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CLINTON'S VISIT TO GENOCIDE MONUMENT NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT
Harut Sassounian
Noyan Tapan
During her visit to Armenia on July 5, U.S. Secretary State
Hillary Clinton placed a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Monument at
Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan. Regrettably, however, the U.S. Embassy in
Armenia issued a press release describing the visit as "private." By
using such a characterization, U.S. officials were trying to preempt
any backlash from the Turkish government.
In my opinion, the State Department mishandled Secretary Clinton's
visit to the Armenian Genocide Monument. Here are the reasons why:
· There was no need to downplay the visit by characterizing it as
"private," since such visits are standard procedure for foreign
dignitaries visiting Armenia.
· Paying a visit to the Genocide Monument does not necessarily imply
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as all previous and current U.S.
Ambassadors have visited this site every April 24.
· Secretary Clinton's visit to the Genocide Monument could not have
been described as "private," since it was a part of her "official"
visit to Armenia.
· The characterization of the visit as "private" was contradicted
by the fact that the ribbons on the wreath she laid at the Genocide
Monument carried the inscription: "From Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton." · Clinton's visit the day before to the "Alley of
the Martyrs" in Baku was not described as "private," creating the
disturbing impression that U.S. interests in Azerbaijan's oil weigh
heavier than its humanitarian concerns for victims of genocide. ·
Another double standard was Clinton not allowing any Armenian
government officials to accompany her to the Genocide Monument in
Yerevan, while she was accompanied to the "Alley of Martyrs" in Baku
by a Deputy Minister of Azerbaijan! · Clinton permitted neither the
international press traveling with her nor the local Armenian media,
except Armenian Public TV, to report on her visit to the Genocide
Monument. Her action undermines her advocacy for media freedom. ·
There was no reason for Secretary Clinton to be coy about Genocide
recognition, since Pres. Reagan had acknowledged it in 1981, and the
U.S. House of Representatives had recognized it in 1975 and 1984.
Even though the State Department downgraded Secretary Clinton's visit
to the Monument, Armenian officials did their best to publicize
it as much as possible! This time they acted more decisively than
last May, when Mevlut Cavusoglu -- Turkish President of Council
of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly -- refused to visit the Genocide
Monument. They insisted that the Secretary add to her itinerary a stop
at the Genocide Monument. They then arranged for Armenian Public TV
and other TV stations to repeatedly air the video of Clinton's July
5 visit to the Monument.
In addition, the website of the State-owned Armenian Genocide Museum
prominently featured Clinton's visit by displaying photos of her
wreath with ribbons that carried a visible inscription of her name and
title, and an authentic medal issued by the American Near East Relief
Committee that Museum Director Hayk Demoyan presented her. Pointing
across the Turkish border, Demoyan told Secretary Clinton that Mount
Ararat is "a symbol of Armenia." In addition to explaining the basic
facts of the Armenian Genocide, Demoyan told her that the graves of
heroes fallen in Artsakh (Karabagh) were located near the Monument,
since Armenians consider that war to be a continuation of the Armenian
Genocide. The Secretary was also given a historical photo in which
Armenian children in the American orphanage of Alexandropol (Gumri)
were standing in formation that spelled out the words: "AMERICA,
WE THANK YOU."
Clinton's visit was both praised and criticized by Armenian-American
organizations. The Armenian National Committee of America took Clinton
to task for her "secret" visit to the Genocide Monument, while the
Armenian Assembly of America commended her for the visit. Former U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, told The California Courier that
"Clinton's visit was a small, but positive step forward." The last
Secretary of State to have visited Armenia was James Baker in 1992,
who did not, however, make a stop at the Genocide Monument.
In my view, Secretary Clinton should be commended for making such
a positive gesture, but also blamed for going to such lengths to
downplay her visit to the Genocide Monument. Why was she so concerned
about offending Turks who have brazenly undermined every major U.S.
foreign policy initiative in recent months?
Unfortunately, Secretary Clinton, Vice President Biden and Pres. Obama
have drifted far away from their campaign promises to recognize the
Armenian Genocide! Clinton's brief stop at the Genocide Monument on
July 5 is a welcome first step that fell short of her solemn commitment
to support recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
From: A. Papazian
Harut Sassounian
Noyan Tapan
During her visit to Armenia on July 5, U.S. Secretary State
Hillary Clinton placed a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Monument at
Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan. Regrettably, however, the U.S. Embassy in
Armenia issued a press release describing the visit as "private." By
using such a characterization, U.S. officials were trying to preempt
any backlash from the Turkish government.
In my opinion, the State Department mishandled Secretary Clinton's
visit to the Armenian Genocide Monument. Here are the reasons why:
· There was no need to downplay the visit by characterizing it as
"private," since such visits are standard procedure for foreign
dignitaries visiting Armenia.
· Paying a visit to the Genocide Monument does not necessarily imply
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as all previous and current U.S.
Ambassadors have visited this site every April 24.
· Secretary Clinton's visit to the Genocide Monument could not have
been described as "private," since it was a part of her "official"
visit to Armenia.
· The characterization of the visit as "private" was contradicted
by the fact that the ribbons on the wreath she laid at the Genocide
Monument carried the inscription: "From Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton." · Clinton's visit the day before to the "Alley of
the Martyrs" in Baku was not described as "private," creating the
disturbing impression that U.S. interests in Azerbaijan's oil weigh
heavier than its humanitarian concerns for victims of genocide. ·
Another double standard was Clinton not allowing any Armenian
government officials to accompany her to the Genocide Monument in
Yerevan, while she was accompanied to the "Alley of Martyrs" in Baku
by a Deputy Minister of Azerbaijan! · Clinton permitted neither the
international press traveling with her nor the local Armenian media,
except Armenian Public TV, to report on her visit to the Genocide
Monument. Her action undermines her advocacy for media freedom. ·
There was no reason for Secretary Clinton to be coy about Genocide
recognition, since Pres. Reagan had acknowledged it in 1981, and the
U.S. House of Representatives had recognized it in 1975 and 1984.
Even though the State Department downgraded Secretary Clinton's visit
to the Monument, Armenian officials did their best to publicize
it as much as possible! This time they acted more decisively than
last May, when Mevlut Cavusoglu -- Turkish President of Council
of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly -- refused to visit the Genocide
Monument. They insisted that the Secretary add to her itinerary a stop
at the Genocide Monument. They then arranged for Armenian Public TV
and other TV stations to repeatedly air the video of Clinton's July
5 visit to the Monument.
In addition, the website of the State-owned Armenian Genocide Museum
prominently featured Clinton's visit by displaying photos of her
wreath with ribbons that carried a visible inscription of her name and
title, and an authentic medal issued by the American Near East Relief
Committee that Museum Director Hayk Demoyan presented her. Pointing
across the Turkish border, Demoyan told Secretary Clinton that Mount
Ararat is "a symbol of Armenia." In addition to explaining the basic
facts of the Armenian Genocide, Demoyan told her that the graves of
heroes fallen in Artsakh (Karabagh) were located near the Monument,
since Armenians consider that war to be a continuation of the Armenian
Genocide. The Secretary was also given a historical photo in which
Armenian children in the American orphanage of Alexandropol (Gumri)
were standing in formation that spelled out the words: "AMERICA,
WE THANK YOU."
Clinton's visit was both praised and criticized by Armenian-American
organizations. The Armenian National Committee of America took Clinton
to task for her "secret" visit to the Genocide Monument, while the
Armenian Assembly of America commended her for the visit. Former U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, told The California Courier that
"Clinton's visit was a small, but positive step forward." The last
Secretary of State to have visited Armenia was James Baker in 1992,
who did not, however, make a stop at the Genocide Monument.
In my view, Secretary Clinton should be commended for making such
a positive gesture, but also blamed for going to such lengths to
downplay her visit to the Genocide Monument. Why was she so concerned
about offending Turks who have brazenly undermined every major U.S.
foreign policy initiative in recent months?
Unfortunately, Secretary Clinton, Vice President Biden and Pres. Obama
have drifted far away from their campaign promises to recognize the
Armenian Genocide! Clinton's brief stop at the Genocide Monument on
July 5 is a welcome first step that fell short of her solemn commitment
to support recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
From: A. Papazian