SARKISIAN HONORS MEMORY OF WOODROW WILSON; REJECTS TURKEY’S PRECONDITIONS ON BILATERAL DIALOGUE

Asbarez
Apr 13th, 2010

WASHINGTON-Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian rejected Turkey’s
efforts to impose preconditions on Armenia-Turkey dialogue, during
remarks delivered following a wreath laying ceremony honoring the
life and legacy of President Woodrow Wilson.

Speaking to hundreds of Armenian Americans gathered at the National
Cathedral, Sarkisian praised President Wilson’s 1919 call for a united
effort to ensure that "the Armenian people never suffer again." Ninety
five years later, countries around the world and organizations,
including those in the U.S., continue to carry on Wilson’s legacy,
stated Sarkisian, to prevent genocide and suffering through recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.

Noting his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan earlier in the
day, Sarkisian reiterated opposition to Turkey-imposed preconditions
on Turkey-Armenia Protocol discussions. "Turkey cannot speak in
the language of preconditions to Armenia and the Armenian people,"
said Sarkisian, who went on to reject Turkey’s efforts to question
the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide, or inject itself in
the Nagorno Karabakh negotiation process.

During his visit to President Wilson’s tomb, Pres. Sarkisian greeted
Armenian Genocide survivors Rose Baboyian, Yeretsgeen Sirarpi Khoyan
and Lousadzeen Tatarian, who presented the President with a letter
urging him to continue the fight for Genocide recognition and stand
up for the rights of the Armenian people. Following the wreath-laying
ceremony, Sarkisian stood solemnly as Armenian American clergy offered
prayers in memory of President Wilson and honored the victims and
survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Among the clergy in attendance were Eastern Prelate Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Eastern Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, and Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), and representatives of the Armenian Catholic and
Evangelical communities.

Armenian American reaction to Sarkisian’s statements was swift. ARF
Eastern Region Central Committee Chairman Antranig Kasbarian told the
Armenian Weekly that "Pres. Sarkisian’s remarks – both in timing and in
substance – are greatly encouraging. The symbolism of honoring Woodrow
Wilson – a champion of Genocide survivors and guarantor of Western
Armenia – was not lost on those assembled. Nor was the President’s
assessment of current political relations, in which he clearly rejected
any preconditons by Turkey toward normalizing bilateral ties."

Kasbarian warned, however, that "the true test will come behind
closed doors, when Mr. Sarkisian encounters the inevitable pressure
from Washington and Ankara to come to terms. If he follows the path
set out today, then we can reasonably hope that Armenia will retreat
from the Protocols and the dangerous course they represent. If not,
then we may see Armenia’s predicament go from bad to worse."

Kasbarian reflected the community concerns expressed in an April 9
joint letter by leading Armenian civic, religious and social service
organizations which urged President Sarkisian to call on President
Barack Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and
reject Turkish government efforts to use the Turkey-Armenia Protocols
to delay international affirmation of this crime against humanity. The
signatories pressed the Armenian President to announce that the
Turkey-Armenia Protocol discussions cannot continue "given Turkey’s
unconstructive and antagonistic posture" throughout the process.

To read the complete text of the letter, visit:
leases.php?prid=1851

Obama "Commends" Sarkisian for Armenia-Turkey Normalization Efforts
Reports from Pres. Sarkisian’s 45-minute meeting with President
Obama came Monday evening with a "read out" issued by the White House
stating that:

"The President commended President Sarkisian for his courageous
efforts to achieve normalization of relations between Armenia and
Turkey and encouraged him to fulfill the promise of normalization
for the benefit of the Armenian people. President Obama also
urged that both Armenia and Turkey make every effort to advance
the normalization process and achieve legislative ratification of
the protocols of normalization. President Obama also expressed his
support for Armenian democracy."

Earlier Monday, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty reported Armenian
government sources as stating that "the two leaders spoke about
‘the course of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey’
and ‘exchanged thoughts’ on the current status of the Karabakh peace
process" among other issues.

Commenting on President Obama’s Washington invitation of President
Sarkisian in the days leading up to the annual April 24th Armenian
Genocide commemoration, Armenian National Committee of America
Executive Director Aram Hamparian noted: "We would consider it highly
inappropriate for the President of the United States to have invited
the President of Armenia to Washington, only days before April 24th,
if he had an intention of doing anything less than fully recognizing
the Armenian Genocide; fully honoring his commitment to recognize
this crime against humanity. We are looking forward to President
Obama keeping faith with his own words and keeping faith with the
relationship he seeks with Armenia by recognizing the Armenian
Genocide."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress