GENOCIDE RECOGNITION SHOULDN’T BE HINDERED IN LIEU OF ESTABLISHING TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2009 12:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 23, the Armenian Council of America (ACA)
sent U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton a letter, ÀÑÀ
told PanARMENIAN.Net.
The letter says: "On behalf of the Armenian Council of America and
the Armenian American community, we would like to thank you for your
continuous support and interest in the relationship between the United
States and the Republic of Armenia. In light of your recent visit to
the Republic of Turkey, your telephone conversation with Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan, and President Barack Obama’s upcoming
visit to Turkey, we would like to bring your attention to a few
issues. We acknowledge and appreciate the United States supporting
the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relationship and that you
discussed this matter with Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan. We are
encouraged that recently there has been some progress made on this
front, and we support the establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two neighbors and opening of the border. However, acceptance of
the Armenian Genocide should not be hindered in lieu of establishing
relations between the two nations. The Federal Republic of Germany
and the State of Israel have established diplomatic relations, while
at the same time the German people and government has acknowledged
the crimes of the Holocaust. Therefore, we do not understand the
Turkish argument of deterring acceptance of the Armenian Genocide
and the American acceptance of this tactic. America as the bastion of
democracy and champion of human rights should nurture these bilateral
relations as well as the historical truth. President Obama’s visit
to Turkey, especially in the month of April, is a unique opportunity
for the United States to encourage the Republic of Turkey to rectify
its historical past in order to develop a strong Armenian-Turkish
relationship and for the future of Turkish nation itself.
This will be beneficial for the United States in its approach of
strengthening its and neighborly relations in the South Caucasus and
the greater Near East. The Armenian Council of America supports the
U.S.-Armenia relationship and cooperation. We favor the continuation
of the Millennium Challenge Account assistance program to the people
of Armenia. The United States has always stood by the Republic of
Armenia from the beginning of its independence in 1991. As we are
in the United States, Armenia is also currently being affected by
the global economic crisis. Any decrease in U.S. humanitarian and
economic assistance would affect the livelihood of its citizens. As
part of this relationship, we would like to encourage the United
States to foster the growth of democracy and a civil society in
Armenia. The 2008 Armenian presidential election and the subsequent
clamp down on the opposition hindered the growth of these critical
elements. Without these solid foundations, Armenia cannot truly
develop into a democratic, prosperous, and free market nation. The
Obama Administration has been very dynamic in implementing its
domestic and foreign policy changes. The Armenian Council of America
and the Armenian American community look forward to this leadership
standing by its pledge on acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. This
will demonstrate the administration’s stance that genocide is not
accept-able to the United States regardless of geopolitics. We thank
you and the administration again for your commitment in improving
America’s relations and image abroad, as well as promoting peace
throughout the world.
Sincerely, Vasken Khodanian.
Chairman."