He actually applauded the Jewish community in Armenia, making no mention of Armenian-American opposition to it, because you know, he hates them.

First, let me say that, as an Armenian, I am ashamed of Yerevan State University's decision to honor Ahmadinejad. The only explanation I could come up with is as embarrassing as the act: I think they're just plain stupid (I don't say this to excuse them, they should know better.) 

As for the latest Foxman irony, I understand that  Mr. Foxman might not read the Armenian Weekly to be aware of the  Oct. 27 editorial condemning Yerevan State University for what they did.

But don't tell me he doesn't read the Jewish Telegraphic Agency which ran a lengthy article titled " Armenian groups slam Ahmadinejad honors".  The article has excerpts from the above-mentioned editorial which Michael Weiss had quoted at the end of  a previous post.

The JTA article even mentions the ADL ! Here: Rejecting a comparison between the ADL (which has called for further investigations of the Armenian genocide) and Yerevan State University, ANCA-ER Chair Dikran Kaligian states that the proper analogy to make is between the ADL and the ANCA, which "has never taken an ambiguous position on the Holocaust." 

The article concludes with a quote by Boston area activist Sevag Arzoumanian:

"How can Yerevan State University give an academic degree, however symbolic, to someone who takes the intellectually dishonest position that there needs to be further research and academic conferences to determine if the Holocaust occurred? What were they thinking? I think the YSU made a terrible error of judgment, both academically and morally."

I am not surprised that Foxman chose to applaud only one of these condemnations, because that's perfectly in line with his reasoning:  Armenians don't matter, unless they're Jewish.

I thank Jewcy for tirelessly exposing Foxman's hypocrisy and his one-dimensional perspective.

When did Armenian Jews speak up against this YSU debacle.  I read the statement of our "powerful lobby" in the Armenian Reporter, but I did not read anything about a statement from the Armenian Jewish community.  So then who exactly is Foxman applauding? 

After an exhausted (Google...) news search using various terms such as [Armenian Jewish Ahmadinejad] and the like, I kept failing to come up with anything from them. I then added in the name Rima (the first name of the group's spokeswoman, whenever the Armenian-Jewish community speaks she's always the one to do it) and came up with one solitary article: http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/fpg10270702.htm

"Eurasian Jewish Congress representative Rima Varzhepetyan expressed outrage at the decision to honor Ahmadinejad, who has suggesting that the Holocaust is a myth invented by Jews."

Of course this would mean that Foxman or at least the ADL did take notice of the Armenian Weekly article since it's the only one to have publicized this comment, meaning they would be aware of the Armenian-American community's stance as well as it is in the article!

Then again we could give him the benefit of the doubt and say he has a pipeline to this Eurasian Jewish Congress and soley heard it from some source there. Still seems like he's personally snubbing the Armenian-American community, since (in his opinion) he feels after nearly rupturing the Jewish-American community he has no use to use nice words with them.

Iran is Armenia's closest friend. What did you expect? How do you think Russia is supplying Iran with latest nuclear technology? How do you think Iran gets Russian weaponry? Off course through Armenia. Israel has always been friendly with Turks and Azeris and never done anything for Armenian nation. Russia and Iran were the only ones who pulled trough and supported Armenia during difficult times. It seems that some of you don't know much about current geopolitics.

Those honorary degrees and gold medals from YSU are a dime a dozen, just to be fair they should give it to Abe Foxman as well, since he is in the league with Ahmadinejad.....

This is interesting. Armenian University gives out a medal of honor to Ahmadinejad and all we do is blame Foxman for bringing this subject up, instead of condemning Armenian government and their foreign policy. We have a serious issue on hand and someone is trying to twist the subject and divert everyone's attention to the wrong direction.

So what that Armenian Diaspora of U.S. has publically condemned the innaguration of Ahmadinejad in Yerevan's University? Off course, they will do that. They need our support here. They're just playing a double-crossing, double-standard game - do one thing and say other. The bottom line is that we now know what is the real foreign policy of the Armenian government and attitude of Armenian society who didn't even protest the arrival of the dictator to the country and especially to the state University.

Hm, let's see here.  YSU does a retarded thing by honoring a Holocaust denier, and WITHIN 24 HOURS, ANCA, which is the largest Armenian lobbying group in the U.S. strongly condemns it.  No play words; no "tantamounts"; simply comes out and says this was a deplorable act.  ANCA didn't wait 30 years to make a half-hearted statement.  Now, compare that to the response of the Jewish lobby to organized denial of the Armenian Genocide!

Well, the anonymous in question is the one directly above me. I think you are being more than a little harsh. Armenia does not have Israel's liberty of having sea access. On top of that, it is blockaded on two sides with it's only outlet to the outside world being unstable Georgia. I think we can all agree that Ahmadinejad is no good, but he doesn't hold the real power in Iran to begin with. On top of that would you suggest that Iran is just the bar-none worst regime in the universe that Armenia just cut off all relations with them until the Islamists are out of power- even if it means waiting 20, 50, 80 years? Iran is not a good place, but the United States has relations with plenty of nasty regimes and even props some up when it meets their interests.

Perhaps if Iran was committing genocide today that'd be a major reason to stop these relations, but truth be told things are not THAT bad- and on top of that there is a very large Armenian minority living in Iran, heightening the contacts between the two nations. It is non-sensical and perhaps even impossible to just cut all relations between the two countries. At the same time, plenty of US companies, many with Jews in powerful positions, have failed to divest from Sudan. I am not sure if Israel has fully divested from Sudan either- I have done no research but seeing as the US hasn't I doubt Israel has either.

This is not to say Ahmadinejad deserves a gold star, but first of all was that really the decision of the Armenian government? Maybe it was- I don't know behind the scenes mechinary of things but neither do you- I think we should assume this was the school's decision. I think Armenia should be wise and judicious about it's contacts with Iran and how extensive those contacts are- but there is no way it can just cut it all off. If this sounds familliar to Israel's position with Turkey- contacts with a Jewish minority in the country and geopolitical concerns- it shouldn't. Israel has numerous outlets to the outside world and unlike Iran Turkey is not it's neighbor. Furthermore while Israel is complicit in Turkey's campaign of genocide denial, the Holocaust never even came up during this visit and plays absolutely no role in Armenia's contacts with Iran. If Armenia was echoing Ahmadinejad's view's that's one thing (views which I believe he doesn't so much believe as he exploits to help gain sympathy and influence over the Arab world. Unlike the Armenian Genocide, no serious country has any problem talking about the Holocaust and Ahmadinejad looks like nothing but a fool outside his neighborhood, while Turkey continues to get it's boots licked by all). 

Meanwhile those are some pretty strong claims you are making, that Russia is arming Iran via Armenia. First of all it's highly unlikely because Russia and Georgia are at each other's throats, meaning those weapons would have to go via Georgia to get to Armenia even though Russia's connection with Georgia is usually blocked... unless you are implying Russia flies them into Armenia and then on to Iran, which just seems like a pointless detour. If you have proof that Armenia is arming Iran then please include those claims with something to back it up, not assumptions. I would never rule out the possibility that this is the case, I'm not writing your idea off I just want to see proof- and as I've demonstrated this hardly seems all that logistically feasible so I want to know more.

I am not the guy who wrote the previous message but I can provide you with some proof on the arms transfer from Armenia to Iran:

ARMENIAN “TRACES” IN THE PROLIFERATION OF RUSSIAN WEAPONS IN IRAN

Ze’ev Wolfson
Policy Paper No. 143

Executive Summary
 This paper analyzes the proliferation of weaponry, primarily electronic equipment for aircrafts and missiles from Armenia to Iran.

Armenia, one of the smallest republics of the former Soviet Union, inherited from it a strong military industry, which produced equipment for MIG, Sukhoi, rocket guidance equipment, etc. The Karabakh conflict and Spitak earthquake brought the Armenian economy down to a level worse than any other FSU country.

However, Armenian military oriented electronics equipment plants still maintained some capacity of R&D and production. This became very attractive to Teheran which badly needs soft and hardware in this field. Only recently did the US try to stop the further development of the already rooted cooperation between Iran and its Christian neighbors. Such efforts could bear better fruits if done as a part of measures of tight export control from Russia as the main source of proliferation.

No one is condemning Israel for having good relations with Turkey.

Israel can have economic/military/cultural relations with any country it pleases, and so does Armenia.

The difference is that, at Turkey's request, Israel denies the Armenian genocide and works against its recognition. Foxman does the same. This is widely reported in the Israeli and Turkish press, so don't accuse me of anything. Armenia does not deny the Holocaust, Armenia and US Armenian organizations do not lobby against Holocaust recognition.

Without complicating things, another difference is that when he questions the Holocaust, the world treats Ahmadinejad as a lunatic. When Erdogan and Gul and the Turkish state deny the Armenian genocide, few people are outraged.

Finally, I'd like to remind you that Iran did not perpetrate the Holocaust, that was Germany, and they don't deny it. Ottoman Turkey perpetrated the Armenian genocide, and Turkey still denies it, and what's worse, still gets away with it with the help of the United States, and sorry to break the news, Israel.

Mr. Foxman has made a career out of foxtrotting all over the Armenian Genocide victims and survivors alike. He is a disgrace to the Jewish people and the League he represents. This false-hearted charlatan, single-handedly hijacked the Anti-Defamation League's mission, and transformed it into a shameful "Auto-Denial League" epitaph inscription, carved on every headstone of every Genocide victim he denied.

The Jewish-Armenian solidarity should be unshakable, for these are perhaps the only two ancient peoples with so much in common: They were both victims of Holocaust/Genocide perpetrated by despicable cowards. They were both incessantly butchered en masse at the hands of evil governments. They were both plundered and forced out of their ancestral homelands... Impossible as it may seem however, they were both able to survive and thrive in the diaspora; maintaining their heritage, culture, and pride with the highest degree of success.

Hence, I find it very disheartening to see Mr. Foxman's duplicitous behavior, so incommensurate and antiparallel to this fundamental moral issue...I demand that Mr. Foxman step down from his post immediately, and take his decrepit moral compass with him.

1 - Commentary
    Genocide and Holocaust Deniers
               Must be Condemned, Not Honored

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

It goes without saying that those who deny any genocide must be condemned,
not honored. There should be no exceptions and no double standards. Yet,
periodically, one comes across bizarre situations when those who engage in genocide denial are rewarded rather than ostracized by none other than those who condemn
Holocaust denial.
Last month, the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, traveled to Armenia
to discuss bilateral trade and review major projects being undertaken by the
two countries. After meeting with Armenia's leaders, the Iranian President
visited Yerevan State University (YSU) where he gave a brief talk to students and
answered their questions. He carefully sidestepped the issue of the Armenian
Genocide, by simply stating that Iran condemns all crimes against humanity.
Following the established protocol for all visiting heads of state, YSU officials
dutifully handed Ahmadinejad an honorary doctorate and a gold medal.
Apparently, no one at the University bothered to make an independent assessment of
whether the visiting dignitary deserved to be honored or not. In October 2006,
when the President of Romania visited Yerevan, he too was presented an honorary
doctorate and a gold medal by YSU, even after he told university students that
he was not prepared to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in order not to ruin
his country's friendly relations with Turkey.
Last month, after YSU hosted Ahmadinejad, various Jewish groups condemned the
Armenian University for honoring the Iranian President, a notorious Holocaust
denier.
Rima Varzhapetyan, the President of the Jewish community of Armenia, was the
first to criticize YSU. Contrary to some American Jewish groups, she is fully
entitled to do so, as she does not practice a double standard. Indeed, Ms.
Varzhapetyan properly and even-handedly condemns all genocide and Holocaust
deniers. Hence, she has earned the moral right to criticize such wrongdoing by her
Armenian countrymen.
Other Jewish groups, however, have abdicated that right. Both the American
Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued statements last
week condemning YSU for honoring Ahmadinejad. It is highly improper and unethical
for the AJC to criticize YSU, given AJC's refusal to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide and its collaboration with Turkey's denialist regime. This is an
egregious example of a double standard. Those who live in glass houses should not
throw stones at others. AJC's leaders have lost the moral standing to lecture
anyone else about the denial of the Holocaust. Therefore, their criticism of
YSU cannot be taken seriously.
Even more dubious is the position of Abraham Foxman, ADL's National Director.
After refusing to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide for many years, Foxman
was recently forced by influential and righteous Boston-area Jewish leaders to
issue a statement that included a reference to the Armenian Genocide. Even more
surprising is the fact that Foxman dared to criticize YSU for honoring
Ahmadinejad, yet he himself presented Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of
Turkey and a denier of the Armenian Genocide, ADL's "Courage to Care Award" back
in 2005 at the organization's headquarters in New York.
It is noteworthy that some members of the Jewish community were quick to
criticize Foxman's actions. Molly Freeman, a reader from Berkeley, California,
sent a letter to the editor of The Forward, harshly condemned the ADL for
presenting an award to Erdogan.
In her letter titled, "ADL acts hypocritically in honoring Turkish PM,"
Freeman wrote: "So egregious is the ADL award to a head of a state that denies
responsibility for the annihilation of 1.5 million of its own Armenian citizens
that I believe the ADL is contributing to antisemitism. What could be more
hypocritical and useful to anti-Jewish bigotry than honoring a denier of genocide?
The ADL is not making the world safe for Jews; rather it is contributing to
our insecurity and to the discontinuity of our moral tradition. I wish that the
ADL would take seriously the words of Hillel: What is hateful to you, do not
do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. In
the case of the award to Erdogan, the ADL is actually denying a cornerstone of
rabbinic law as it dishonors its neighbors, the Armenians. By rewarding
Erdogan, it is doing something it never would countenance to be done to Jews."
A similarly shameful double standard was exhibited by yet another Jewish
group, the American Jewish Congress, which honored Erdogan in 2004 with its
"Profiles in Courage" award in New York.
Two Armenian American newspapers, the Armenian Weekly and the Armenian
Reporter, in their editorials last week rightly criticized YSU for giving an award
to Ahmadinejad. However, both newspapers should have also condemned the ADL and
the American Jewish Congress for honoring Turkey's denialist Prime Minister.
Condemning the denial of the Holocaust should not be a one-way street. There
should not be a double standard. The Armenian Weekly's editorial correctly
pointed out that Ahmadinejad and Erdogan have made similar calls for more
research to find out whether these atrocities have in fact occurred - a call that is
shamefully supported by the ADL and others in the case of the Armenian
Genocide, but not the Holocaust. Just as Armenian-American organizations never
question the Holocaust, Jewish groups should never question the facts of the
Armenian Genocide.
Jews and Armenians and everyone else should apply the same standard in
dealing with genocide and Holocaust denial. No one should get away with denying
either tragedy and no group should honor anyone who dishonors the memory of the
victims of such crimes against humanity.

Iran, Armenia review expansion of defense cooperation

Tehran, Nov 8, IRNA
Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar conferred on Thursday in Yerevan with Armenian President Robert Kocharian on expansion of cooperation between the two countries.

According to Public Relations Department of Iran's Defense Ministry, at the meeting, the Armenian president welcomed the recent visit of the Iranian defense minister and expressed the hope that it would bear fruitful results for both sides.

Supporting the agreement signed by the two countries' defense ministries, he called for implementation of the agreements endorsed by the two sides' presidents in Iran-Armenia joint statement.

The Iranian defense minister, for his part, called his meetings with Armenian military officials as fruitful and promising.

Iran believes in good neighborliness and establishment of mutual understanding with countries of the region and is to do its utmost to consolidate peace in the Caucuses region, Persian Gulf and other parts, Najjar said.

It is vital to defuse crisis and security threats in order to prevent unilateralism which would disrupt the world order, he said adding that comprehensive and all-out tranquillity and security would be established through collective cooperation and understanding among countries of the region.

Iran-Armenia military cooperation "not" aimed at third countries

06.11.2007 18:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran-Armenia military cooperation is not aimed at third countries, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar before departing for Yerevan.

“Iran’s policy implies all-round cooperation with states of the region and the visit to Armenia will be held in the framework of this policy,” he said pointing at political, economic and cultural cooperation with Armenia.

“I am hopeful that my trip will convey a new impulse to the relationship between the two states, specifically in the defense sector. Iran attaches great importance to peace, stability and security in the region and we comprehend the necessity of such visits for strengthening relations with all states of the region,” he said, RIA Novosti reports.

The Iranian delegation will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan and Defense Minister Mikael Harutyunyan. On Wednesday, they will attend the Matenadaran, Blue Mosque and the Armavir brigade of the RA Defense Ministry. On Thursday, they will look in the Military Institute after Vazgen Sargsyan and visit Holy Echmiadzin.