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Clinton Keynotes At Genocide Deniers' Conference

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  • Clinton Keynotes At Genocide Deniers' Conference

    CLINTON KEYNOTES AT GENOCIDE DENIERS' CONFERENCE
    BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

    asbarez
    Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the keynote speaker Monday
    at the annual conference on U.S.-Turkey relations organized by the
    notorious Genocide denier group the American-Turkish Council.

    While the American-Turkish Council mainly promotes business relations
    between the two countries, it has taken a significant role in lobbying
    for the defeat of Armenian Genocide recognition efforts in Congress.

    In her remarks, Clinton not only extolled the virtues and importance
    of US-Turkey relations, but went on to welcome "Turkey's growing
    role in the region and on the world stage," after acknowledging that
    Turks and Americans alike have begun questioning the viability and
    durability of US-Turkish relations.

    Of course, she used the opportunity to once again discuss the
    importance of the State-Department engineered dangerous Armenia-Turkey
    protocols by urging Turkey to ratify the documents.

    "Improving relations between Turkey and Armenia would be a positive
    step, and we hope that the Turkish parliament will ratify the protocols
    during its current session and normalize ties with Armenia.

    These festering conflicts hold back progress and development in
    the region. Reducing tensions with neighbors, increasing stability,
    is a recipe for expanded growth and influence," she asserted.

    Emphasizing a similar message, Assistant Secretary for Bureau of
    European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon said the US continued to
    exert pressure for sides to ratify the protocols.

    The important aspect is not the message delivered but the message
    sent. Despite overtures to Armenia's leadership and claims that
    the Obama Administration has done more for Armenia than any other
    administration, the US staunchly and unequivocally remains a supporter
    of Turkish interests, including on the matter of Turkey's continued
    denial of the Armenian Genocide.

    [The sad reality of this equation is that the Armenian authorities have
    also bought into this charade with Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian
    constantly enumerating the number of meetings and phone calls he has
    had with Clinton and other US officials.]

    If she were such a staunch supporter of Genocide recognition,
    as both she and president Obama claimed during their presidential
    bids, to a point that she was compelled to make that now historic
    "personal" visit to Dzidzernagapert last year, she could have used
    the opportunity at the ATC conference to urge Turkey and the Turks
    to come to grips with their past and acknowledge history. She did
    take time to urge Turkey to protect minority rights, end corruption
    and ensure the freedom of press. It seems acknowledging the Genocide
    does not fall in the human rights agenda for Secretary Clinton.

    Since Clinton took office, she has not met with any Armenian
    organization. In 2009, she insisted on meeting with several Armenian
    organizations with the express aim of discussing-peddling-the
    Turkey-Armenia protocols. After rescheduling several times, the
    meeting was postponed due to a massive blizzard in Washington. Not
    only did that snow melt, but Washington has had two more winters since
    then. But, the meeting with the Armenian community is still on ice.

    This continued courtship of Turkey and bowing to pressure of
    organizations such as the ATC further demonstrates that the Obama
    Administration is very comfortable with the gag rule imposed by
    Turkey. She is right to point out that Turkey owes its economic
    prosperity to the US, but fails to mention that the dividends of that
    relationship dictate its actions and not the interests of US citizens.


    From: Baghdasarian
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