Editorial Note

The most influential Armenian Diaspora is that of the United States. In fact it’s from there that all important Armenian initiatives are emanating; the other countries Diasporas in most of the cases follow their American brethren. In this issue there are two articles concerning the Armenian Americans.

Dr. Bilal N. ?im?ir narrates in his “Armenian Lobby in the United States and the Struggle for Treaty of Lausanne" how in the twenties the US Congress under the influence of the Armenians and against the will of the Government, prevented the establishment of the diplomatic relations with the young Turkish Republic.

Mr. ?enol Kantarc? in his lengthy article entitled “The Armenian Diaspora in The United States and Canada: The Organizations and Activities", gives us valuable information on the present situation of the Armenian Americans.

Dr. Sedat Laçiner, in his “Armenian Diaspora in Britain and the Armenian Question” studies the small but active Armenian minority in that country.

Assistant Prof. Dr. Kamer Kas?m’s “Armenian Diaspora in Australia” dwells on the recent Armenian community of Australia where the traditional Armenian political parties politicized this community and supported Armenian terrorism, consequently the Turkish Consul General in Sydney was murdered in 1980.

Russia hosts the oldest Armenian community which became after the independence of Armenia also the largest one, Mr. Hatem Cabbarl?’s article entitled “Armenian Diaspora in Russia: Formation and Activities” contains useful information on that subject. Mr. Cabbarl? states that the Armenian Diaspora in Russia has become only partially active since the 1990 due to a lack of funds.

Dr. Erdal ?lter in his article “The Armenian Diaspora in Lebanon” tells us how the Armenian community in Lebanon was created and the role that they play in the politics of that country. It is necessary to remind the reader that the Lebanese Armenians in general and particularly the Dashnaks of that country supported the Armenian terrorists who murdered M Turkish diplomats and officials during the seventies and eighties.

Aydan ?yigüngör in her article "The Profile of the Armenian Diaspora in Germany” tells us that the small Armenian community of Germany has become active lately and assisted by some German circles which would like to share the quilt of the holocaust with someone else, tried in vain for the German Parliament to recognize the Armenian ‘ genocide claims.

Prof. Arslan Terzio?lu dwells on Dr. Bahattin ?akir, one of the leaders of Union and Progress Party, and his assassination in 1922 by the Armenians in Berlin in his article entitled “The Assassination of Dr. Bahattin ?akir in Berlin and the Armenian Relocation in Line National and Foreign Sources of Information” Prof. Terzio?lu rightfully argues that it was the advices of the German army generals rather than the report of Dr. Bahattin ?akir which caused the relocation of the Armenians in 1915.

In addition to these articles, this issue contains an interview with the Director of the Institute for Armenian Research, reports on conferences, book reviews, a list of recent books, and some Armenian related documents; altogether 370 pages that we earnestly hope will please our readers.

With best regards

The Editor