US CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT HAVE RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Tert.am
19.04.10

In 1975 the US Congress adopted a resolution that recognized
the Armenian Genocide, Deputy Director of the Armenian Genocide
Museum-Institute Suren Manukyan told Tert.am, explaining that though
it did not have a due response, and nor was is decisive to change
anything.

"In 1980 the US President Ronald Reagan has already used the word
‘genocide’," adding that this year the US current President Barack
Obama will probably use the term "Mets Yeghern" (great calamity)
in his April 24 commemoration speech – something he did last year
and broke his campaign pledge.

"With this regard Obama’s speech is not that important," said Manukyan,
adding that no one denies the fact of genocide. "The recognition of
genocide has a political context."

As what concerns Turkey’s approach towards the genocide Manukyan
mentioned that there has been a shift in Turkey’s strategy: Ankara
has withdrawn is strategy of denying the Genocide.

"Previously the accent was being put on the fact that the Armenian
Genocide was made up. There is no such thing now. A new provision was
put forward during the discussion at the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the US Congress: the recognition of the Armenian Genocide will
hinder the development of normal relations between US and Turkey,"
explained Manukyan.

He also said that Turkey’s denialist policy has been beneficial for
Armenia and has had a reverse effect.

"Turkey was squandering billions but the result was that it greatly
widened the public awareness over the issue," concluded Manukyan.