ARMENIANS PRAISE POPE’S COMMENTS
Glendale News Press, CA
April 14 2015
Catholic leader’s acknowledgment of genocide beginning in 1915 called
influential.
By Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com and Alene Tchekmedyian,
alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com
April 14, 2015 | 6:14 p.m.
Local leaders and community members are praising Pope Francis for
his remarks from the Vatican this past weekend that categorized the
deaths of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire
in 1915 as the first genocide of the 20th century.
The pope’s comments echoed sentiments made by Pope John Paul II in
2001 and quickly generated a wave of positive response from Armenians
worldwide, including those living in Glendale who hope the remarks
will push top government officials here for recognition in the U.S.
A century after the genocide and the fall of the empire, the modern
Turkish government continues to hold its ground by claiming the
killings didn’t amount to a genocide.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) has introduced legislation pushing for
genocide recognition and called Pope Francis an extraordinary spiritual
leader, adding his words were moving to the tens of thousands of his
Armenian constituents.
“I think he’s certainly won a place of affection in every Armenian
household,” Schiff said.
The congressman added that the pope’s address went beyond the Catholic
church and was geared toward all humanity. He said he also hopes
President Obama will make good on his campaign promise to officially
recognize the genocide.
“I’m hoping the next on through the door will be our president,”
Schiff said.
Mayor Zareh Sinanyan said he’s optimistic that the pope’s remarks
could influence more recognition around the world.
“Unfortunately, we Armenians have been in a position for the last
100 years in even getting simply acknowledged of a historical fact,”
he said. “It takes a lot of energy and resources, which is very sad.
Humanity doesn’t seem to be ready to embrace, to do the right thing
for the right reasons.”
Pope Francis’ speech drew speedy criticism from the government of
Turkey, which withdrew its ambassador to the Vatican.
“The reason [Turkey is] acting like this is because of the
international community’s failure for the past 100 years to properly
address the issue of the Armenian Genocide,” the mayor said. “This
is what happens when there’s murder and then you get away with it.”
An official with the Armenian National Committee of America-Glendale
said the group also hopes Obama takes note of the pope’s comments
and said continued denial goes beyond the Armenian Genocide.
“We applaud the conviction of Pope Francis in bringing the Armenian
Genocide into a global context and shedding light on this horrific
crime against humanity that continues to be denied by its perpetrator,
and as a result of this denial, has set the stage for similar acts of
genocide to continue occurring in our modern-day chain of events,” said
Tigranna Zakaryan, community relations director for the organization.
Local Armenians also shared their appreciation for Pope Francis and
his remarks.
Aram Kavoukjian, whose family’s pharmacy has been in Glendale for two
decades, said he was pleased and relieved that the Armenian Genocide
was getting international attention.
“It was great to see that the pope wasn’t worried about politics and
was just interested in talking about the truth of what happened,”
Kavoukjian said.
Glendale resident Ani Chalabyan, who moved to the city from Armenia
six months ago, said she hoped the pope’s comments would put pressure
on President Obama to recognize the genocide.
While Kavoukjian doesn’t think the Vatican has enough political power
to push the U.S. or Turkey into recognition, he said the pope’s global
reach helps increase awareness about the massacres.
“This is getting our cause out there,” he said.
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