Describing another personal Armenian-Turkish encounter, Dr Harry Hagopian feels that "it is important for us Armenians nearing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in 2015 to start distinguishing ordinary Turkish men and women from Turkish officialdom or many of its politicised institutions let alone from Turkey and Azerbaijan."

December 2011 was characterised by two key Armenian events - one in France and another in Israel. In France, the National Assembly (he lower house of parliament) approved a draft law that would criminalise the denial of the Armenian genocide. Dr Harry Hagopian questions this approach. The horrific scale of the crime means this sensitive issue becomes laden with profound moral, ethical, legal, political and psychological implications, he says, recommending a pan-Armenian strategy.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent are cooperating to help the tens of thousands of people left homeless by the Turkey earthquake.