TURKEY, AND THE U.S., MUST CONFRONT GENOCIDE’S REALITY
Wall Steer Journal
March 12, 2007
In his March 3 editorial-page commentary "Don’t Go Cold on Turkey1,"
former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris opposes U.S. recognition
of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. His main contention is that
this will result in a "train wreck" with an important, long-standing
American ally.
Amb. Parris and the other opponents of honestly recognizing this crime
are once again crying wolf. "Train wrecks" were loudly but falsely
predicted before President Reagan’s 1981 public affirmation of the
Armenian genocide, the 1984 designation by the House of April 24 as
a day for its remembrance, as well as before the amendments passed
by the House in 1996 and 2004 restricting U.S. aid to Turkey based
on its denial of this crime against humanity.
Despite threats of retribution, Turkey has taken only token steps
against the European Parliament, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Belgium, Argentina, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland and other states and international bodies that have
recognized the Armenian genocide.
In fact, despite all its threats in 2001 against France’s recognition
of the Armenian genocide, trade between France and Turkey grew 22%
the following year, and has grown by 131% over the past five years.
Kenneth V. Hachikian Chairman Armenian National Committee of America
Washington
Mr. Parris advocates that the recognition of the genocide of the
Armenians be shelved so that among other concerns candid voices
by progressive Turks like Orhan Pamuk are not drowned out. Do we
have to remind ourselves that there was no talk about the genocide
resolution when charges were brought against the Nobel Laureate and
many other scholars and journalists? Irrespective of what sublime bill
the American legislature adopts, Turkey will continue its abhorrent
attitude toward free thinkers unless the draconian rules in its
criminal code are swept away.
Dikran Abrahamian, M.D.
Ontario, Canada
Every time a congressional resolution on the Armenian genocide is
introduced, the theme of "now is not the time" is rolled out. The
previous moment came in 2000 when the House was poised to reaffirm
the fact of the Armenian genocide.
President Clinton successfully made the timing appeal to Speaker
Hastert, who pulled the resolution from the schedule moments before
it surely would have passed. A not so grateful Turkey subsequently
denied a stunned United States any cooperation in dealing with Iraq.
To date, more than 170 Democrat and Republican members of Congress
have co-sponsored the current genocide resolution.
Clearly there is growing bipartisan congressional support for action
now to reaffirm Armenian history and confront genocide denial.
The Republic of Turkey denies this crime and demands that friends
around the world join in their revisionism. If friends do not, Turkey
threatens them with reprisals.
Simultaneously, Turkey criminalizes free speech and prosecutes its
citizens for daring to speak the truth. Unless Turkey opts to deal
forthrightly with its genocidal legacy, international recognition of
the Armenian genocide will never be opportune.
It is long past time for the U.S. to reaffirm the Armenian genocide
despite Turkish threats and to support those in Turkey who serve
democracy and reform by speaking freely. Now is precisely the time
to act.
Ross Vartian Executive Director U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs Committee
Washington
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