Category: Armenian Question

Turkey dodged yet another bullet in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday when a resolution “recognizing” the Armenian “genocide” failed to reach the floor for a vote. Had Resolution 252 gone before legislators, it, in all likelihood, would have passed. That is exactly what the powerful Armenian-American lobby is determined to make happen. And that is a reality Ankara must either be prepared to accept or prevent by normalizing relations with Armenia.

There is no doubt that something horrible happened to over 1.5 million Armenians in eastern Anatolia in the spring of 1915. It is a vexed issue, fraught with intense emotion. Armenians and their sympathizers maintain that it was genocide. It is a charge the Turks deny.

Given that the Turkish government hasn’t made public archived material on the matter or been willing to debate the issue, it is difficult to defend them. The heart wrenching stories of Armenians who survived deportations, starvation and executions make it impossible to do so. There is an overdue need to access Ottoman archives where the world — and not one side — can make a more informed conclusion. That would upset any effort for a Congressional resolution. It would also be more in line with Ankara’s “zero problems” foreign policy.

Because Turkey is facing, according to its foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, “pressure to assume an important regional role,” the country has made it a priority to “carry out a careful foreign policy.” Open and good diplomatic relations with all of Turkey’s neighbors is its underpinning. While that has happened with Syria and Iran, it has not with Armenia. That must change.

In 2009, Turkey and Armenia had launched talks intended to normalize relations. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, along with the Swiss government, was actively involved. Among the things that were brokered was the inclusion of a clause that would have had historians examine the evidence from 1915. Unfortunately, the Turks scuttled the negotiations that otherwise would have been a remarkable step that could have avoided yesterday’s close call, and any other ones in the future.

Passionate Armenian-Americans have lobbied to label Ottoman actions as genocide for decades. Protected by the Pentagon, the National Security Council and the Israeli lobby, the Turks, NATO’s second most powerful members, have managed to avoid the Armenian question entirely. Since adopting a more activist approach to regional Middle Eastern affairs, which has included closer ties to Tehran and championing the end of Palestinian isolation in Gaza, Ankara is no longer shielded by anyone.

Without a strong ally on Capitol Hill, U.S.-Turkish relations have hit an all-time low. Resolution 252 has found the perfect moment to rear its head. There is little political capital to defend a country everyone inside the beltway considers “lost.” It is an issue that will most certainly resurface in the next Congressional session. It is unlikely to continue to come out in Turkey’s favor.

That the House resolution labels the Ottoman Empire’s actions “genocide” does not make it so. It is a point of semantics, in which there are no legal ramifications. It is nothing more than political pandering to a very effective ethnic lobby.

Still, it is a pandering that the U.S. and Turkey cannot afford. Much is at stake in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, where Turkey has lent Washington tremendous and reliable support; support Washington is keen to continue. Sadly, its policymakers are no longer in a position to rescue Turkey at the eleventh hour. Nor should Turkish policy makers want them to. Turkey’s new independent diplomacy puts the responsibility of tackling the Armenian question in its own hands.

To start the process, Turkey must normalize relations with Armenia, which have never been formally established. Though the two shared an open border when Armenia declared independence from the USSR in 1991, it was closed down in 1993 over a border dispute Armenia has with its other Turkic neighbor, Azerbaijan. Turkish-Armenian reconciliation must include the examination of historical records of 1915. Armenians and Turks deserve to know the truth about the events that took place at that time.

Armenians are eager to reconcile with the Turks. The BBC reports “most people in Armenia feel their landlocked country has been too isolated since the Turkish border closed and are ready for it to reopen.” Armenia, which continues to suffer from the legacy of the Soviet planned economy, has remained “underdeveloped.” Yerevan wants to do business with its economically powerful Turkish neighbor, its only real link to the West. Many deals are already underway. Flights between the two countries are packed with businessmen signing agreements to trade and collaborate.

Turkey was able to avoid a relationship with Armenia and the Armenian question for years. Armed with a bold, new foreign policy, a strong economy and an Armenian neighbor ready to engage, Turkey has what it needs not only to permanently frustrate Armenian-American efforts for a “genocide” resolution, but, more importantly, to set the truth about 1915 straight. Nothing could prove Turkey’s capacity for true global and mature leadership more.

via Elmira Bayrasli: Turkey’s Answer to the Armenian Question.

House Democratic Leadership Blocks Bipartisan Majority from Voting on Genocide-Prevention Measure

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House Democratic Leadership failed today to schedule a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H,Res.252, despite support for this human rights measure from a broad bipartisan majority, killing the prospects for the passage of this legislation during this session of Congress, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian issued the following statement in response to U.S. House Democratic Leadership’s decision:

“Armenian Americans are angered and disappointed by the failure of Speaker Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership to honor their commitment to allow a bipartisan majority to vote for passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution.”

“Speaker Pelosi clearly had the majority, the authority, and the opportunity to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution, yet refused to allow a vote on this human rights measure.”

“The Speaker chose not to move forward, in the face of broad bipartisan backing for this human rights measure, including from the current House leadership and the incoming Majority Leader and Majority Whip, and despite both the relatively muted opposition from the White House, and the fact that Turkey’s effectiveness in opposing its adoption was seriously undermined by controversial policies on the part of Ankara toward Iran, Israel, and Sudan that have angered lawmakers.”

“Her decision to not move this legislation forward during her four years as Speaker represents a failure of Congressional leadership on human rights and, sadly, a setback to America’s standing in the struggle to end the cycle of genocide.”

“Coming in the wake of President Obama’s string of broken promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Speaker Pelosi’s refusal to schedule a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution represents a major breach of trust with Armenian American voters.”

“Although sharply disappointed by the Speaker’s unwillingness to schedule a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, we were, throughout this session of Congress, tremendously encouraged by the scope and depth of support for the Armenian Genocide Resolution, not only from a bipartisan majority of Congress but also from a growing cross-section of American civil society. We look forward to building on our progress and to continuing the work of the Armenian American community for a strong U.S. moral stand on the Armenian Genocide, an end to Turkey’s campaign of denial, and a truthful and just resolution of this still unpunished crime against the Armenian nation.”

The ANCA also urged Armenian-Americans to send ANCA WbMail to Speaker Pelosi, telling her wheat they think about her decision to block a bipartisan majority from voting to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution.  Send a Free ANCA WebMail by clicking here

–Tasnak (ARF) yayin organlari Pelosi’ye ve AAA ‘ya ates puskuruyor
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN

Outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi showed her true colors on Wednesday by refusing to schedule a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. For four years, as Speaker, she patronized the Armenian-American community and failed to honor her promise and articulated pledge to recognize the Genocide, becoming a pawn of the Turkish denialist movement.

By blocking the bill from a vote, the Democratic leadership of the House also demonstrated its inability to lead and take action on an issue, which is not merely a campaign pledge, but a matter of justice and human rights.

Effectively, they have become accomplices in the ongoing Turkish campaign of lies and historical revisionism.

The patience of the Armenian-American community has run out. Wednesday’s events will have dire consequences, the ramifications of which will be seen at local district offices of members of Congress and eventually at the polling booth.

By placating the Armenian community, these so-called leaders have garnered votes and enjoyed a long tenure as legislators. They have amassed power in a veiled attempt to act as true representatives of the people and their constituents. And, time and again, the community has applauded and thanked their efforts to advocate on behalf of our community.

That is why, their actions on Wednesday amount to a belligerent betrayal of their constituents for which they will have to answer.

Perhaps praise is due to those individuals who marshaled this effort to ensure that the 111th Congress will go down in history as the one that set the record straight on the Armenian Genocide.

This recent attempt at advancing the resolution mobilized an entire community to stand up and demand justice. One thing is certain: the community will remain standing and raise its voice louder and will send a clear message to those who underestimated the power of the community.

The vast majority of the Armenian-American community—led by the Armenian National Committee of America—was engaged in articulating its aspirations to Congressional members and leaders. Their unwavering commitment and will to advance the Armenian Cause must be recognized, praised and applauded.

The entity that does not deserve applause or praise is—once again—the Armenian Assembly of America, whose leaders were quoted in an RFE/RL news report Wednesday as opposing the Genocide Resolution.

Their cowardice was framed as such: “nobody wants to take a loss in a floor vote in these circumstances. The genocide denial industry would like nothing better than defeating the resolution, even in an unfair vote.” Furthermore, when Pelosi refused to schedule a vote, the Assembly responded by saying: “we also particularly commend the steadfast leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi…who… provided guidance and invaluable assistance throughout this process.”

As always, the Assembly spent the majority of the last two years kowtowing to the State Department and its interests and, in the last minute, is jockeying to become the representative of the Armenian community. It is time for the community to see the Assembly for the duplicitous organization that it is and call them out on their hypocrisy.

No one needs a reminder of the Assembly’s stance last year on the ill-fated protocols, which endangered the very security of the Armenian nation.

The grassroots effort that gathered momentum in the last few weeks in favor of an Armenian Genocide Resolution must shift its focus toward clearly articulating to law makers the community’s utter disappointment in their inability to deliver on their promises and their blatant refusal to advance justice.

The Genocide recognition campaign has now entered a new phase. We must ask ourselves whether there are other ways to leverage the US Congress to advance the just demands of the Armenian people for recognition, reparations and retribution from the Turkish government.

For now, however, the Armenian-American community can proudly declare that it fought the good fight as Pelosi and the rest of the Democratic leadership return to their districts in shame to face the music.

Turkish activists launched a new campaign to prevent the international recognition of so called Armenian Genocide. Haber7.com reported that Organization for Fighting Against Armenian Allegations (ASIMED) and youth initiative group of Ataturk University founded a web site in five languages (English, French, German, Arabic and Turkish), which will publish materials rejecting Armenian lies regarding 1915 incidents in Ottoman Empire.

Head of ASIMED, Savas Egilmez stated that the website will scan the international news agencies and the reaction of Turkish people will be reflected through the website.

32 students is working for the website which began its publications on December 2.

The web site can be visited at www.therealhistory.org