Hellenic News of America
May 20 2006
AHI Statement on the Commemoration of the 92nd Anniversary of the
Greek Pontian Genocide by Turkey
AHI Statement on the Commemoration of the 92nd Anniversary of the
Greek Pontian Genocide by Turkey
We support the Pontian Greek American community?s efforts to secure
full recognition, proper commemoration, and a just resolution of the
Greek Pontian Genocide of 1914-23.
On May 19, 2006, the Pontic communities around the world commemorate
the 92nd anniversary of the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks. Their
outright slaughter and expulsion by long death marches to exile
between 1914-23, was first ordered by the Young Turk regime and then
completed by Mustafa Kemal, later known as Atat?rk. These genocidal
policies caused the death of 353,000 Pontic Greeks, more than half
their population, and brought a tragic and catastrophic end to their
three-thousand year presence on the southern shores and mountains of
the Black Sea region of Asia Minor, today?s Turkey.
We call on the President to address this tragedy by properly
recognizing the Pontian Genocide as a clear instance of genocide, as
defined by the United Nations Genocide Convention. We ask the
administration to end its silence on Turkey?s denial of this crime of
genocide.
The U.S. Congress should adopt legislation recognizing the Pontian
Genocide as part and parcel of the genocide against the Armenians,
Assyrians and the other Greeks of Asia Minor? a genocide which took
the lives of 3 million of Turkey?s Christian population. The U.S.
Congress should also urge the American people to apply the lessons of
this great tragedy to the cause of preventing future genocides.
Finally, Turkey must be pressured to acknowledge its genocidal crime
against these historic Christians, to come to terms with this chapter
in its history and, consistent with the Genocide Convention and other
relevant international legal instruments, to make full reparations to
the Pontic people.
We refer readers to Thea Halo?s book Not Even My Name, a remarkable
memoir of her Pontic Greek mother?s life, which recounts her ancient
way of life in the Pontic mountains, her 10-month long death march to
exile at the age of 10, ordered by Mustafa Kemal, which took the
lives of her family and neighbors, and left her bereft, even of her
name. Sano?s story continues with her life in America. Thea Halo
includes in this extraordinary memoir an historical synopsis of the
politics and intrigues of the great powers of the time.