OBAMA AVOIDS USING ‘GENOCIDE’ IN STATEMENT ON ARMENIANS
Greek News
ews&file=article&sid=10302
April 28 2009
USA
Washington, D.C.- Despite repeated statements properly characterizing
the Armenian Genocide during his Senate career and a clear pledge
stating that "As President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide,"
President Barack Obama issued on Friday an April 24th statement
evading the proper characterization of the Armenian Genocide. The
president instead voiced support for ongoing talks between Armenians
and Turkish officials to improve relations between their countries.
His statement sparked furious protests in California as Armenians
expressed outrage over his refusal to fulfill his campaign promise.
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian issued the following statement regarding
President Obama’s April 24th statement: "I join with all Armenian
Americans in voicing our sharp disappointment with President Obama’s
failure to honor his solemn pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide."
"In falling short of his repeated and crystal clear promises,
which reflected a thorough knowledge of the facts, the practical
implications, and the profound moral dimension of Armenian Genocide
recognition, the President chose, as a matter of policy, to allow
our nation’s stand against genocide to remain a hostage to Turkey’s
threats."
"The President’s statement today represents a retreat from his pledge
and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about in how
America confronts the crime of genocide."
"Genocide must be confronted unconditionally at the level of American
values and our common humanity. As Americans, we should never allow the
prevention or recognition of this crime to be reduced to a political
issue that can be traded away, retreated from under pressure, or used
to advance a political agenda, of any kind."
"Today’s statement does not reflect the change the President promised,"
stated Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "His failure to affirm the proud chapter in U.S. history,
the American response to the first genocide of the 20th century, has
needlessly delayed the cause of genocide affirmation and diminishes
U.S. credibility with regard to genocide prevention," added Ardouny.
In January 2008, then-Senator Obama stated: "As President I will
recognize the Armenian Genocide." In October 2008, President Obama
reiterated his views, "I believe that the Armenian Genocide is not
an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence."
"Empty promises are no change at all. Today, as we reflect on the
importance of genocide education, affirmation and prevention, we
must redouble our efforts to ensure that the words ‘never again’
have true meaning – starting with the adoption of H. Res. 252 in the
U.S. House of Representatives," concluded Ardouny.
The Armenian Genocide was acknowledged by Russia, France, Canadian
House of Commons, Lebanon, Uruguay, Cyprus, Argentina, Greece, Belgium,
Sweden, Slovakia, Netherlands’ House of Representatives, Switzerland
National Council, Vatican, Lower chamber of Italy, Germany, Lithuania,
Polish Seim and 42 US states.
Obama said he still stands by the views he has expressed on the subject
as a presidential candidate and a U.S. senator. Then, he called for
Turkey to acknowledge the genocide — and promised to do so himself
if elected president.
He again pointed to his previous remarks, while avoiding the term
many Turks find offensive.
"I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915,
and my view of that history has not changed," the president said
in his statement released this afternoon. "My interest remains the
achievement of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts."
But Obama said he thinks the best way to advance that goal right now
"is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the
past as a part of their efforts to move forward."
Today’s commemoration date fell two days after Turkey and Armenia
announced movement in ongoing talks to ease relations between their
two countries, strained for decades.
The Turkish foreign ministry said Wednesday the two sides have come
up with a framework for continued talks, but provided few details
on how, exactly, it might work. They have made "tangible progress"
toward mutual understanding and come up with a "road map" for how to
proceed, according to the statement.
Still, the measure is considered the first breakthrough in talks in
more than a decade.
Since Obama took office, Armenian Americans and human rights activists
have been asking him to make good on the campaign promise to declare
the mass killing a genocide. Advocates hoped the declaration would
come today.
But Obama signaled he might take a different route during a trip
to Turkey earlier this month, when he refrained from using the word
"genocide" to describe the killings. In a joint press conference with
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Obama said he hadn’t changed his mind
about the historical record but still declined to use the word when
asked by a reporter about his position.
"I’m not interested in the U.S. tilting these negotiations one way
or another while they are having a useful discussion," Obama said in
early April.
In his statement, Obama used the words "Meds Yeghern," the Armenian
phrase for the atrocity.
"Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century
began," the president wrote. "Each year, we pause to remember the
1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to
their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern
must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of
the Armenian people."
COMMEMORATION Dozens of Democratic and Republican Members of Congress
joined this evening with over five hundred Armenian Americans from
across the United States in Capitol Hill’s historic Cannon Caucus Room
in a solemn remembrance devoted to U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Majority Leader
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), in their remarks to the standing-room only
audience, both spoke forcefully of their personal commitment to proper
U.S. condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
"It is long past the time for the United States to formally recognize
the Armenian Genocide," noted Speaker Pelosi in her remarks. She
went on to spotlight the importance of grassroots efforts against
Turkey’s multi-million dollar campaign of genocide denial. "How far
we can go with the resolution [H.Res.252] this year depends on the
outreach that each and everyone of us in this room can do to win on
the floor of the House. We can do any amount of inside maneuvering
in the Congress and Washington, but what is important is the outside
mobilization to bring to bear the voices of people across America."
The Congressional Armenian Genocide observance was organized by the
Congressional Armenian Caucus, with Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL ) serving as Masters of
Ceremony. Opening prayers were offered by his Eminence Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern
United States as well as Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Eastern United States.