Below is the text of President Barack Obama’s statement on Armenian Remembrance Day, released by the White House on April 24, 2009.
Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories, just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people.
History, unresolved, can be a heavy weight. Just as the terrible events of 1915 remind us of the dark prospect of man’s inhumanity to man, reckoning with the past holds out the powerful promise of reconciliation. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement of a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts.
The best way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward. I strongly support efforts by the Turkish and Armenian people to work through this painful history in a way that is honest, open, and constructive. To that end, there has been courageous and important dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize their bilateral relations. Under Swiss auspices, the two governments have agreed on a framework and roadmap for normalization. I commend this progress, and urge them to fulfill its promise.
Together, Armenia and Turkey can forge a relationship that is peaceful, productive, and prosperous. And together, the Armenian and Turkish people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.
Nothing can bring back those who were lost in the Meds Yeghern. But the contributions that Armenians have made over the last ninety-four years stand as a testament to the talent, dynamism, and resilience of the Armenian people, and as the ultimate rebuke to those who tried to destroy them. The United States of America is a far richer country because of the many Americans of Armenian descent who have contributed to our society, many of whom immigrated to this country in the aftermath of 1915. Today, I stand with them and with Armenians everywhere with a sense of friendship, solidarity, and deep respect.
Could President Obama have chosen a more insulting statement in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. I found it insulting that he weasled out of using the word Genocide by using the Armenian language, “Meds Yeghern”to refer to the Genocide-a language that the Turks tried to eradicate along with the Armenian people. It does not belong in a statement in order to avoid using the proper name, “Genocide” that he promised to use. Further more, his audacity is misplaced in directing Armenians in what he thinks THEY should do-to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward(that requires Turkey to address the facts of the Genocide-the Armenians have already done that). The Turks have not “in a way that is HONEST, open and constructive.”
Working under Swiss auspices sounds good; however,trust is an issue for Armenians. We have not forgotten the betrayal of the Great Powers when they ignored the Sevres Treaty and replaced it with the Lausanne Treaty which did not even have the word Armenia in it and ultimately gave Turkey permission to continue its shameful treatment of Armenians. We also have not forgotten Turkey’s genius in manipulating the truth (lying). What exactly is meant by our ” common history”?–the Genocide?
President Obama claims that his interest remains the achievement of a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts. He did not even take the first basic, frank fact that he promised–naming the Genocide for what it was. Can he tell us one fact about what Turkey, the great human rights violator, has done to show it is a worthy of respect by the U.S.
This comment is from a person who HAD the highest respect and admiration for Obama. How painful it is for me to lose that.
Dare I hope that Obama will restate his acknowledgment properly?
From Shahkeh, a disappointed daughter of survivors of the Genocide.
“Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were subsequently massacred or marched to their death..”
How the heck that crazy court in California determined that it was Obama’s policy to oppose the recognition of the Armenian genocide from that is beyond me.
Politics in this country has become plain crazy.