Massacre of Armenians was recognized by U.S. as crime against humanity
still toward the end of World War I
Almost no one believes that in 2015 Turkey may recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Its recognition would mean casting doubt on the very
existence of the Turkish Republic.
On the eve of the Remembrance Day of the Armenian Genocide victims,
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reiterated its support for convening
a joint historic commission between Armenia and Turkey to `resolve
differences over their shared history.' ADL also discouraged adoption
of any resolutions on the Armenian Genocide recognition in the US
Congress.
April 22, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net -
Glen S. Lewy, ADL national chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national
director, issued a statement, which partly encouraged the steps to
create an atmosphere in which Armenia would respond favorably to the
recent overtures of Turkey to convene a joint commission.
Once again Armenians witnessed disapproval of the term `genocide' by
the Jews, when speaking about the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915-1923. Most experts explain this approach by the
strategic relations between Turkey and Israel, but it is only a
superficial view. According to a number of historical sources, most of
the leaders of Young Turks, including founder of the modern Republic
of Turkey Kemal Ataturk, were Jews who converted to Islam. In fact, it
means that the Armenian genocide was unleashed by the Jews who are now
reluctant to equate the Genocide to the Holocaust. Meanwhile, it must
be admitted that as compared to the atrocities of 1915, the mass
murder of the Jews in continental Europe was less terrible, if this
determiner can ever be used in applying to mass slaughter of a people
by ethnicity and race. The state of Israel is simply reluctant to live
with the fact that another people, besides the Jews, can have been
subjected to unprecedented persecution in the Ottoman Empire. Only
when she accepts this, can there be discussed the possibility of the
Armenian Genocide recognition by Israel. However, it should also be
noted that, after all, the Jews and other national minorities
converted to Islam mainly through force of circumstances; most of them
were forced to do it. That is, by and large, this reason for rejection
of the Armenian Genocide by the Jews has not a leg to stand on. Maybe
it's all about the U.S. stance? Many, perhaps, have already forgotten
that still toward the end of the World War I the United States
recognized the massacre of Armenians as a crime against humanity. The
fact that Dr. Raphael Lemkin coined the term `genocide' can change
nothing. And the U.S. Congress adopted a resolution on recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in 1975. This notwithstanding, the activity of
the Diaspora is reduced to arranging meetings every year with the
requirement to once again recognize the Armenian Genocide. Perhaps
still in the 70s the Diaspora ought to have gone to the UN
International Court of Justice and demanded recognition and
compensation. Unfortunately, this was not done, and the fault entirely
lies with the Diaspora, since the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
had no legal right to bring any issue to the international court,
bypassing the federal government.
As for the joint commission of historians, it must be noted that it's
necessary to no one, especially to Turkey. Neither is there any need
to look up in the archive: everything related to the period of the
Young Turks is unquestionably either destroyed, or properly adjusted.
Let us not forget that the official language of the Ottoman Empire was
Osmanli written in Arabic script. In fact, the documents must be read,
translated into modern Turkish, then into English and other languages,
which means that it's a lingering and totally unproductive job.
And lastly, almost no one believes that in 2015 Turkey may recognize
the Armenian Genocide. To recognize would mean to cast doubt on the
very existence of the Turkish Republic. And it is what no Turkish
politician will ever do, whatever roots they may have.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News
From: A. Papazian
still toward the end of World War I
Almost no one believes that in 2015 Turkey may recognize the Armenian
Genocide. Its recognition would mean casting doubt on the very
existence of the Turkish Republic.
On the eve of the Remembrance Day of the Armenian Genocide victims,
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reiterated its support for convening
a joint historic commission between Armenia and Turkey to `resolve
differences over their shared history.' ADL also discouraged adoption
of any resolutions on the Armenian Genocide recognition in the US
Congress.
April 22, 2011
PanARMENIAN.Net -
Glen S. Lewy, ADL national chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national
director, issued a statement, which partly encouraged the steps to
create an atmosphere in which Armenia would respond favorably to the
recent overtures of Turkey to convene a joint commission.
Once again Armenians witnessed disapproval of the term `genocide' by
the Jews, when speaking about the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915-1923. Most experts explain this approach by the
strategic relations between Turkey and Israel, but it is only a
superficial view. According to a number of historical sources, most of
the leaders of Young Turks, including founder of the modern Republic
of Turkey Kemal Ataturk, were Jews who converted to Islam. In fact, it
means that the Armenian genocide was unleashed by the Jews who are now
reluctant to equate the Genocide to the Holocaust. Meanwhile, it must
be admitted that as compared to the atrocities of 1915, the mass
murder of the Jews in continental Europe was less terrible, if this
determiner can ever be used in applying to mass slaughter of a people
by ethnicity and race. The state of Israel is simply reluctant to live
with the fact that another people, besides the Jews, can have been
subjected to unprecedented persecution in the Ottoman Empire. Only
when she accepts this, can there be discussed the possibility of the
Armenian Genocide recognition by Israel. However, it should also be
noted that, after all, the Jews and other national minorities
converted to Islam mainly through force of circumstances; most of them
were forced to do it. That is, by and large, this reason for rejection
of the Armenian Genocide by the Jews has not a leg to stand on. Maybe
it's all about the U.S. stance? Many, perhaps, have already forgotten
that still toward the end of the World War I the United States
recognized the massacre of Armenians as a crime against humanity. The
fact that Dr. Raphael Lemkin coined the term `genocide' can change
nothing. And the U.S. Congress adopted a resolution on recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in 1975. This notwithstanding, the activity of
the Diaspora is reduced to arranging meetings every year with the
requirement to once again recognize the Armenian Genocide. Perhaps
still in the 70s the Diaspora ought to have gone to the UN
International Court of Justice and demanded recognition and
compensation. Unfortunately, this was not done, and the fault entirely
lies with the Diaspora, since the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
had no legal right to bring any issue to the international court,
bypassing the federal government.
As for the joint commission of historians, it must be noted that it's
necessary to no one, especially to Turkey. Neither is there any need
to look up in the archive: everything related to the period of the
Young Turks is unquestionably either destroyed, or properly adjusted.
Let us not forget that the official language of the Ottoman Empire was
Osmanli written in Arabic script. In fact, the documents must be read,
translated into modern Turkish, then into English and other languages,
which means that it's a lingering and totally unproductive job.
And lastly, almost no one believes that in 2015 Turkey may recognize
the Armenian Genocide. To recognize would mean to cast doubt on the
very existence of the Turkish Republic. And it is what no Turkish
politician will ever do, whatever roots they may have.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan / PanARMENIAN News
From: A. Papazian