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

armradio.am
13.04.2010 10:47

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.