ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION: THE NEED FOR THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Diane Diniz
Visalia Times-Delta
March 11 2010
California
Most people have little or no understanding about the history of the
Armenian "genocide." It happened before the Holocaust, carried out
by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923, with an estimated death
toll of 1.5 million Armenians. The House of Foreign Affairs Committee
held a hearing March 4th on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, which
was passed with a 23-22 vote. Its potential for adoption now faces
a decision from the House floor, which is unlikely because of the
hearsay that the resolution will "alienate a NATO ally and trading
partner". Turkey condemned the resolution, stating that it accuses
Turkey of a crime that was never committed and recalled their U.S.
ambassador after the House Committee vote. Although the resolution
seems to be unpopular, the Armenian Prime Minister welcomed the vote
passed by the congressional panel and stated that this is "proof" from
the American people and their devotion to universal human rights and
"it is an important step" in prevention of crimes against humanity.
France, Canada, Russia, Chile, Switzerland, and a dozen other
countries have recognized the Armenian Genocide as well as the
European Parliament.
The Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.RES.252, which was introduced
March 17th of last year, calls upon the President "to ensure that the
foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding
and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic
cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record
relating to the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes." In Obama’s
campaign he stated that he would "as president" recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Now his Administration opposes the resolution and will
"work very hard" to stop it from getting to the House floor. Sponsor
of the resolution is Representative Adam Schiff [CA-29], and among
137 other cosponsors is Devin Nunes [CA-21]. The acknowledgements
of the Armenian Genocide as U.S. Foreign Policy, is essential to the
commemoration of the Armenian people and for the remembrance of U.S.
opposition in the genocide.
The International Association of Genocide Scholars, IAGS, wrote a
letter to the President in 2009 to recognize the Armenian Genocide,
as "it was the template for all modern genocide." The letter also
states that, Hitler was so impressed with the Turkish extermination
of the Armenian people that it shaped his own plans for genocide
as he said to his military advisors in 1939, "who today, after all,
remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?"
House of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Howard Berman, said that
as a world leader in promoting human rights, it is a moral obligation
of the United States to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide. "At
some point, every nation must come to terms with its own history,"
said the Chairman, "It is now time for Turkey to accept the reality of
the Armenian Genocide." To allow a foreign government to intimidate and
influence the American government to deny the massacre of millions of
people is not what our country is about. Recognizing and reconciling
with our past legacies, such as slavery and the treatment of Native
Americans, has brought eternal values of human rights to our culture.
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