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PRESIDENTIAL "CONCERNS" OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Marina Ananikyan
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 - 19:52 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Another April 24 has passed by. On this day Armenians
worldwide honor the memory of Armenian Genocide victims. As expected,
this year, too, U.S. President Barack Obama proved unwilling and
perhaps unable to pronounce the word "genocide" in his annual April 24
address, confining himself to using the Armenian term "Meds Yeghern."
Like previous years, Obama's statement sparked criticism of Armenians,
particularly that of the Armenian American community, that once again
reminded the U.S. President of his pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide given during his presidential election campaign.
Commenting on American President's address on Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Day, head of Armenian Cause Office Kiro Manoyan noted
that the Armenian community might not back Obama's candidacy during
the oncoming presidential elections.
Nevertheless, the U.S. President's attempts not to offend Turkey
failed.
Turkey's "upset" Foreign Minister slammed Obama's statement claiming
it reflected the Armenian stance on Genocide issue.
Ahmet Davutoglu described Obama's remarks as "biased" and a distortion
of "historical facts."
Thus, Obama's wish to kill two birds with one stone once again failed.
This time, expectation for the U.S. President's statement was seasoned
with the French sauce. On April 23, a message was issued on forthcoming
participation of both presidential candidates of France - Francois
Hollande and current President Nicolas Sarkozy in Armenian Genocide
commemorative ceremony.
In contrast to his rival Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy was to partake
in such an event for the first time in his term of office, thus
converting the surroundings of Memorial to Komitas and victims of
Armenian Genocide in Paris into election ring on the threshold of
the second round of presidential elections due May 6. Though the
candidates didn't meet one another at the venue, they seized the
moment to reiterate their pledges to adopt a bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial. Moreover, Sarkozy promised that the new
text of the bill will be submitted already in June.
This was followed by the Turkish Foreign Minister's criticizing both
candidates for "speculation of history to pursue political goals".
Time will show whether the French Armenian community and the Armenians
worldwide will succeed in testing how Sarkozy will keep his promise
this time. According to certain sources, Armenians in France incline
to vote for the current French President.
Recently it has become a kind, or, rather, a sad tradition for several
candidates to win the heart of the Armenian community through various
pledges, that get erased from their memories as soon as they come
to power.
Marina Ananikyan
PanARMENIAN.Net
April 25, 2012 - 19:52 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Another April 24 has passed by. On this day Armenians
worldwide honor the memory of Armenian Genocide victims. As expected,
this year, too, U.S. President Barack Obama proved unwilling and
perhaps unable to pronounce the word "genocide" in his annual April 24
address, confining himself to using the Armenian term "Meds Yeghern."
Like previous years, Obama's statement sparked criticism of Armenians,
particularly that of the Armenian American community, that once again
reminded the U.S. President of his pledge to recognize the Armenian
Genocide given during his presidential election campaign.
Commenting on American President's address on Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Day, head of Armenian Cause Office Kiro Manoyan noted
that the Armenian community might not back Obama's candidacy during
the oncoming presidential elections.
Nevertheless, the U.S. President's attempts not to offend Turkey
failed.
Turkey's "upset" Foreign Minister slammed Obama's statement claiming
it reflected the Armenian stance on Genocide issue.
Ahmet Davutoglu described Obama's remarks as "biased" and a distortion
of "historical facts."
Thus, Obama's wish to kill two birds with one stone once again failed.
This time, expectation for the U.S. President's statement was seasoned
with the French sauce. On April 23, a message was issued on forthcoming
participation of both presidential candidates of France - Francois
Hollande and current President Nicolas Sarkozy in Armenian Genocide
commemorative ceremony.
In contrast to his rival Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy was to partake
in such an event for the first time in his term of office, thus
converting the surroundings of Memorial to Komitas and victims of
Armenian Genocide in Paris into election ring on the threshold of
the second round of presidential elections due May 6. Though the
candidates didn't meet one another at the venue, they seized the
moment to reiterate their pledges to adopt a bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial. Moreover, Sarkozy promised that the new
text of the bill will be submitted already in June.
This was followed by the Turkish Foreign Minister's criticizing both
candidates for "speculation of history to pursue political goals".
Time will show whether the French Armenian community and the Armenians
worldwide will succeed in testing how Sarkozy will keep his promise
this time. According to certain sources, Armenians in France incline
to vote for the current French President.
Recently it has become a kind, or, rather, a sad tradition for several
candidates to win the heart of the Armenian community through various
pledges, that get erased from their memories as soon as they come
to power.