PRESIDENT OF FORUM OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF EUROPE ADDRESSED TO THE USA PRESIDENT ASKING TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY
APRIL 14, 2010
BRATISLAVA

BRATISLAVA, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. President of Forum
of Armenian Associations of Europe Ashot Grigorian disposed to Noyan
Tapan a text of the open letter addressed to the USA President Barack
Obama which runs as follows: "His Excellency, Mr. President Barack
Obama, on behalf of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe I
would like to convey our utmost appreciation for your using the words
"Mets Yeghern" on April 24th last year. Whilst that was a step forward,
we turn to you again this year with the plea to use the international
term "Genocide" in your speech and allow the US Congress to pass the
Resolution 252 adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier
this year. Mr. President, I appeal to you with the request that you
honor the worldwide Armenian Diaspora’s sufferings related to Turkey’s
ignorance of the Armenian Genocide, its falsification of justice,
its sinning against the truth and that you recognize the Armenian
Genocide as a fact. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide will make
Turkey honor the worldwide international opinion and establish good
relations with its important neighbour, Armenia.

Please be assured that this is the most realistic and just path to
solving the Armenian-Turkish relationship."

Ashot Grigorian attacked with the letter addressed to Barack Obama in
April 2009 signed by a number of significant European figures. Several
eminent figures put their signature under the letter: Ashot Grigorian
– President of Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, (Slovakia)
Marios Garoyian – President of the House of Representatives, Republic
of Cyprus Charles Aznavour – Singer, Public Activist (France) Hilda
Tchoboian – President of European-Armenian Federation for Justice
and Democracy (France) Sergey Khachatryan – Violinist (Germany)
Arthur Abraham – World Champion in Boxing (Germany) Levon Aronian –
Chess Grandmaster (Germany).

The letter runs as follows:

"In the name of the representatives of the Armenian communities in
Europe please allow us to express our deepest and utmost gratitude
for your stance on the Armenian Genocide during your pre-election
campaign. We feel confident that your continuous efforts will
contribute to the adoption of the resolution on the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by the US Congress. Honorable President, Armenian
communities have hitherto contributed to the adoption of similar
resolutions by the Parliaments of a number of European countries
in faith that this will aid to the development of Turkish-Armenian
relations and their neighborly cooperation. By helping Turkey
to reconcile with its past and enhance working relations with its
neighboring country, we will naturally contribute to the development
of Turkey’s democracy and create an opportunity for it to earn its
right for its future integration into the European Union. The adoption
of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide
by the United States will greatly contribute to this historical
process and will help the Turkish authorities to cross "Rubicon"
and rid themselves of the heavy burden inherited from their past."

"Honorable President, we eagerly await your speech on April 24 in
faith and hope and we express our admiration and deepest gratitude
for your newly initiated efforts", it was said in the last year’s
open letter addressed to the USA President.