PanArmenianNet
January 27, 2007
AAA hopeful one of U.S. future Presidents will recognize Armenian Genocide
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Arpi Vartanian:
AAA hopeful one of U.S. future Presidents will recognize Armenian
Genocide
The Armenian Genocide resolution will be submitted to the
U.S. Congress January 30. The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), one
of the most influential lobbying organizations, carried out a great
deal of work to promote the resolution. Arpi Vartanian, the AAA
Regional Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh comments to
PanARMENIAN.Net on the Armenian Genocide recognition issue and Hrant
Dink’s assassination.
Q: The Armenian Genocide resolution will be submitted to the
U.S. Congress next week. How important is the issue for the United
States?
A: The U.S. has a serious attitude about the Armenian Genocide issue
but the foreign policy doesn’t imply use of the term `genocide’ for
describing the tragedy of the Armenian people in 1915. Any
U.S. ambassador with uttering the words ‘Armenian Genocide’ would
stand against the foreign policy and face immediate recall, as it
happened with John Evans. Richard Hoagland cannot say he recognizes
the Armenian Genocide by this very reason. However, in case the U.S.
foreign policy changes and the U.S. comes to recognize the Armenian
Genocide, ambassadors including the one to Turkey will be obliged to
recognize it. Our goal is to achieve changes in the foreign policy
and we are cooperating with the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) on the issue.
The Armenian Genocide resolution to be submitted to the Congress
January 30 is also an attempt to change the U.S. foreign line. The day
of Holocaust will be marked throughout the globe January 27, so I do
not understand why the day of the Armenian Genocide should not be
marked on April 24. If a correct assessment were timely given to the
tragedy of 1915 it could have prevented the Holocaust and the
genocides in Rwanda, Cambodia and Darfur. We press not only for the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide but also for
prevention of any genocide in any spot of the world.
Q: During each election campaign presidential contenders pledges to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. However, the promises are forgotten
when the election is over. Can anything change this time?
A: As to promises, it’s natural. They want to enlist support of
various levels of population while the Armenian community is rather
strong and influential. Nevertheless, politics should not intrude into
history. Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who enjoy popular
support, have already announced the decision to run for President.
It’s too early to say who can win the race but we can suppose that an
African American or a woman may be elected President for the first
ever time in the U.S. history. A woman has already been elected the
Speaker of the House of Representatives. Thus, everything is possible
and we are hopeful that one of the U.S. Presidents will keep promise
and recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Q: How can Hrant Dink’s assassination tell on the internal political
situation in Turkey?
A: Hrant Dink’s murder has finally forced Turkey to choose between the
East and West. If this state is really aspired to the EU and shares
western values such as freedom of speech and human rights, Article 301
should be repealed.
This article can provoke violence against national minorities –
Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and Kurds. I am convinced that the
assassination of Agos editor Hrant Dink is a loss not only for Armenia
or Turkey; it’s aloss for the whole world. I am saying it with full
responsibility, since Hrant Dink was commemorated in all the states
where Armenian Diaspora lives. As you know, Armenians live almost
everywhere. About 100 thousand people came out into the streets to bid
their farewell to Hrant Dink. This proves that not all Turks are
nationalists. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact
that during those days Turkish press wrote about Dink as of the victim
of Article 301 and the writing was courageous. Hrant Dink spoke not
only about the Armenian Genocide recognition but about the rights of
the national minorities and rights of Turks to freedom of
speech. Dink’s death is a replaceable loss and I cannot understand
some politicians in Armenia and Turkey who try to profiteer in the
situation. It’s immoral.
As to Turkey’s accession to the EU, Armenia will benefit from a
European neighbor that undertook certain commitments.
Q: Yes, but Istanbul is not whole Turkey…
A: It’s true. It’s European Turkey I suppose that the government
should proceed to enlightening the rest of Turkey, especially the
eastern part. Inthis view, I repeat, cancellation of Article 301 will
be useful. It’s hard to speak of any changes if an atmosphere of
religious and national intolerance reigns in the state. There is,
certainly, some progress. The Armenian Church on Akhtamar was
reconstructed. However, if there is nothing written on it to prove
this is an Armenian Church, it will mean that Turkey again tries to
conceal the truth. All Armenian historical monuments that were
preserved at the Turkish territory should be reconstructed with
obligatory mentioning of belonging. Sometimes you can see an
inscription `monument of Byzantine culture’. And it’s nothing but a
recurrent lie.
Q: How would you comments on the AAA-ANCA relations?
A: As you know the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian
National Committee of America are major Armenian lobbying
organizations of the United States. We take various approaches and
methods and it’s natural. But we have a common goal: we work for
Armenia’s welfare and try to draw more and more American politicians
to the settlement of the Armenian problems. A new round of collection
of signatures will be launched for the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues soon. After the November election some Caucus members
were not re-elected. New Congressmen were elected and our joint target
is to enlist support of U.S. lawmakers.
`PanARMENIAN.Net’, 27.01.2007