American Armenian organizations disappointed with Obama speech
armradio.am
25.04.2009 14:22
With heightened expectations of normalized relations between Turkey and
Armenia, President Barack Obama had an opportunity to chart a new
course in his April 24th statement commemorating the Armenian Genocide,
but failed to deliver on the change he promised, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly).
"Today’s statement does not reflect the change the President promised,"
stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "His failure to
affirm the proud chapter in U.S. history, the American response to the
first genocide of the 20th century, has needlessly delayed the cause of
genocide affirmation and diminishes U.S. credibility with regard to
genocide prevention," added Ardouny.
In January 2008, then-Senator Obama stated: "As President I will
recognize the Armenian Genocide." In October 2008, President Obama
reiterated his views, "I believe that the Armenian Genocide is not an
allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely
documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence."
"Empty promises are no change at all. Today, as we reflect on the
importance of genocide education, affirmation and prevention, we must
redouble our efforts to ensure that the words ‘never again’ have true
meaning – starting with the adoption of H. Res. 252 in the U.S. House
of Representatives," concluded A
rdouny.
Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America Ken Hachikian
issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s April 24th
statement:
"I join with all Armenian Americans in voicing our sharp disappointment
with President Obama’s failure to honor his solemn pledge to recognize
the Armenian Genocide.
"In falling short of his repeated and crystal clear promises, which
reflected a thorough knowledge of the facts, the practical
implications, and the profound moral dimension of Armenian Genocide
recognition, the President chose, as a matter of policy, to allow our
nation’s stand against genocide to remain a hostage to Turkey’s
threats."
"The President’s statement today represents a retreat from his pledge
and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about in how
America confronts the crime of genocide.
Genocide must be confronted unconditionally at the level of American
values and our common humanity. As Americans, we should never allow the
prevention or recognition of this crime to be reduced to a political
issue that can be traded away, retreated from under pressure, or used
to advance a political agenda, of any kind."
We urge the President to act quickly to correct his Administration’s
stand on the Armenian Genocide by properly condemning and commemorating
this crime, removing Turkey’s gag-rule on its recognition by the United
States, and working publicly toward the adoption of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution before Congress," concluded Hachikian
According to the Executive Director of the U.S.-Armenia Public Affairs
Committee, Ross Vartian, `President Obama’s April 24 statement is his
second lost opportunity to affirm the Armenian Genocide.
`On the first occasion, his visit to the Republic of Turkey, the
President stated that his view on the Armenian Genocide was well known
and remained unchanged, yet he chose not to utter the word `genocide’.
The President then urged the Turkish government and people to face this
history, just as America had done with African-Americans and Native
Americans.
On the second occasion, the solemn remembrance day of April 24,
President Obama failed to affirm his record as Senator and his repeated
pledges as candidate for the presidency to characterize this crime
against humanity by its proper name, the Armenian Genocide.
Instead, the President committed his administration to fully support
the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey `without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe’. While a laudable
objective, normal relations between these nations and an open
Armenian-Turkish border are not substitutes for the United States
affirming its own voluminous history on the Armenian Genocide and its
directly linked global responsibility to help end the scourge of
genocide.
President Obama knows very well and has eloquently acknowledged that as
long as genocide denial is tolerated that the act of genocide itself
continues, as it does for Armenians on this day of commemoration and
remembrance, April 24, 2009,’ Ross Vartian stated.