PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly of America
CONTACT: Press Department
April 12, 2010
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web:
E-mail: info@aaainc.org

JOINT STATEMENT WELCOMING THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ON
THE OCCASION OF HIS OFFICIAL VISIT TO WASHINGTON

Washington, DC – The visit to Washington, DC for the Nuclear Security
Summit affords President Serzh Sargsyan an important opportunity to
meet directly with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton. Armenia-U.S. relations need to be strengthened
across a broad range of issues. Of special importance is America’s
role regarding the Protocols to facilitate the normalization of
relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions and the
obligation of the Obama administration to reaffirm the U.S. record
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide if we are to prevent future
genocides and maintain credibility. Rather than employ the Armenian
term for the Armenian Genocide – Metz Yeghern – we urge President
Obama in his April 24 statement to use the English term, and to be
true to his words and promises in developing U.S.-Armenia ties.

We welcome and congratulate President Sargsyan, and we believe that
the Republic of Armenia and its President deserve our support in this
critical work. This is an extension of Armenia’s policy since
independence, and the efforts of the President toward a breakthrough
in Turkish-Armenian normalization represent major steps toward peace
and justice.

The participation of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his delegation
in the Summit also offer an opportunity for the Turkish government to
live up to its words by ratifying the Protocols immediately and as
signed.

We also encourage the Republic of Turkey to utilize this opportunity
to make a bold step forward and signal its willingness to come to
terms with its past.

We have supported and continue to support reconciliation between
Armenia and Turkey. The Erdogan government’s behavior since the
signing of the Protocols last year, however, indicates that it has
breached and will continue to breach both the letter and the spirit of
those documents. The examples of these breaches include not only the
failure to ratify the protocols in a reasonable period, but also the
condemnable threat of deportation with respect to Armenians living in
Turkey by Prime Minister Erdogan.

We, therefore, anticipate that a frank and sober assessment of the
current status of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement and future prospects
will take place this week. Regardless of the outcome, President
Obama’s reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide can only help to heal
the wounds of denial, and bring Turkey one step closer toward true
reconciliation.

We recognize that the path forward will not be easy, especially this
month of April when Armenians worldwide commemorate the 95th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

We pray that all participants in this process approach the issues with
great wisdom and courage.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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