ANCA’s Hamparian: ‘This, sadly, is President Obama’s legacy—silence on the Armenian Genocide, complicity in Turkey’s denials, and encouragement of Azerbaijani aggression.’
WASHINGTON—White House National Security Council officials informed the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) this afternoon that President Barack Obama will refrain from properly commemorating the Armenian Genocide, as he had promised to do as a candidate, in his eighth and final “Armenian Remembrance Day” statement.
“It seems President Obama will end his tenure as he began it, caving in to pressure from Turkey and betraying his commitment to speak honestly about the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, who met with the officials along with ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian.
“President Obama’s unwillingness to reject Turkey’s gag-rule on the Armenian Genocide or otherwise confront the growing regional wave of anti-Armenian aggression—particularly at a time when both Ankara and Baku are placing targets on the backs of Armenians in Artsakh, Armenia, Turkey, the Middle East, and across our diaspora—represents something far worse than simply a betrayal of his own promise. His reckless retreat from America’s anti-genocide commitments—under pressure from Turkey and Azerbaijan—in the face of their open incitement, outright aggression, and other classic genocide red flags, emboldens Erdogan and Aliyev to escalate their hostility, raising the very real risk of large-scale anti-Armenian atrocities. This, sadly, is President Obama’s legacy—silence on the Armenian Genocide, complicity in Turkey’s denials, and encouragement of Azerbaijani aggression,” continued Hamparian.
Prior to his election to the oval office, Obama was clear and unequivocal in promising to properly characterize Ottoman Turkey’s murder of more than 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children between 1915 and 1923 as genocide. In a Jan. 19, 2008, statement, he wrote: “The facts are undeniable. An official policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an untenable policy. As a senator, I strongly support passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106 and S.Res.106), and as president I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
President Obama has broken that pledge in annual Armenian Remembrance Day statements issued on or near April 24, the international day of commemoration of this crime.
The U.S. first recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1951 through a filing that was included in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Report titled, “Reservations to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.” The specific reference to the Armenian Genocide appears on page 25 of the ICJ Report: “The Genocide Convention resulted from the inhuman and barbarous practices which prevailed in certain countries prior to and during World War II, when entire religious, racial, and national minority groups were threatened with and subjected to deliberate extermination. The practice of genocide has occurred throughout human history. The Roman persecution of the Christians, the Turkish massacres of Armenians, the extermination of millions of Jews and Poles by the Nazis are outstanding examples of the crime of genocide.”
President Ronald Reagan reaffirmed the Armenian Genocide in 1981. The U.S. House of Representatives adopted legislation on the Armenian Genocide in 1975, 1984, and 1996.
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Lol noble peace prize for genocide denial. Thanks Obama
The surprise would have been if Obama actually accepted the Armenian Genocide. More so now than in the past, the US an abuser of human rights, causing misery death and destruction in any country whose policies it doesn’t agree with, or can make a buck or two. I have no trust or hope in US, to take the moral stance, defend human rights and call a genocide, “GENOCIDE”. She is in good company with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel, Pakistan etc. Yes, for me, the US can be categorised as a “third world country” when it comes to human rights’ issues.
Obama was the final nail in the coffin of my faith in the United States. A country built on lies. The US actually has plenty in common with Turkey. Both countries were built on the blood and bones of murdered natives.
I warned the ARF that he was luying, but the none of the foreign Armenians understood that Democrats have been luying to American Armenians for the vote ,all the way to president John F Kennedy. Armenians who are from abroad don’t understand stand American politics like Armenian Americans do.
This just doesn’t ring true of this President.
It´s not only Obama, who refuses to recognize the Genocide. I am sure that Clinton will ALSO not act honestly, if elected ! So US-Spuerka Hay be careful in the 1917 election !
What has done, is to give his blessings to vice president Biden and Secretary of State Kerry’s statements that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is inviolate.
Sorry : …. of course 2017 elections ! !
This does not come as a surprise. Obama has lost his moral compass, he is spineless and succumbing to Turkey’s threats and blackmail about the NATO bases in Turkey.
We are better off if he does not make any statements at all. His statement is supportive of Turkey’s denialist stance.
Vart Adjemian
Let’s call a spade a spade, Turkey is the most powerful country in the world, it can dictate what the US and Europe say and do, and knowing that in fact it has this power, it becomes even more emboldened.
Meanwhile the US and the EU act like the timid family members of an addict enabling Turkey by setting no boundaries.
*** I knew from the beginning, when my Armenian friends were going to vote for Obama, they were fooled by him. he was a liar than, and he is a a liar know.,
*** how funny that he got a Nobel Peace Prize, really? if you think that is genuine? then the earth is square, right?
Is this the fault of president Obama or the lack of efficiency of Armenian lobbys in USA? Please, look at the mirror, don’t point -as usual- others mistakes or political calculations.
Maybe Obama will have the courage of his convictions at the last minute before he leaves the Oval Office or will he leave it till he writes his memoirs?
It takes a MAN to take such a decision. No wonder Obama is not doing it. Was he ever a MAN in all of his presidency?
come on, did you really think this chap would recognise the Armenian genocide? come on, let him be and let him join his turkish friends – that is who he needs for all political reasoning. He does not care about the Armenians or Armenia or the Armenian genocide – we all know that. Can’t expect anything better from this chap.
What do we expect from a morally corrupt con artist? He is merely doing what HE IS Told to do by the power elite for whatever reason. How misguided can the POTUS can be? What possibly could be of greater importance? It is incomprehensible that this guy won the Nobel Peace prize?? I predict that after he leaves office, he will become very wealthy. After all, that was all part of the deal.