WASHINGTON—On Oct. 23, Turkey’s Ambassador to the U.S. Nabi Sensoy, appearing on a Voice of America television news segment on the recent Senate introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, cited the newly signed Turkey-Armenia protocols as a reason for his government’s intensifying campaign to block U.S. recognition of this crime against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Responding to a question on this legislation, the Turkish envoy stressed: “I hope that there will be no progress on this issue. I don’t think it was the right time to take this step since the resolution was introduced immediately after the signing of the Turkey-Armenia protocols. It is wrong and sad. I am hopeful that it [the resolution] will not reach the [Senate] floor.”
Earlier this week, Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) introduced the Senate version of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.316). The House version, introduced earlier this year, has over 130 co-sponsors. House resolution lead sponsors Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and George Radanovich (R-Calif.) commended their Senate colleagues in a statement issued on Oct. 22, saying, “The United States has a moral obligation to recognize the heinous acts of genocide and all human rights abuses that have occurred. Without that recognition we are doomed to repeat the atrocities of the past.”
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, who was interviewed by Voice of America’s Aram Vanetsyan for this segment, cited the broad-based support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution from President Barack Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during their years in the Senate. Responding to reports that the Turkey-Armenia protocols would harm international Armenian Genocide affirmation efforts, Hamparian explained that Turkey entered into negotiations with Armenia not because of any charitable impulse, but, rather, because of its desire to derail the growing pressure of Armenians worldwide in isolating Ankara’s bankrupt campaign of denial. Armenian Americans will, Hamparian said, continue to press, assertively, powerfully, and effectively for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide.
To watch the full three-minute Voice of America Armenian language division segment on the Senate introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (in Armenian), visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=evC0mE7OAJA.
The Turks are playing a desparate game based on a foundation of generational denial.Every time they make a public statement, their duplicity on this issue is visable. I am happy that this resolution has been introduced; not simply for our cause of justice,but because it will draw the Turks into a public debate they can not win. Let neutral observers witness the shallow veneer of their softer side( we want to “normalize” relations and “study” history); while the deceitful tactics of the past and present emerge in their continued denial campaign.This may even increase our co-sponsor listing. The downside is that some politicians may say to wait given the protocol process. These politicians advocate the, “I share your pain, but it’s just not the right time” are the same who have created excuses for years( NATO ally, Iraq war, anit-Soviet buffer) and they will continue this position.We’re fighting for the neutral or uncommitted as well as maintaining our base.
The one thing that we have going for us is that the Turks have painted themselves in a corner based on their numerous public contraditions. Obviously their position power allows them to get a pass on manyof these comments. The question is when will the patience of the U.S. be broken( ratifying problem in the Turkish Parliament? territorial demands on Karabagh?) or will Russia play its card based on tensions with the West(Georgia, missle shields, etc.).We have to have hope in the larger picture. The Genocide resolution is no longer an isolated event seeking support from the U.S. government. It is now one variable in a larger equation. May God Bless our continued quest for justice!
I agree for the most part with Stepan. My first feeling is that Turkey is behaving really stupidly because every time we go through this all they do is generate more publicity to the event. However I wonder what is going on with lobbying: now that Wexler has resigned to head up some Middle East lobbying group I wonder if he’s on board as with Hastert et al (another shameless bunch) as well as defense contractors.
No matter what it simply generates more HONEST studies and the attention always has wound up helping the truth as far as public awareness is concerned. We’ll see what happens this time; the story is a little more complicated now. But their denials are just downright stupid in terms of wanting to bury the issue. The more genuine scholarship on the issue the better it is for us
In my opinion president Serzh Sargsyan handled this issue all wrong.
A better approach to give Armenia maximum leverage in regards to the influence of the the U.S. and Turkey alliance…would have been to play up the incites to war with Azerbaijan. Just as Azerbaijan did. The result would have been more leverage for negotiating with Turkey and the U.S. since any conflict in the region, as demonstrated with Georgia recently, would give Russia the excuse it is looking for to come in with overwhelming force to “control the region”. Giving the the Russians that excuse they are waiting for to neutralize American/Turkish influence in the region was a card we had that was not played by Sargsyan.
In addition, the inner optimist in me hopes that the protocols were a “public” deal made in conjunction with the “private” deal to recognize the genocide and pay reparations. All deals that involve “saving face” have a pubic and private side. (remember the Cuban Missile Crisis). In this case…his dealings behind closed doors and alienating the rest of the Armenian government and diaspora…might be to take all the credit for such a deft maneuver.
On the other hand the inner realist in me fears that if Serzh Sargsyan’s achilles heel is a big ego…it can be appeased by U.S. and Turkish gestures for reconciliation that doesn’t amount to much more than ego strokes that lead Armenia down a dead end path.
Hye, Turkey’s leadership, is acting as though they are, and have been, the most illuminated and intelligent nation in making their choices for Armenia, for the Middle East and more. This nation
1-A Turkey who lies to their own citizens of their own history – denies their Armenian Genocide;
2-A Turkey in its narcisstic mentality ignores of what the world has knowledge ( Turkey deems not to know the world’s awareness and recognition of Turks’ guilt of murdering a nation… (Ignore it and it will disappear, Armenians will become extinct, and Turkey is scot free);
3-A Turkey ‘allies’ with nations… Turkey ‘insults’ nations (yet Turkey can’t take being ‘insulted’)
and, even more and hence, none of these alliances are maintained;
4-Turkey discriminates against the Armenian nation as a people to be treated as though of an inferior race – (Turks being the superior race) – since their forbears murdered the Armenian nation, the current Turks seem to think now they are to crush the fledgling Armenian nation of today;
5-A Turkey has grandiose ideas, (having awakened of a sudden) Turkey now shall be a leader
amongst the nations of the world… Turkey offers to be a mediator… Unbelieveable! After hundreds
of years – awakening?
6-A Turkey? Has a Turkey – historically – of all the nations on our planet- really and truly – earned the right to determine that Turkey now is eligible to be the arbiter between ‘unfriendly’ nations. Huh?
A Turkey who cannot abide with Turkey’s own alliances? Did Turkey get elected? Did Turkey win this assignment above other nations? Turkey thinks Turkey is deserving of this ‘office’… Such conceit is disgusting… Such actions being tolerated by the world is deplorable… and sad. Why?
If this be the case, I think I’ll run for this ‘office’ and am willing to submit my resume for approval.
Manooshag