ALL COUNTRIES HAVE "DARK PAGES", BUT NONE DENIES THEM, EXCEPT TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2007 18:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I wonder, whose version of history is President
Bush referring to when saying that Congress should not sort out the
historical record of the Ottoman Empire?" AAA Country Director for
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Arpi Vartanian said in an interview
with PanARMENIAN. Net.

"The Armenian Genocide resolution is affirming, reiterating the
U.S. historical record, as documented by thousands of items in the
U.S. national archives, including the testimony of U.S. Ambassador to
Turkey, Henry Morgenthau, who witnessed the terrifying massacre. To
forget it means to call in question U.S. history. Moreover, the
United States recognized the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 and
formed Near East Foundation NGO for assistance to Armenian orphans. 123
thousand children were sent to asylums and were rescued from starvation
and diseases. To deny with fact is to deny own history. I wonder why
the President of the United States yields to Turkish pressure and
fears to confirm the history of his country? Each state has "dark
pages". U.S. has massacre of Indians, France has Algeria, Germany has
Holocaust. None of these states denies that it had happened. None,
except for Turkey," she said.

"Why can the Dalai Lama be awarded the congressional medal of honor,
despite China’s protests, threats, yet Armenian Genocide recognition
is being frustrated by Turkey’s threats. What’s the difference between
China and Turkey? China is a more important ally for the U.S. than
Turkey. One thing should not be forgotten: present-day Turkey and its
predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, always did what it wanted. If Turkey
wants to open archives, it opens. If it wants to close the Incirlik
base for the U.S., it closes. Neither the U.S. nor other states can
prohibit this country from doing what it wants," she said.