PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Council of America
440 W. Colorado St., Suite 211
Glendale, CA 91204
Tel. (818) 545-9049
Fax. (818) 545-9071
ARMENIAN COUNCIL OF AMERICA PARTAKES IN NEW YORK’S TIMES SQUARE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION
NEW YORK, NY – Thousands gathered in Times Square on April 26 to
commemorate the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The
commemoration was organized by the Mid-Atlantic Chapters of Knights &
Daughters of Vartan, and co-sponsored by the Armenian General
Benevolent Union, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National
Committee of America, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, and Social
Democrat Hunchakian Party.
For 24 years the event has presented prominent speakers including
several political officials, scholars, various leaders from Armenian
organizations and advocates of the Armenian Cause. The speakers this
year featured Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York), Congressman Frank
Pallone (D-New Jersey), Congressman Weiner (D-New York) and many
others.
Dikran Nalbantian, Chairman of the Armenian Council of America (ACA),
Northeastern Region, conveyed to the audience, ACA’s stance on
Obama=80=99s failure to properly reaffirm the American record of the
Armenian Genocide, the recent rapprochement efforts of the governments
of Armenia and Turkey and the continued efforts of denial by Turkey.
—-The following is the full address.—-
Today, we join fellow Armenians and people of conscience throughout
all corners of the world to once again remember how the Armenian
nation was almost eliminated in the crime of Genocide. As we stand in
prayer and remembrance, we remain committed in seeking recognition.
Recently and specifically after the assassination of Hrant Dink, we
have witnessed an awaking from Turkish civil society in discussing the
Armenian Genocide. We welcome these steps and for the sake of both of
our nations, hope that soon Turkey will acknowledge the full reality
of what happened to us Armenians in our historical homeland. However,
the Turkish government needs to stop hindering this progress and
suffocating the truth.
Armenians will continue to pursue full justice for the Armenian
Genocide in a collaborated global effort. Here in the United States we
are fortunate that most of our friends in Congress stay true to their
word and support the Armenian American community and acknowledge the
reality of the Armenian Genocide.
During his recent visit to Turkey President Obama, spoke directly and
candidly to the Turkish government about coming to terms and
rectifying its history on the Armenian Genocide. The President
continuously states that his views are on the record and have not
changed. But on Friday, the President failed to honor his commitment
to properly utilize the word "genocide."
Every year, we hear the time is not right to pass the Armenian
Genocide Resolution or use the word Genocide. We, as loyal Americans,
respect our national security interests. However, the Turkish
government’s tactics of blackmailing American officials that relations
will irreparably be damaged are ludicrous. The American government
shouldn’t naively believe that Turkey would actually risk its
relations with the United States . This is a bluff used by the Turkish
government to hide their bloody past. Recently, the Turkish government
has used the political tactic that normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations would be disrupted if President Obama fulfilled his pledged
and reaffirmed the American record on the Armenian Genocide. Turkey
should realize that no Armenian will ever barter the Armenian Genocide
issue for other geopolitical matters.
It is also crucial that President Obama and his advisors realize that
Turkish-Armenian relations can never be normalized without Turkey ‘s
willingness to acknowledge its own history.
Official Washington policy needs to be courageous and change to
reflect both the U.S. political and historical record on the Armenian
Genocide. There are thousands of pages in the United States archives
of eyewitness accounts by American officials and missionaries in the
region proving that the action of genocide was committed.
Mr. President, we know you are an ethical man and you have been
keeping your word and fulfilling many of your promises. Yet the
Armenian Council of America and the Armenian American community are
saddened that the Armenian Genocide issue became the exception.
While the historical truth and tragic events of the Armenian Genocide
is not and can never be a matter of debate, the unwillingness and
failure of justly identifying the annihilation of 1.5 million
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide, in principle, denies the
moral victory for victims of genocides and advocates for humanity
throughout the world.
By not addressing the historical truth as Genocide, Mr. President you
failed to help those within Turkey , those such as the late Hrant
Dink, who wished to aid Turkey in confronting its historical past in
order to foster a better future.
For 94 years we have believed in every empty promise made by
presidential candidates who sought our political support and we have
continued to hold onto that hope even when they have failed to honor
those pledges. In the future, will we be joined by an administration
in properly recognizing the events as Genocide? Will we be joined by
Turkish civilians and officials in solidarity and remembrance?
Today I stand before you and I urge you to fight for justice. I urge
you to stand up for human rights. Without proper recognition the souls
of the murdered genocide victims will remain in unrest. The time to
act is now!!!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress