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HARUT SASSOUNIAN REVEALS REAL JOHN KERRY
13:01, 6 February, 2013
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: California Courier publisher
and editor Harut Sassounian noted American Armenian community is
disappointed by some statements delivered by Sen. Kerry. Armenpress
represents the article completely.
" Some weeks ago, when Sen. John Kerry's name was first mentioned as a
possible successor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, I cautioned
Armenians not to get overly excited just because "a good friend"
of the Armenian community could assume such an influential post.
Unfortunately, it did not take long to discover that my words of
caution were fully justified. Despite his 30-year-record of support for
Armenian issues, Sen. Kerry proved last week, right before assuming
his new position, that even such a close "friend" could reverse his
long-held views, disappointing the Armenian-American community.
Regrettably, Sen. Kerry turned out to be no different than Pres.
Obama, Vice President Biden, and former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton. As US Senators and presidential candidates, they all made
lavish promises in seeking the backing of Armenian-American voters,
and completely ignored them after assuming office.
While some may argue that Armenians should only blame themselves
for trusting dishonest politicians, I believe all voters have the
right to expect elected officials to keep their promises. Otherwise,
lying to the public becomes an acceptable practice with no prospect
of replacing deceitful officials with honest ones.
Sen. Kerry experienced an overnight transformation last week, when
for the first time in his political career, he shied away from using
the term "Armenian Genocide." In the past, Sen. Kerry had strongly
criticized Presidents and Secretaries of State for not acknowledging
the Armenian Genocide. Ironically, he now refuses to practice what
he preached for so many years!
Sen. Kerry proved that he is not the man he used to be, when responding
to written questions on Armenian issues submitted by Senators Robert
Menendez (Dem.-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (Dem.-CA), after his confirmation
hearing in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
When asked for his views on the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Kerry
shamefully repeated the euphemisms used by Pres. Obama in his annual
April 24 statements. The nominee for Secretary of State, after using
the term "Armenian Genocide" throughout his long Senate career, all
of sudden shied away from that term and employed every other word in
the English dictionary, except genocide. This is what he stated:
"The U.S. government clearly acknowledges and mourns as historical
fact that 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their
deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. These events resulted
in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, and the United
States recognizes that they remain a great source of pain for the
people of Armenia and of Armenian descent as they do for all of us
who share basic universal values. The President honors the victims
every April 24th on Remembrance Day, so that we never forget this
dark chapter in history."
In a follow-up question reminding him of his own sponsorship for
legislation to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Kerry ducked
the issue by insisting that he would "represent the policies of the
President and Administration faithfully."
Sen. Kerry's response to questions on the Armenian-Turkish Protocols
were just as disappointing. He insisted that he would continue to
support the failed efforts of Pres. Obama and Secretary of State
Clinton, pressuring Armenia and Turkey to ratify the Protocols. Four
years ago, in a private meeting, I explained to Sen. Kerry,
then chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, why the
Armenia-Turkey Protocols were doomed to failure and were contrary
to Armenia's national interests. Back then, the Senator seemed to
find my arguments convincing. He has now reverted to supporting the
Obama administration's position on the Protocols which Turkey, under
pressure from Azerbaijan, has fortunately refusing to ratify.
In response to another written question, Sen. Kerry indicated that
he might be willing to meet with the leadership of Armenian-American
organizations, something Secretary Clinton and Pres. Obama have
refused to do in the last four years. Such a meeting would provide the
opportunity to explain to Secretary Kerry why the Obama administration
is wasting its time trying to push Turkey to ratify the Protocols.
Turkish leaders have made it clear that they would not finalize the
Protocols, unless Armenians make territorial concessions to Azerbaijan
on Artsakh.
While Armenian-Americans may not be pleased with Sen. Kerry's sudden
change of heart on Armenian issues, regardless of the reasons, they
have no choice but to meet and work with the Secretary of State who
is in office today. Armenians' only wish is that periodically they
will be able to interact with the REAL John Kerry whom they knew and
loved for the past 30 years.
From: Baghdasarian
13:01, 6 February, 2013
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS: California Courier publisher
and editor Harut Sassounian noted American Armenian community is
disappointed by some statements delivered by Sen. Kerry. Armenpress
represents the article completely.
" Some weeks ago, when Sen. John Kerry's name was first mentioned as a
possible successor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, I cautioned
Armenians not to get overly excited just because "a good friend"
of the Armenian community could assume such an influential post.
Unfortunately, it did not take long to discover that my words of
caution were fully justified. Despite his 30-year-record of support for
Armenian issues, Sen. Kerry proved last week, right before assuming
his new position, that even such a close "friend" could reverse his
long-held views, disappointing the Armenian-American community.
Regrettably, Sen. Kerry turned out to be no different than Pres.
Obama, Vice President Biden, and former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton. As US Senators and presidential candidates, they all made
lavish promises in seeking the backing of Armenian-American voters,
and completely ignored them after assuming office.
While some may argue that Armenians should only blame themselves
for trusting dishonest politicians, I believe all voters have the
right to expect elected officials to keep their promises. Otherwise,
lying to the public becomes an acceptable practice with no prospect
of replacing deceitful officials with honest ones.
Sen. Kerry experienced an overnight transformation last week, when
for the first time in his political career, he shied away from using
the term "Armenian Genocide." In the past, Sen. Kerry had strongly
criticized Presidents and Secretaries of State for not acknowledging
the Armenian Genocide. Ironically, he now refuses to practice what
he preached for so many years!
Sen. Kerry proved that he is not the man he used to be, when responding
to written questions on Armenian issues submitted by Senators Robert
Menendez (Dem.-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (Dem.-CA), after his confirmation
hearing in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
When asked for his views on the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Kerry
shamefully repeated the euphemisms used by Pres. Obama in his annual
April 24 statements. The nominee for Secretary of State, after using
the term "Armenian Genocide" throughout his long Senate career, all
of sudden shied away from that term and employed every other word in
the English dictionary, except genocide. This is what he stated:
"The U.S. government clearly acknowledges and mourns as historical
fact that 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their
deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. These events resulted
in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century, and the United
States recognizes that they remain a great source of pain for the
people of Armenia and of Armenian descent as they do for all of us
who share basic universal values. The President honors the victims
every April 24th on Remembrance Day, so that we never forget this
dark chapter in history."
In a follow-up question reminding him of his own sponsorship for
legislation to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, Sen. Kerry ducked
the issue by insisting that he would "represent the policies of the
President and Administration faithfully."
Sen. Kerry's response to questions on the Armenian-Turkish Protocols
were just as disappointing. He insisted that he would continue to
support the failed efforts of Pres. Obama and Secretary of State
Clinton, pressuring Armenia and Turkey to ratify the Protocols. Four
years ago, in a private meeting, I explained to Sen. Kerry,
then chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, why the
Armenia-Turkey Protocols were doomed to failure and were contrary
to Armenia's national interests. Back then, the Senator seemed to
find my arguments convincing. He has now reverted to supporting the
Obama administration's position on the Protocols which Turkey, under
pressure from Azerbaijan, has fortunately refusing to ratify.
In response to another written question, Sen. Kerry indicated that
he might be willing to meet with the leadership of Armenian-American
organizations, something Secretary Clinton and Pres. Obama have
refused to do in the last four years. Such a meeting would provide the
opportunity to explain to Secretary Kerry why the Obama administration
is wasting its time trying to push Turkey to ratify the Protocols.
Turkish leaders have made it clear that they would not finalize the
Protocols, unless Armenians make territorial concessions to Azerbaijan
on Artsakh.
While Armenian-Americans may not be pleased with Sen. Kerry's sudden
change of heart on Armenian issues, regardless of the reasons, they
have no choice but to meet and work with the Secretary of State who
is in office today. Armenians' only wish is that periodically they
will be able to interact with the REAL John Kerry whom they knew and
loved for the past 30 years.
From: Baghdasarian