Atlantic Online
March 5 2010
It’s that Time of Year Again: Remembering that No-One Remembers the Armenians
05 Mar 2010 10:58 am
by Alex Massie
Poor Armenia. Just about the only time that wee country gets a mention
in Washington is when the perennial Recognise-the-Genocide issue comes
up. As tradition demands, the Secretary of State lobbied Congress to
avoid passing anything resembling or hinting at any such thing.
Nevertheless the Foreign Affairs Committee voted 23-22 in favour of
the annual motion acknowledging the ghastliness. Whether it makes it
to the floor remains a moot issue.
Everyone, I think, recognises the practical and political difficulties
in siding with the Armenians or, as may be the case, handing a sop to
the American-Armenian community. Turkey matters more than Armenia. And
Turkey is touchy and macho and quick to take offense. No surprise then
that their ambassador to Washington has been called back to Ankara for
"discussions".
This is, then, an annual rigmarole from which few people escape with
any great measure of credit. This includes the current President who
promised not so long ago that…
I also share with Armenian Americans ` so many of whom are descended
from genocide survivors – a principled commitment to commemorating and
ending genocide. That starts with acknowledging the tragic instances
of genocide in world history. As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the
Armenian American community in calling for Turkey’s acknowledgement of
the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, I criticized the Secretary of
State for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after
he properly used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey’s slaughter of
thousands of Armenians starting in 1915. I shared with Secretary Rice
my firmly held conviction 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. The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on
diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a
senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as President I will
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Emphasis added. In a better world it might be tough to walk back from that.
To be fair to Obama he is little worse than his predecessor who also
raised Armenian hopes only to pass the issue on to his successor. But
this issue should also be a reminder that you cannot wholly leave the
campaign behind once you assume office and that you should, perhaps,
be wary of writing cheques you cannot cash. Otherwise you look like a
chump at best and, more probably, a duplicitous fraud.
Sure, yes, this is, in many ways, vastly more trivial than recent
improvements in Yerevan-Ankara relations. It may well be that, as was
true last year, passing the resolution and gaining Presidential
approval might set back the bigger, broader, better picture. But this
too should be a memo to 2012 candidates: don’t make cheap commitments
you have few intentions of honouring.
Previously on Armenia and by me: here. Maybe I’m wrong, of course. You
tell me! Write to alexmassieATgmail.com
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