YEREVAN—In a letter March 19 to Howard Berman, the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Armen Rustamian, the chairman of the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, expressed his strong support for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, stressing that U.S. recognition would be the greatest contributor to the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.
“I have the pleasure to write you upon the introduction of legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and to share with you and your colleagues our complete support for the adoption of this measure affirming the commitment of the United States to the cause of genocide prevention,” Rustamian’s letter said.
On March 17, U.S. legislators introduced a resolution (H.Res.252) calling on the U.S. president to properly recognize the genocide. The resolution, submitted by representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), George Radanovich (R-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), came five weeks ahead of April 24, when President Obama is expected to issue an annual statement commemorating the genocide.
Turkey has repeatedly tried to dissuade U.S. lawmakers from reaffirming the official U.S. record on the genocide, arguing that the recognition is one sought only by the Armenian-American community and not the Armenian state, which is currently working toward normalizing
relations with Turkey.
“The Armenian people in our homeland, in the United States, and around the world remain grateful for the hard work that you and your colleagues, including, of course, Congressmen Adam Schiff and George Radanovich, have devoted over the course of many years to secure U.S. recognition and official commemoration of this crime,” said Rustamian in his letter.
Turkey’s leaders also warn that any official recognition of its crime against the Armenian people, whether in a resolution or in an April 24 statement, will torpedo current negotiations to normalize relations between the two countries.
But the lack of an official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States has actually served to make Turkey’s position in normalization talks more uncompromising, according to Rustamian. “I am confident that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the
United States not only would not hamper, but on the contrary will contribute to the prospects of a thorough dialogue between Turkey and Armenia,” the letter read. “A clear and principled stance by the U.S. can only assist in developing awareness that the recognition of the genocide is not at all a demonstration of anti-Turkish sentiments, but a necessity emanating from the need to condemn this crime against humanity.”
“Any durable improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations must rest upon a foundation of shared respect for truth and justice,” he said, noting also that the recognition would bring historical justice, improve the overall situation in the region, and prevent similar crimes in the future.
Rustamian further noted that “a clear and principled stance by the U.S. can only assist in developing awareness that the recognition of the genocide is not at all a demonstration of anti-Turkish sentiments, but a necessity emanating from the need to condemn this crime against humanity.”
Below is the letter in its entirety.
Dear Chairman Berman:
I have the pleasure to write you upon the introduction of legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide, and to share with you and your colleagues our complete support for the adoption of this measure affirming the commitment of the United States to the cause of genocide prevention. Armenia aspires for the universal recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, and sees it both as a restoration of an historical justice and as a way to improve the overall situation in the region, while also preventing similar crimes in the future.
The Armenian people in our homeland, in the United States and around the world, remain grateful for the hard work that you and your colleagues, including, of course, Congressmen Adam Schiff and George Radanovich, have devoted over the course of many years to secure U.S.
recognition and official commemoration of this crime. I am confident that the proponents of this process and I are also rightly convinced that the lack of official recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States has thus far, in fact, served to make Turkey’s position in the issue of resolving the Armenian-Turkish relations more uncompromising. We value these efforts and are, this year, particularly encouraged by the clear statements of President Barack Obama and senior members of his Administration in this regard during the elections.
Please know that I remain available to share with your Congressional colleagues, either in writing or in person, the principled stand of the Republic of Armenia in support of universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I am confident that the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by the United States not only would not hamper, but on the contrary will contribute to the prospects of a thorough dialogue between Turkey and Armenia. A clear and principled stance by the U.S. can only assist in developing awareness that the recognition of the genocide is not at all a demonstration of anti-Turkish sentiments, but a necessity emanating from the need to condemn this crime against humanity. Furthermore, any durable improvement of Armenia-Turkey relations must rest upon a foundation of shared respect for truth and justice.
Thank you for your friendship with the people and government of the Republic of Armenia and for all your support and assistance over the years.
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