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ARDOUNY: ARMENIAN-AMERICANS WILL NOT REST UNTIL U.S. AFFIRMS GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 - 10:27 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama commemorated the victims
of the Armenian Genocide reiterating his position that his "views on
the Armenian Genocide have not changed." The President recalled the
"darkness of the Meds Yeghern."
While the President continued to incorporate his prior views in which
he squarely affirmed the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly) is deeply disappointed that his April 24 statement
did not explicitly reference the Genocide.
While President Obama encouraged and tried to provide a safe harbor
for Turks who have come forward in acknowledging Turkey's genocidal
legacy, the best safe harbor the President can provide is to reiterate
the United States' position as reflected in the 1951 filing before
the International Court of Justice, President Ronald Reagan's 1981
Proclamation, as well as the 1993 Federal Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia decision which found that U.S. policy recognizes
the Armenian Genocide, the Assembly said.
In a refutation of the assumptions in the February 2012 United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision in the Movsesian case,
the President stated: "As we reflect on the unspeakable suffering that
took place 97 years ago, we join millions who do the same across the
globe and here in America, where it is solemnly commemorated by our
states, institutions, communities, and families."
By doing so, the President has directly acknowledged the prerogative
of each state to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, of which 43
states are on record. It also supports the earlier opinion of the
Ninth Circuit Court December 2010 decision, which made reference to
President Obama's previous use of the word Meds Yeghern and indicated
that "'Meds Yeghern is the [Armenian] term for Armenian Genocide.'"
The President's statement also echoed his April 23 address at the
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum wherein he announced the
formation of the Atrocities Prevention Board: "Through our words and
our deeds, it is our obligation to keep the flame of memory of those
who perished burning bright and to ensure that such dark chapters of
history are never repeated."
The day before, President Obama underscored that "preventing mass
atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core
moral responsibility of the United States." Yet today's statement,
by employing the Armenian, and not English, term for the Armenian
Genocide, fails to live up to the President's repeated promises to
unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide. President Obama's April
24th statement reflects another missed opportunity to squarely confront
genocide denial, and needlessly weakens the laudable objectives of
the newly created Atrocities Prevention Board.
"The cause of genocide affirmation and prevention is a fundamental
issue for all of humanity," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "Only by squarely acknowledging the Armenian Genocide,
and confronting Turkey's denial, can the promise of the prevention
be realized and truly give meaning to the words never again."
"The Armenian-Americans will not rest until the United States stands
firmly with the community of righteous nations, wherein 20 countries
have affirmed the Armenian Genocide," concluded Ardouny.
From: Baghdasarian
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 - 10:27 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama commemorated the victims
of the Armenian Genocide reiterating his position that his "views on
the Armenian Genocide have not changed." The President recalled the
"darkness of the Meds Yeghern."
While the President continued to incorporate his prior views in which
he squarely affirmed the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly) is deeply disappointed that his April 24 statement
did not explicitly reference the Genocide.
While President Obama encouraged and tried to provide a safe harbor
for Turks who have come forward in acknowledging Turkey's genocidal
legacy, the best safe harbor the President can provide is to reiterate
the United States' position as reflected in the 1951 filing before
the International Court of Justice, President Ronald Reagan's 1981
Proclamation, as well as the 1993 Federal Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia decision which found that U.S. policy recognizes
the Armenian Genocide, the Assembly said.
In a refutation of the assumptions in the February 2012 United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision in the Movsesian case,
the President stated: "As we reflect on the unspeakable suffering that
took place 97 years ago, we join millions who do the same across the
globe and here in America, where it is solemnly commemorated by our
states, institutions, communities, and families."
By doing so, the President has directly acknowledged the prerogative
of each state to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, of which 43
states are on record. It also supports the earlier opinion of the
Ninth Circuit Court December 2010 decision, which made reference to
President Obama's previous use of the word Meds Yeghern and indicated
that "'Meds Yeghern is the [Armenian] term for Armenian Genocide.'"
The President's statement also echoed his April 23 address at the
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum wherein he announced the
formation of the Atrocities Prevention Board: "Through our words and
our deeds, it is our obligation to keep the flame of memory of those
who perished burning bright and to ensure that such dark chapters of
history are never repeated."
The day before, President Obama underscored that "preventing mass
atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core
moral responsibility of the United States." Yet today's statement,
by employing the Armenian, and not English, term for the Armenian
Genocide, fails to live up to the President's repeated promises to
unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide. President Obama's April
24th statement reflects another missed opportunity to squarely confront
genocide denial, and needlessly weakens the laudable objectives of
the newly created Atrocities Prevention Board.
"The cause of genocide affirmation and prevention is a fundamental
issue for all of humanity," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. "Only by squarely acknowledging the Armenian Genocide,
and confronting Turkey's denial, can the promise of the prevention
be realized and truly give meaning to the words never again."
"The Armenian-Americans will not rest until the United States stands
firmly with the community of righteous nations, wherein 20 countries
have affirmed the Armenian Genocide," concluded Ardouny.
From: Baghdasarian