EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION For Justice & Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel/ Fax: +32 2 732 70 27/26
Website :Eafjd [1]

PRESS RELEASE

SATURDAY 18 APRIL 2009

CONTACT : VARTéNIE ECHO

TEL. / FAX. : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
400 ORGANISATIONS FROM 22 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES URGE OBAMA TO RECOGNISE
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Nearly 400 organisations from 22 European countries signed-on to the
letter launched by the European Armenian Federation urging the
president of the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
This petition was submitted to the White House on April 3rd, the day
before President Obama’s trip to Turkey, at which time 340
organisations had already co-signed.

In the letter, the Federation reminds the President that "European
Armenians as well as the large democratic mainstream of Europe’s civil
society will continue to strongly oppose Turkey’s membership in the EU
for as long as the Turkish state denies the Armenian Genocide,
promotes racism and pursues a policy of discrimination towards its
minorities." The Federation further notes that "the commitment that
President Obama made to recognise the genocide will unleash the
momentum of true change and democratization inside Turkey" and that it
"will also provide an unprecedented momentum to the process of
dialogue between Turkey and Armenia" by clearly stating "that denial
of this crime against humanity will no longer be supported and that
the way forward will definitely require of Turkey a fundamental
commitment to just peace."

The European Armenian Federation concludes the letter by reminding
that "any retreat by the United States at this defining moment would
be interpreted by genocide-perpetrating governments as full license to
continue their bloody acts and criminal complicities, as witnessed in
Turkey’s recent support for the Sudanese president who is under an
arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court".

"President Obama has the opportunity to demonstrate a real political
sea-change compared to his predecessors, by promoting a policy of
ethical responsibility, respect, justice and truth on this issue as
well as others. The anticipation of this change has elicited
tremendous enthusiasm in Europe and in the World. If the US President
does not affirm his commitment to recognise the Armenian Genocide,
Europeans would view it as a disappointing reaffirmation of the same
old tactical schemes and manoeuvres which so harmed the United States
these last years," commented Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the
European Armenian Federation.

A political change is expected from President Barack Obama on April
24th, the commemorative day of the Armenian Genocide, when the US
President expresses each year the United Statesâ?? remembrance for the
victims of this genocide. Contrary to his recent predecessors who used
euphemisms to describe the planned extermination of the Armenians by
the Turkish State, president Obama stated on several occasions "as
president of the United States, I will recognize the Armenian
Genocide."

The European call to Obama echoes the one that was launched in the
United States by various democratic forces such as the Armenian
American community and the International Association of Genocide
Scholars. Recently, Representative Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives – the third highest-ranking person in the
United State s – declared that she supports the recognition of this
genocide.

Recent rumours of "understandings" between Turkey and a hostage
Armenia (Turkey has blockaded Armenia for more than 15 years), are
intended to cast doubts on what President Obama will say on April 24.

"The Armenian Genocide is an established fact that is independent of
any â?`understanding’ between Armenia and Turkey. Likewise,
condemnation and repression of this crime is essential in all
countries, independent of political circumstances, because it is about
a crime that is indefeasible and that struck the whole of Humanity,"
continued Hilda Tchoboian.

The recognition by the United States and other countries of an
unpunished genocide with the purpose of its reparation by the criminal
State constitutes an obligation under International law.

The list of signatory associations is available on the website of
the European Armenian Federation [4].
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