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Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com
www.anccanada.org
PRESS RELEASE
June 9, 2008
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Armenians Did Not Commit -Genocide- in Khojaly
Ottawa - There is no evidence that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabagh
committed "genocide against Meskhetian Turks of Khojaly," said
Canadian military historian Patrick Wilson Gore, during the launch of
his latest book here on June 6. Gore called the allegation as mere
claims of the Azeri propaganda machine.
The military historian made the statement at the launch of -Tis Some
Poor Fellow's Skull---Post-Soviet Warfare in the Southern Caucasus- at
the embassy of the Republic of Armenia. The gathering was co-sponsored
by the Armenian Embassy and the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC).
After welcoming remarks by Arman Agopian, the charge d'affaires of the
Republic of Armenia and introduction of the author by Paul Douzjian,
board member of the ANCC, Gore presented a brief history of
Nagorno-Karabagh, the legal and political aspects of the crisis, the
origins of the war, economic background, battles, strategic
objectives, the aftermath, and the current state of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe peace negotiation.
Gore stated that Saline's annexation of Nagorno-Karabagh to Azerbaijan
was due to his "paranoia" of Armenians and a secret deal between him
and Ataturk, the Turkish dictator. The Canadian expert stated that for
70 years Armenians of Nagorno-Karabagh were treated as second-class
citizens under Azeri rule. The treatment of Armenians by Azeris was a
classic case of ethnic cleansing. After the Sumgait and Baku massacres
of Armenians in the early 1990s, the Armenians were forced to fight to
defend their families and their lives.
The author went over the Shoushi, Lachin, Shahumian, Khojaly and other
important battles, internal turmoil in Azerbaijan, and other
political, economic, and military factors which decided the outcome of
the war and the current status of the region.
In regard to the Khojaly incident, Gore said -Azeri troops ran faster
than the Meskhetian Turk civilians they had been using as human
shields-. Upon their retreat to Agdam, civilians of Khojaly were fired
upon by the Azeri OMON garrison of Agdam, mistaking them for Armenian
forces. He said that a day before the start of Khojaly battle, the
Azeri forces executed 32 Armenian prisoners of war.
Regarding the ongoing Azeri government threats of resumption of war to
take Nagorno-Karabagh, Gore said that -peace is for the benefit of
both sides-. It is true that the Azeri government is getting
emboldened with its new-found oil wealth, but the Aliev government has
to -consider that their oil and gas pipelines run 30 km north of
Nagorno-Karabagh, and Azeris have invested heavily in their Baku
facilities.- Gore questioned whether Azeris want to jeopardize their
vital pipelines and -risk their money sources-.
Gore also commented on Turkish government political and military
support to Azerbaijan, the use of mercenaries by the Azeri government,
the Minsk Group mediation, and other matters related to the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.
The timely publication of the objective and probing book is of vital
importance for the comprehension of the situation in the region and to
everyone interested in the future of the Caucasus. The solution of the
conflict is of vital importance because the war was fought in the
bottleneck between Russia and Iran, through which Central Asian and
Caspian oil and natural gas pipelines run, and through which U.S. and
allied air traffic to and from Afghanistan and Pakistan must pass.
The author of the 139-page book is a Canadian specialist in military
history and theory. He studied at Oxford, and subsequently graduated
from the National Defence College at Kingston, one of NATO's senior
command colleges. Much of his career has focused on strategic
intelligence. This is his eleventh book. He used to be paratrooper and
marine commando.
***********
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.
------
Le CNAC est l'organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des
inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.
Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal - Laval - Ottawa - Toronto - Hamilton - Cambridge - St. Catharines - Windsor - Vancouver
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com
www.anccanada.org
PRESS RELEASE
June 9, 2008
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Armenians Did Not Commit -Genocide- in Khojaly
Ottawa - There is no evidence that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabagh
committed "genocide against Meskhetian Turks of Khojaly," said
Canadian military historian Patrick Wilson Gore, during the launch of
his latest book here on June 6. Gore called the allegation as mere
claims of the Azeri propaganda machine.
The military historian made the statement at the launch of -Tis Some
Poor Fellow's Skull---Post-Soviet Warfare in the Southern Caucasus- at
the embassy of the Republic of Armenia. The gathering was co-sponsored
by the Armenian Embassy and the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC).
After welcoming remarks by Arman Agopian, the charge d'affaires of the
Republic of Armenia and introduction of the author by Paul Douzjian,
board member of the ANCC, Gore presented a brief history of
Nagorno-Karabagh, the legal and political aspects of the crisis, the
origins of the war, economic background, battles, strategic
objectives, the aftermath, and the current state of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe peace negotiation.
Gore stated that Saline's annexation of Nagorno-Karabagh to Azerbaijan
was due to his "paranoia" of Armenians and a secret deal between him
and Ataturk, the Turkish dictator. The Canadian expert stated that for
70 years Armenians of Nagorno-Karabagh were treated as second-class
citizens under Azeri rule. The treatment of Armenians by Azeris was a
classic case of ethnic cleansing. After the Sumgait and Baku massacres
of Armenians in the early 1990s, the Armenians were forced to fight to
defend their families and their lives.
The author went over the Shoushi, Lachin, Shahumian, Khojaly and other
important battles, internal turmoil in Azerbaijan, and other
political, economic, and military factors which decided the outcome of
the war and the current status of the region.
In regard to the Khojaly incident, Gore said -Azeri troops ran faster
than the Meskhetian Turk civilians they had been using as human
shields-. Upon their retreat to Agdam, civilians of Khojaly were fired
upon by the Azeri OMON garrison of Agdam, mistaking them for Armenian
forces. He said that a day before the start of Khojaly battle, the
Azeri forces executed 32 Armenian prisoners of war.
Regarding the ongoing Azeri government threats of resumption of war to
take Nagorno-Karabagh, Gore said that -peace is for the benefit of
both sides-. It is true that the Azeri government is getting
emboldened with its new-found oil wealth, but the Aliev government has
to -consider that their oil and gas pipelines run 30 km north of
Nagorno-Karabagh, and Azeris have invested heavily in their Baku
facilities.- Gore questioned whether Azeris want to jeopardize their
vital pipelines and -risk their money sources-.
Gore also commented on Turkish government political and military
support to Azerbaijan, the use of mercenaries by the Azeri government,
the Minsk Group mediation, and other matters related to the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.
The timely publication of the objective and probing book is of vital
importance for the comprehension of the situation in the region and to
everyone interested in the future of the Caucasus. The solution of the
conflict is of vital importance because the war was fought in the
bottleneck between Russia and Iran, through which Central Asian and
Caspian oil and natural gas pipelines run, and through which U.S. and
allied air traffic to and from Afghanistan and Pakistan must pass.
The author of the 139-page book is a Canadian specialist in military
history and theory. He studied at Oxford, and subsequently graduated
from the National Defence College at Kingston, one of NATO's senior
command colleges. Much of his career has focused on strategic
intelligence. This is his eleventh book. He used to be paratrooper and
marine commando.
***********
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.
------
Le CNAC est l'organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des
inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.
Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal - Laval - Ottawa - Toronto - Hamilton - Cambridge - St. Catharines - Windsor - Vancouver