ACA disappointed over Barack Obama’s annual statement on Armenian GenocideApril 25, 2010 - 00:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - On April 24th, the Armenian Council of America (ACA) and the Armenian American community received, with great disappointment, United States President Barack Obama’s annual statement on the Armenian Genocide. Although the President has gone further than previous U.S. Presidents in recent history and continuously states his “personal views have not changed,” the President, yet again has reneged on his pledge to clearly and precisely characterize the actions by the Turkish Ottoman Empire against their own ethnic Armenian citizens ninety five years ago as Genocide. While Senator and presidential candidate, Barack Obama pledged "As President I will recognize the Armenian Genocide." Now President Obama avoided his commitment to utilize the word Genocide and instead characterized the historical reality as "one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century" and "the terrible events of 1915" yet again. While the Armenian Council of American is grateful that the President sees it “in all of our interest to see the achievement a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts,” recently, the Turkish government has used the signing of the Protocols as a pretense of harmony and good-will towards Armenia and a tool against genocide recognition. It is vital that the President and his advisors realize that Turkish-Armenian relations can never be normalized without Turkey coming to terms of what occurred to the 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire which constitutes Genocide. “It is truly regrettable that President Obama has yet again faltered on acknowledging historical truth by its rightful name, Armenians throughout the world, along with Turkish citizens struggling to change the propagated Turkish revisionist history, would obtain moral support in their endeavor if the President candidly spoke of the Armenian Genocide as genocide,” stated Sevak Khatchadourian, ACA board member. “Historical truth that is the Armenian Genocide can never be put into question, the lack of undoubtedly identifying it as such caused great disappointment victims of genocides and advocates of humanity throughout the world,” ACA statement said. The Armenian Genocide The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. For the first time, Armenia votes in favor of Georgia resolution in UN Armenia on Tuesday, June 4 voted for the first time in favor a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Moscow warns Armenia against leaving Russian-led defense bloc Armenia could ruin its military ties with Russia if it continues drifting towards the West, according to a senior official in Moscow. |