GEORGE BUSH AGAIN FAILS TO HONOR PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 25 2006

WASHINGTON, APRIL 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Despite the call
for moral clarity from over two hundred U.S. legislators, President
Bush failed, once again, to honor his pledge to properly characterize
the Armenian Genocide as a “genocide” in his annual April 24th remarks,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a
statement issued on April 24th, the annual day of remembrance for the
Armenian Genocide, the President again resorted to the use of evasive
and euphemistic terminology to obscure the full moral, historical,
and contemporary legal implications of Turkey’s genocide against the
Armenian people between 1915-1923. In retreating from his promise,
the President ignored the counsel of the one hundred and seventy-eight
Representatives and thirty Senators who had written letters urging him
to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide. “Armenian Americans
appreciate President Bush’s willingness to join with Armenians around
the world by speaking out on this solemn occasion, but – sadly,
remain deeply troubled by his failure to honor his campaign pledge –
and his own promise of moral clarity – by properly recognizing the
Armenian Genocide, ” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. “It is truly a sad day when it is left to a lone diplomat, our
Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, to honor the forsaken pledge of
his President – to speak as the moral conscience of our nation in the
face of official White House complicity in the denial of this crime
against all humanity.” As in the past, the ANCA has also expressed
concern that the Administration’s refusal to recognize the Armenian
Genocide reflects a broader unwillingness to confront genocide –
as evidenced by the White House’s failure to take decisive steps
to bring an end to the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. The
ANCA is working with a broad coalition of organizations to pressure
the Administration to respond in a timely and meaningful way to the
worsening crisis in Darfur. “If we are to end the cycle of genocide, we
must, as a nation, generate the resolve to forcefully intervene to stop
genocide when it takes place, to unequivocally reject its denial, to
hold the guilty accountable, and to secure for the victims the justice
they deserve,” added Hamparian. In February of 2000, then presidential
candidate George W. Bush, campaigning for votes among Armenian voters
in the Michigan Republican primary, pledged to properly characterize
the genocidal campaign against the Armenian people. In his statements
as President, he has consistently avoided any clear reference to the
Armenian Genocide, and his Administration has consistently opposed
legislation marking this crime against humanity. The text of the
President’s remarks is provided below: “Today, we remember one of
the horrible tragedies of the 20th century — the mass killings and
forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in the final days of
the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a tragedy for all humanity and
one that we and the world must never forget. We mourn this terrible
chapter of history and recognize that it remains a source of pain
for people in Armenia and for all those who believe in freedom,
tolerance, and the dignity and value of every human life. It is a
credit to the human spirit and generations of Armenians who live
in Armenia, America, and around the globe that they have overcome
this suffering and proudly preserved their centuries-old culture,
traditions, and religion. We praise the individuals in Armenia and
Turkey who have sought to examine the historical events of this
time with honesty and sensitivity. The analysis by the International
Center for Transitional Justice, while not the final word, has made a
significant contribution toward deepening our understanding of these
events. We encourage dialogues, including through joint commissions,
that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic events and
move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations. Today, we
look with hope to a bright future for Armenia. Armenia’s Millennium
Challenge Comp act reflects our confidence and the importance we place
in Armenia making progress on democratic reform and advancement of free
markets. We seek to help Armenia bolster its security and deepen its
inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic family. We remain committed to securing
a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and hope the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan will take bold steps
to achieve this goal. On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I
express our deepest condolences to the Armenian people. Our nations
stand together, determined to create a future of peace, prosperity,
and freedom for the citizens of our countries and the world.”