljuk tribes. * The question regarding where the Indo-European people come from and when, is still a matter of discussion in historical circles. European researchers suggest that these people originate from Europe while their Asian colleagues suggest the opposite. We have already received notification about the "latest founding", suggesting the Armenian Highland as the home land of the Indo-European people. But since all the research data submitted is written by Armenian researchers, we are not convinced to whether this is a theory shared from the international community in general or just an Armenian point of view. Since we strive to present data and information as objective and accurate as possible, we will need more solid facts before we can add this information to our site. * As mentioned in one of the messages above, the main reason why we initiated Armenica.org was the lack of sites with objective, exhaustive and accurate information about Armenia and Armenians. The theories are countless and many like to boast about celebrity X or Y being of Armenian origin, Mt Ararat and Artsax being Armenian or the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. But when it comes to "why, how and when", the information is either cut short or presented as if implying directly as a "bragging" rather than being solid fact with its both feet firm on the ground. We have tried to present information which is confirmed and accepted by the scientific community in general. There are, however, some controversial facts and theories which could be discussed and altered if more recent information is at hand. That is why we have a "Correction" subject in the contact form on our site. We welcome all kinds of feed backs and other information, since we do strive to update the information on our site as newer data is put forward. We do our best to update the site as often as we can and hope that it will be regarded as accurate and objective as we have intended it to be. With best regards, Vahagn Avedian Project manager of Armenica