1- Turkey Disgraces Itself by Denying The Genocide
after Biden’s Acknowledgment
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
2- President Biden Issues Statement on Armenian Remembrance Day
3- Gov. Newsom Proclaims April 24 as
Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide
4- Russia, Armenia Vow To Boost ‘Privileged Alliance’
5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
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1- Turkey Disgraces Itself by Denying The Genocide
after Biden’s Acknowledgment
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com
Pres. Joe Biden issued a written statement on April 24, officially
recognizing the Armenian Genocide for the second year in a row.
Here is an excerpt from Pres. Biden’s acknowledgment: “On April 24,
1915, Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian intellectuals and
community leaders in Constantinople. Thus began the Armenian
genocide—one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th century. Today,
we remember the one and a half million Armenians who were deported,
massacred, or marched to their deaths in a campaign of extermination,
and mourn the tragic loss of so many lives…. Today, 107 years later,
the American people continue to honor all Armenians who perished in
the genocide.”
In his statement, Pres. Biden used the word ‘Genocide’ four times and
once ‘Meds Yeghern,’ an Armenian term used to describe the mass
killings, before Raphael Lemkin coined the term Genocide in the
1940’s. Pres. Biden also identified ‘Ottoman authorities’ as
perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide.
While Armenians appreciate the sympathetic words of Pres. Biden, he
must be reminded that a similar danger of extinction is looming today
over Artsakh. He should not have approved military aid to Azerbaijan,
a country that is intent on wiping out both Artsakh and Armenia.
Pres. Biden should turn his moral acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide to actionable foreign policy by pressuring Turkey to
recognize its crime, compensate for the mass murders committed by its
predecessor regime, and return the occupied Western Armenian lands.
Recognition without restitution is meaningless!
Just as Western countries rose to the defense of Ukraine with massive
military and humanitarian assistance, so should they protect Artsakh.
During the 2020 war, Artsakh was subjected to a brutal attack by
Azerbaijan, Turkey, and imported Jihadist terrorists, committing war
crimes and crimes against humanity. But the world remained silent.
There should be no favoritism for the suffering of one people over
another. All human beings deserve the same protection.
In addition to Pres. Biden’s declaration on the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, statements were issued by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, California Governor Gavin Newsom,
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Vice President of Argentina
Cristina Fernandez, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, President
of Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos
Mitsotakis, and several other leaders. However, the United Kingdom,
Australia and Israel are some of the countries that are still afraid
of Turkey to acknowledge the truth about the mass murders of 1.5
million Armenians.
Turkey, the perpetrator of the genocide, and its vassal state,
Azerbaijan, continue to deny the Armenian Genocide. Armenians around
the world and all people of goodwill continue to hold protests,
exposing their lies and remind the world of the mass murders.
This year, on April 23, when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
was in Montevideo, Uruguay, a group of Armenians protested his visit.
Cavusoglu mocked the gathered Armenians by flashing the threatening
hand gesture of the Turkish terrorist group, Gray Wolves. Mehmet Ali
Agca, who shot and wounded Pope John Paul II in 1981, was a member of
the Gray Wolves. Imagine if a German Foreign Minister showed the Nazi
insignia to Jewish Holocaust survivors. The President of Uruguay
condemned the Turkish Foreign Minister’s undiplomatic gesture and the
Uruguayan Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish Ambassador to explain
the Turkish Foreign Minister’s inappropriate behavior.
Nevertheless, Turkish President Rejep Tayyip Erdogan is beginning to
realize the futility of his denials of the Armenian Genocide. After
years of threatening the United States if it recognized the Armenian
Genocide, Erdogan turned into a mouse after Pres. Biden recognized it
last year. Erdogan had arrogantly announced that he will complain to
the U.S. President about his recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
However, when the two met last June, he did not dare to say a word to
Biden about it. Afterwards when the Turkish press asked Erdogan if he
complained to Biden about the Genocide, he absurdly said, “No, Biden
did not bring it up.” Erdogan was thoroughly humiliated.
In a message to Armenians who had gathered at the Armenian
Patriarchate in Istanbul to commemorate the Armenian Genocide on April
24, Erdogan wrote to Armenian Patriarch Sahak Mashalyan: “I believe
that we should build the future together, inspired by our deep-rooted
unity of up to a thousand years, instead of magnifying the suffering.”
Rather than acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, Erdogan claimed that
Ottoman citizens (both Armenians and Turks) died as a result of World
War I, without distinguishing between the victims of genocide and war.
Furthermore, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that it rejected
the statements made on April 24 by various countries: “This includes
today’s unfortunate statement by U.S. President Biden, repeating the
mistake he made in 2021. We reject such statements and decisions that
distort historical facts with political motives, and condemn those who
insist on this mistake.” This is coming from the Turkish Foreign
Minister who made a terroristic hand gesture in Uruguay.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Istanbul banned the commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide, which had been held annually since 2010, except for
the last two years due to COVID-19.
Finally, Garo Paylan, the Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament,
submitted a bold resolution to the Parliament last week demanding that
it recognize the Armenian Genocide, identify those responsible, remove
their names from public places, and grant Turkish citizenship to the
victims and their families. Paylan came under vicious attacks from
Turkish officials. The Speaker of Parliament rejected his motion. The
spokesman of AKP, the ruling party, demanded an apology from Paylan
and threatened to sue him. Furthermore, Pres. Erdogan condemned Paylan
and urged the Parliament “to deal with him.”
If Turkish leaders don’t mind to be humiliated and exposed to the
world for denying that their country committed genocide, Armenians
will continue to expose them as supporters of barbaric actions. The
sooner they come to their senses, acknowledge the Genocide and make
amends, the sooner they will stop being disgraced.
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2- President Biden Issues Statement on Armenian Remembrance Day
President Biden’s second Armenian Remembrance Day statement—issued on
April 24th, the international day of remembrance of this crime—once
again mourned the Armenian Genocide.
“On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian
intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. Thus began the
Armenian genocide—one of the worst mass atrocities of the 20th
century. Today, we remember the one and a half million Armenians who
were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in a campaign of
extermination, and mourn the tragic loss of so many lives,” said the
statement.
“As we reflect on the Armenian genocide, we renew our pledge to remain
vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms. We
recommit ourselves to speaking out and stopping atrocities that leave
lasting scars on the world. And, as we mourn what was lost during the
Meds Yeghern, let us redouble our efforts toward healing and building
the better, more peaceful world that we wish for our children. A world
where human rights are respected, where the evils of bigotry and
intolerance do not mark our daily lives, and where people everywhere
are free to pursue their lives in dignity and security,” said the
statement.
“This is also a moment to reflect on the strength and resiliency of
the Armenian people. After enduring a genocide, the Armenian people
were determined to rebuild their community and their culture, so often
in new homes and new lands, including the United States. Armenian
Americans are a vital part of the fabric of the United States. They
make our nation stronger and more dynamic, even as they continue to
carry with them the tragic knowledge of what their ancestors endured.
We recognize their pain and honor their story,” said the statement.
“Today, 107 years later, the American people continue to honor all
Armenians who perished in the genocide,” concluded the statement.
Response to the statement was tepid. Armenian National Committee of
America executive director Aram Hamparian said, “In the year since
President Biden first joined Congress in commemorating the Armenian
Genocide, he has approved continued U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan –
U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance that materially strengthens and
morally emboldens an oil-rich dictatorship hell-bent on completing
this crime against the Armenian homeland, a landlocked, blocked
genocide-survivor state. President Biden’s record, sadly, reflects the
letter but not the true spirit of genocide recognition. No sustained
pressure on Turkey to reckon with its present-day responsibilities, no
confrontation of Azerbaijan’s genocidal violence against Artsakh, no
forceful challenge to Ankara’s ongoing denial of this crime, no active
support for U.S. educational programs. He can and must do better.”
In 2021, just one day prior to recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
President Biden waived Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act,
allowing continued U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, an authoritarian
regime that, along with Turkey, launched a devastating 44-day war
against Armenia and Artsakh in 2020. On April 27, Armenian Americans
will join Congressional leaders at the annual Capitol Hill Remembrance
of the Armenian Genocide, at the Rayburn House Office Building “Gold
Room.”
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3- Gov. Newsom Proclaims April 24 as
Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom on April 22 issued a proclamation
declaring as “A Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide” in the State of California.
The proclamation states:
On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire began its systematic genocide of
Armenian people, a minority group that had long been treated as second
class citizens. The Armenian Genocide began with the forced
deportation and murder of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and
community leaders and ended with the deaths of 1.5 million men, women
and children. It was the first genocide of the 20th Century.
As we remember the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, we
also honor the strength and resilience of the Armenian people. Forced
to build new lives in all corners of the globe, Armenians bravely
forged ahead in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Thousands made their
homes in California, and we are greater for their contributions.
Today and every day, let us recommit ourselves to making certain that
we never forget the Armenian Genocide, and that we always speak out
against hatred and atrocities anywhere they occur.
Now therefore I, Gavin Newsom, Governor of the State of California, do
hereby proclaim , as a “Day of Remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide.”
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 22nd day of April
2022. **********************************************************************************************************************************************
4- Russia, Armenia Vow To Boost ‘Privileged Alliance’
Russia and Armenia pledged on Tuesday, April 19 to strengthen their
political, economic and security ties despite sweeping Western
sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
In a joint statement issued after their talks held outside Moscow,
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol
Pashinyan said the “privileged alliance” of their states will grow
stronger.
“Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan expressed concern over the use of
unilateral restrictive measures by a number of countries,” they said,
clearly referring to the Western sanctions. “They expressed their
intention to jointly overcome the challenges caused by these measures,
including in the field of food and energy security of the two
countries, logistics, etc.”
In particular, they said, the two sides will continue to “facilitate
the flow of Russian investments in Armenia.”
Visiting Moscow last week, Armenian Economy Minister Kerobian said
that Russian-Armenian trade, which totaled over $2.5 billion last
year, began falling in March. He said the two governments should work
together to “urgently eliminate the causes of the decline and restore
growth.”
Because of its close economic links with Russia, Armenia is expected
to be significantly affected by the Western sanctions. The Central
Bank of Armenia (CBA), the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund have forecast that the Armenian economy will barely grow this
year.
In another veiled reference to the conflict in Ukraine, Putin and
Pashinyan expressed serious concern over “the aggravating situation in
the field of international security.”
“In this regard, the Parties intend to further strengthen cooperation
in order to counter negative trends in this area,” reads their joint
statement.
“The leaders proceed from the premise that no state, union or
coalition can or should ensure its security at the expense of the
security of other states,” it adds, echoing a Russian argument against
Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
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5- Armenia Continues Fight Against COVID-19
Armenia continues the fight against COVID-19. The government continues
to promote vaccinations. There were 3,635 active COVID-19 cases in
Armenia as of April 25. Armenia has recorded 422,828 coronavirus cases
and 8,622 deaths; this is the first week since the start of the
pandemic where no new deaths were reported. 410,571 have recovered.
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