Tweet
WALL OF SILENCE
By Armen Manvellian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/10/2007
"History is not an unfinished novel, but a battle without end,"
Garegin Nejhdeh
The adoption of the US Congress Resolution 106 on Armenian Genocide
by the House Commission on Foreign Relations was indeed a historical
battle, and the victory belonged to us. Of course, it was only a short
episode of Armenians' fight for the recognition of the Genocide. The
first attempt to bring down the wall of silence concealing the truth
was made in 1964, when the World Congress of Churches became the
first international structure to condemn the Genocide of Armenians
officially.
A year after, in 1965, the government of Uruguay recognized the
Genocide and so tried to attract the world's attention to the
first greatest humanitarian disaster of the 20th century. Next
year the Council of Latin American States, by the initiative of the
representatives of Uruguay, joined the Convention on Condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide. These events were the first success of the
newly-formed Armenian lobbies.
The powerful Armenian institutions of the Diaspora, formed-up in
1960-70's started lobbyism in different parts of the world and made
possible the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the authorities of
Cyprus, Lebanon and Greece. 1987 was remarkable with the recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by the Europarliament. This
event was one of the most powerful blows against the wall. After
that, an unprecedented wave of recognition of the Genocide swept
over Europe. One by one, the authorities of Russia, Canada, Swede,
Switzerland, France, Italy, Australia, Vatican, Belgium, Slovakia,
Poland and the Netherlands condemned the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
2005 was remarkable with European Parliament's statement confirming
the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and the Law on Denying the
Armenian Genocide, passed by French parliamentarians.
The 30-year long run for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in mid
2000's ended up in a new period, when mere recognition and condemnation
of the Genocide became no longer sufficient. It became necessary to
start penal persecution of those who deny the Genocide. It became
necessary to convince the world public that the denial of the Armenian
Genocide is a crime itself, and in such circumstances the position
of the USA, the number 1 state of the world, is becoming crucial.
This was the hardest mission of Armenian lobby organizations, but the
success of October 10 showed that the struggle is not hopeless. Even
head of the Commission on Foreign Rleations Tom Lantos, who has Jewish
blood and has opposed the recognition of the Genocide for many times,
was among those who voted for the 106th resolution.
It is also remarkable that the Jewish organizations have also started
to change its stance. They do not support Turkey blindly any longer.
However, the wall of silence is broken, but it is still to early to
think of final victory, as Turkey shall continue its campaign against
the truth and try to persuade many states to conceal it.
By Armen Manvellian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/10/2007
"History is not an unfinished novel, but a battle without end,"
Garegin Nejhdeh
The adoption of the US Congress Resolution 106 on Armenian Genocide
by the House Commission on Foreign Relations was indeed a historical
battle, and the victory belonged to us. Of course, it was only a short
episode of Armenians' fight for the recognition of the Genocide. The
first attempt to bring down the wall of silence concealing the truth
was made in 1964, when the World Congress of Churches became the
first international structure to condemn the Genocide of Armenians
officially.
A year after, in 1965, the government of Uruguay recognized the
Genocide and so tried to attract the world's attention to the
first greatest humanitarian disaster of the 20th century. Next
year the Council of Latin American States, by the initiative of the
representatives of Uruguay, joined the Convention on Condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide. These events were the first success of the
newly-formed Armenian lobbies.
The powerful Armenian institutions of the Diaspora, formed-up in
1960-70's started lobbyism in different parts of the world and made
possible the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the authorities of
Cyprus, Lebanon and Greece. 1987 was remarkable with the recognition
and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by the Europarliament. This
event was one of the most powerful blows against the wall. After
that, an unprecedented wave of recognition of the Genocide swept
over Europe. One by one, the authorities of Russia, Canada, Swede,
Switzerland, France, Italy, Australia, Vatican, Belgium, Slovakia,
Poland and the Netherlands condemned the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
2005 was remarkable with European Parliament's statement confirming
the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and the Law on Denying the
Armenian Genocide, passed by French parliamentarians.
The 30-year long run for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in mid
2000's ended up in a new period, when mere recognition and condemnation
of the Genocide became no longer sufficient. It became necessary to
start penal persecution of those who deny the Genocide. It became
necessary to convince the world public that the denial of the Armenian
Genocide is a crime itself, and in such circumstances the position
of the USA, the number 1 state of the world, is becoming crucial.
This was the hardest mission of Armenian lobby organizations, but the
success of October 10 showed that the struggle is not hopeless. Even
head of the Commission on Foreign Rleations Tom Lantos, who has Jewish
blood and has opposed the recognition of the Genocide for many times,
was among those who voted for the 106th resolution.
It is also remarkable that the Jewish organizations have also started
to change its stance. They do not support Turkey blindly any longer.
However, the wall of silence is broken, but it is still to early to
think of final victory, as Turkey shall continue its campaign against
the truth and try to persuade many states to conceal it.