During her visit to Armenia on July 5, U.S. Secretary State Hillary Clinton placed a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Monument at Dzidzernagapert in Yerevan. Regrettably, however, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia issued a press release describing the visit as “private.” By using such a characterization, U.S. officials were trying to preempt any backlash from the Turkish government.
In my opinion, the State Department mishandled Clinton’s visit to the Armenian Genocide Monument. Here are the reasons why:
There was no need to downplay the visit by characterizing it as “private,” since such visits are standard procedure for foreign dignitaries visiting Armenia.
Paying a visit to the Genocide Monument does not necessarily imply recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as all previous and current U.S. ambassadors have visited this site every April 24.
Clinton’s visit to the Genocide Monument could not have been described as “private,” since it was a part of her “official” visit to Armenia.
The characterization of the visit as “private” was contradicted by the fact that the ribbons on the wreath she laid at the Genocide Monument carried the inscription: “From Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.”
Clinton’s visit the day before to the “Alley of the Martyrs” in Baku was not described as “private,” creating the disturbing impression that U.S. interests in Azerbaijan’s oil weigh heavier than its humanitarian concerns for victims of genocide.
Another double standard was Clinton not allowing any Armenian government officials to accompany her to the Genocide Monument in Yerevan, while she was accompanied to the “Alley of Martyrs” in Baku by a deputy minister of Azerbaijan!
Clinton permitted neither the international press traveling with her nor the local Armenian media, except Armenian Public TV, to report on her visit to the Genocide Monument. Her action undermines her advocacy for media freedom.
There was no reason for Clinton to be coy about genocide recognition, since President Ronald Reagan had acknowledged it in 1981, and the U.S. House of Representatives had recognized it in 1975 and 1984.
Even though the State Department downgraded Clinton’s visit to the Genocide Monument, Armenian officials did their best to publicize it as much as possible. This time they acted more decisively than last May, when Mevlut Cavusoglu—the Turkish president of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly—refused to visit the Genocide Monument. They insisted that the Secretary add to her itinerary a stop at the Genocide Monument. They then arranged for Armenian Public TV and other TV stations to repeatedly air the video of Clinton’s July 5 visit to the monument.
In addition, the website of the state-owned Armenian Genocide Museum prominently featured Clinton’s visit by displaying photos of her wreath with ribbons that carried a visible inscription of her name and title, and an authentic medal issued by the American Near East Relief Committee that museum director Hayk Demoyan presented her. Pointing across the Turkish border, Demoyan told Clinton that Mount Ararat is “a symbol of Armenia.” In addition to explaining the basic facts of the Armenian Genocide, Demoyan told her that the graves of heroes fallen in Artsakh (Karabagh) were located near the monument, since Armenians consider that war to be a continuation of the Armenian Genocide. The Secretary was also given a historical photo in which Armenian children in the American orphanage of Alexandropol (Gyumri) were standing in formation that spelled out the words: “AMERICA, WE THANK YOU.”
Clinton’s visit was both praised and criticized by Armenian American organizations. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) took Clinton to task for her “secret” visit to the Genocide Monument, while the Armenian Assembly of America commended her for the visit. Former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans told the California Courier that “Clinton’s visit was a small, but positive step forward.” The last Secretary of State to have visited Armenia was James Baker in 1992, who did not make a stop at the Genocide Monument.
In my view, Secretary Clinton should be commended for making such a positive gesture, but also blamed for going to such lengths to downplay her visit to the Genocide Monument. Why was she so concerned about offending Turks who have brazenly undermined every major U.S. foreign policy initiative in recent months?
Unfortunately, Clinton, Vice President Biden, and President Obama have drifted far away from their campaign promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Clinton’s brief stop at the Genocide Monument on July 5 is a welcome first step that fell short of her solemn commitment to support recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Harut Sassounian
The place that I would really like to see Hillary Clinton and Obama go to is Der Zor in the Syrian desert.
They could sift the powdered bones of a million Armenians through their dirty hands, and visit the caves where Armenian children were burned to death while the Turks had a jolly time. Obama and Hillary should then fall to their knees and beg forgiveness from those who are in heaven, which they will not get until they change their policies.
Come to think of it, the other hypocrite, Bill Clinton, should join them.
It is absolutely disgusting to see such acts on behalf of the officials of the democratic country and powerful government such as USA. Clinton put up another circus act by going to the MOnument yet blocking any media coverage… if it was such a horrible thing to do… did she do that to keep her boss happy .. or did she do that to keep Turks happy??? I am sure she did it for both reasons… the question as to why will remain as taboo as the stance our American officials take when it comes to Genocide..it is saddening…
and I agree with Jen… all those who deny or downplay the Genocide memory should be taken to Der Zor and be left there for few days to truly understand what it means to kill millions in cold blood and maybe their spirits will wake them up from their greedy, lying, cheating and denying selves…
I am embarassed to call myself an American citizen…
Gayane
It’s about time for the goverment of Armenia to not recognize Mrs Clinton. It’s because of her that Armenia must await the results of some so called study of some so called genocide committee.
Mrs Clinton has been looking the other way ever since she got married. Does anyone expect her to change?
Why just Hillary? Lets invite them all to Armenia, her husband(?), the Bushes, and especially that two-timing president we have, and to Der Zor also. Pay their way if necessary. Feed ’em and fete ’em. Why has Armenia been free for close to 20 years and we haven’t gotten them to do this sooner??
God bless you, Jean. Let those who look the other way; let those who doubt, let alone deny the Great Genocide, get a small taste of what came to those innocent Armenians … just a small taste, and let them burn in hell, forever.
Are we really surprised? Azerbaijan and Turkey butter her bread and she throws us the crumbs. She is used to compromising her moral ground for political expediency, even in her marriage. Nothing new here. Disheartening nonetheless. Now how do we spin this to our advantage?
So… should she not have gone to Dzidzernagapert? Then people would have bashed her for that as well, a lot more harshly. She didn’t have to go at all, no one forced her to go. Given her position and the official position of her government on the Genocide, she probably shouldn’t have gone. But she made the time to visit the memorial because she knew it was the right thing to do (although her government officially doesn’t, and that’s a separate issue), and she clearly wanted to pay her personal respects to the 1.5 million Armenian lives lost. She should be commended, not condemned. Let’s cut her some slack.
So now we commend our public officials for wearing divergent public and private faces? I see your point Chris, but is it really wrong to ask our public officials to simply be honest?
When the current President of The United States follows the same line as to the complete commitment to Israel knowing full well he upsets Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Turkey and Jordan, then why can’t he bring himself to comment on where he stands when it comes to Armenia? Armenia supports the coalition fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We Armenians may be few” but it would be wise to never underestimate us. Our memories are long and we won’t lower ourselves to buy our friends.
Chris i will cut her some slack when she SHOWS HER FACE not privately but PUBLICLY when she visits the Monument that reminds us and represents the memories of our ancestors who were killed in cold blood…the Monument that represents the 1.5 million Armenians who faced the Genocide.. her little political game does not show me any promise from her side….
Until she stands on the side of the TRUTH and DECENCY.. i will not cut her some slack.. that is jst my stand on this matter.. wrong or right…too harsh or not.