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ARE WE READY?
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, EDITORIAL | APRIL 19, 2013 1:05 PM
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/04/19/are-we-ready/ By Edmond
Y. Azadian
The centennial of the Armenian Genocide is around the corner. Only
two years are left to prepare a commemoration commensurate with the
magnitude of that colossal tragedy, which not only cost 1.5 million
lives, but also a 3000-year-old homeland. Assimilated generations of
Armenians, or masses alienated from their roots must be added in the
loss ledge of the martyrs.
Once in a while we come across some Armenian media statements to the
effect of a tsunami in 2015, which will scare the Turks and turn a
new page in our struggle to promote the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Yes, indeed, there are some preparations in Armenia
and we learn about the centennial commemoration committees being
formed in many communities throughout the Diaspora. However, no major
earth-shaking event seems to be in the offing. It would be a shame if
the centennial commemoration also turns out to be a run-of-the-mill
program, akin to those which we organize every year in Armenia and
in active Armenian communities around the globe. Any impressive
commemorative event will take more than two years to organize.
There seem to be no major undertakings to celebrate the survival of
the Armenian people by gathering world-class artists and celebrities of
Armenian extraction in an impressive venue in New York, Paris, Moscow
or Yerevan. That certainly would entail tremendous resources, which
no benefactor, foundation or organization seems ready to undertake,
let alone initiate.
Monuments have been erected in many capitals of the world, sometimes
compromising the location, depending on the clout of the respective
Armenian community.
The most impressive and eloquent monument would have been the Genocide
Museum at the heart of our nation's capital. In addition to its
symbolism, the museum by itself could make a political statement. It
is almost tragic that two years shy of the centennial, the museum is
still a hostage to the dispute of opposing parties. One is certainly
justified to begin to believe that the project is already a victim
of a political conspiracy. The government of Turkey would have given
an arm and a leg to have the museum disappear from that conspicuous
location in Washington, DC. But that wish thus far is being offered
for free by internecine warfare.
One area where we have recorded strides is the academic sphere and that
is where the battle is shaping up between victims of the Genocide
and the descendants of the perpetrators. One hundred and twenty
world-renowned genocide scholars have signed a powerful statement
in the New York Times, leaving no room for any rebuttal. However,
the Turkish government is buying corrupt scholars to promote their
line of denial.
In the production of academic volumes, the Armenian case has enjoyed
the support of world-class non-Armenian scholars otherwise the dispute
would have been reduced to the level of he said-she said, which still
remains the goal of Turkish authorities.
Yet one phenomenal development is that respected Turkish scholars
have also joined the fray.
>>From time to time, Turkish leaders float trial balloons to dupe
the international media. They propose to form a joint committee of
scholars to "research both sides of the argument," while there is no
other side in this case. It is unthinkable in any other context. For
example, no one has proposed to form scholarly committees to study
"conflicting" views on the Jewish Holocaust.
While Turkish authorities propose the formation of joint committees,
they already know the conclusion; indeed, Prime Minister Erdogan,
on the one hand proposes the idea of the joint committee, yet in the
same breath, he emphatically declares that there has never been a
genocide in Turkish or Ottoman history.
Fortunately thus far, there have been no takers of that offer from
the Armenian side - neither the Armenian government nor any party in
the Diaspora.
But the growing clout of Turkey on the international political scene
has been influencing government positions in countries where Armenian
lobbying groups have been active. President Obama has retreated on
his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide; his annual April 24
statements are testimony to that cowardice.
Many Armenians who believed in President Obama's moral fabric,
have come to the realization that like his advisor, Samantha Power,
and other statesmen, he is caught in the gears of political power
to forgo morality. No Armenian still entertains any hope that he
will come up with a statement using the word genocide this year,
next year or in 2015.
The dramatic 40-percent drop in US aid to a starving Armenia is an
indirect contribution to the Turkish-Azeri efforts to squeeze Armenia
out of existence.
Adding insult to injury, the president has kept parity in military aid
to Armenia and Azerbaijan, bypassing again Article 9 of the Freedom
Support Act, to deny Azerbaijan any military assistance in view of
the Baku government's belligerence.
Unfortunately, we have also retreated in France despite the valiant
campaign of the French-Armenian community. President Francois Hollande
had promised to pass the resolution in the French Parliament crafting
iron-tight legal language to withstand the Supreme Court arguments.
After some reassurances, his foreign minister has quietly dropped the
case, arguing that the Supreme Court had already issued its verdict.
Our strategic ally, Russia, is in no better position. Its bilateral
trade with Turkey is approaching an annual figure of $100 billion,
which no side is willing to compromise, despite the fact that political
divisions keep them apart. For example, Russia is arming the Assad
regime in Syria while Turkey is arming mercenaries on the border to
overthrow the Syrian government. Recent political contacts between
Ankara and Moscow indicate nothing but rapprochement between the two
parties. Although Russia has recognized the Armenian Genocide, Mr.
Putin does not seem to have the appetite to help Genocide recognition
worldwide.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has targeted the diasporan
Armenians. He has reiterated recently his statement that Baku's number
one enemy is the Armenian Diaspora. When we see the enemies intention
to turn diasporan Armenians against the homeland, it behooves us to
close ranks facing that enemy. But what are we doing instead? Confined
to our narrow corners and unable to read the tides of world powers,
we are jeopardizing Armenia's existence and future, under the pretense
of supporting democracy there. If Armenia's existence is compromised,
democracy can only be an exercise in futility.
The Genocide centennial is around the corner yet the prospects of
a powerful show of force seem to be remote. Turkey has been using
all its political and financial resources to prevent any waves on
the international scene. No matter how much we may court optimism,
the facts of life still remain against us.
In this kind of atmosphere, no tsunami appears on the horizon;
perhaps just a breeze to soothe our burning hearts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, EDITORIAL | APRIL 19, 2013 1:05 PM
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2013/04/19/are-we-ready/ By Edmond
Y. Azadian
The centennial of the Armenian Genocide is around the corner. Only
two years are left to prepare a commemoration commensurate with the
magnitude of that colossal tragedy, which not only cost 1.5 million
lives, but also a 3000-year-old homeland. Assimilated generations of
Armenians, or masses alienated from their roots must be added in the
loss ledge of the martyrs.
Once in a while we come across some Armenian media statements to the
effect of a tsunami in 2015, which will scare the Turks and turn a
new page in our struggle to promote the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Yes, indeed, there are some preparations in Armenia
and we learn about the centennial commemoration committees being
formed in many communities throughout the Diaspora. However, no major
earth-shaking event seems to be in the offing. It would be a shame if
the centennial commemoration also turns out to be a run-of-the-mill
program, akin to those which we organize every year in Armenia and
in active Armenian communities around the globe. Any impressive
commemorative event will take more than two years to organize.
There seem to be no major undertakings to celebrate the survival of
the Armenian people by gathering world-class artists and celebrities of
Armenian extraction in an impressive venue in New York, Paris, Moscow
or Yerevan. That certainly would entail tremendous resources, which
no benefactor, foundation or organization seems ready to undertake,
let alone initiate.
Monuments have been erected in many capitals of the world, sometimes
compromising the location, depending on the clout of the respective
Armenian community.
The most impressive and eloquent monument would have been the Genocide
Museum at the heart of our nation's capital. In addition to its
symbolism, the museum by itself could make a political statement. It
is almost tragic that two years shy of the centennial, the museum is
still a hostage to the dispute of opposing parties. One is certainly
justified to begin to believe that the project is already a victim
of a political conspiracy. The government of Turkey would have given
an arm and a leg to have the museum disappear from that conspicuous
location in Washington, DC. But that wish thus far is being offered
for free by internecine warfare.
One area where we have recorded strides is the academic sphere and that
is where the battle is shaping up between victims of the Genocide
and the descendants of the perpetrators. One hundred and twenty
world-renowned genocide scholars have signed a powerful statement
in the New York Times, leaving no room for any rebuttal. However,
the Turkish government is buying corrupt scholars to promote their
line of denial.
In the production of academic volumes, the Armenian case has enjoyed
the support of world-class non-Armenian scholars otherwise the dispute
would have been reduced to the level of he said-she said, which still
remains the goal of Turkish authorities.
Yet one phenomenal development is that respected Turkish scholars
have also joined the fray.
>>From time to time, Turkish leaders float trial balloons to dupe
the international media. They propose to form a joint committee of
scholars to "research both sides of the argument," while there is no
other side in this case. It is unthinkable in any other context. For
example, no one has proposed to form scholarly committees to study
"conflicting" views on the Jewish Holocaust.
While Turkish authorities propose the formation of joint committees,
they already know the conclusion; indeed, Prime Minister Erdogan,
on the one hand proposes the idea of the joint committee, yet in the
same breath, he emphatically declares that there has never been a
genocide in Turkish or Ottoman history.
Fortunately thus far, there have been no takers of that offer from
the Armenian side - neither the Armenian government nor any party in
the Diaspora.
But the growing clout of Turkey on the international political scene
has been influencing government positions in countries where Armenian
lobbying groups have been active. President Obama has retreated on
his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide; his annual April 24
statements are testimony to that cowardice.
Many Armenians who believed in President Obama's moral fabric,
have come to the realization that like his advisor, Samantha Power,
and other statesmen, he is caught in the gears of political power
to forgo morality. No Armenian still entertains any hope that he
will come up with a statement using the word genocide this year,
next year or in 2015.
The dramatic 40-percent drop in US aid to a starving Armenia is an
indirect contribution to the Turkish-Azeri efforts to squeeze Armenia
out of existence.
Adding insult to injury, the president has kept parity in military aid
to Armenia and Azerbaijan, bypassing again Article 9 of the Freedom
Support Act, to deny Azerbaijan any military assistance in view of
the Baku government's belligerence.
Unfortunately, we have also retreated in France despite the valiant
campaign of the French-Armenian community. President Francois Hollande
had promised to pass the resolution in the French Parliament crafting
iron-tight legal language to withstand the Supreme Court arguments.
After some reassurances, his foreign minister has quietly dropped the
case, arguing that the Supreme Court had already issued its verdict.
Our strategic ally, Russia, is in no better position. Its bilateral
trade with Turkey is approaching an annual figure of $100 billion,
which no side is willing to compromise, despite the fact that political
divisions keep them apart. For example, Russia is arming the Assad
regime in Syria while Turkey is arming mercenaries on the border to
overthrow the Syrian government. Recent political contacts between
Ankara and Moscow indicate nothing but rapprochement between the two
parties. Although Russia has recognized the Armenian Genocide, Mr.
Putin does not seem to have the appetite to help Genocide recognition
worldwide.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has targeted the diasporan
Armenians. He has reiterated recently his statement that Baku's number
one enemy is the Armenian Diaspora. When we see the enemies intention
to turn diasporan Armenians against the homeland, it behooves us to
close ranks facing that enemy. But what are we doing instead? Confined
to our narrow corners and unable to read the tides of world powers,
we are jeopardizing Armenia's existence and future, under the pretense
of supporting democracy there. If Armenia's existence is compromised,
democracy can only be an exercise in futility.
The Genocide centennial is around the corner yet the prospects of
a powerful show of force seem to be remote. Turkey has been using
all its political and financial resources to prevent any waves on
the international scene. No matter how much we may court optimism,
the facts of life still remain against us.
In this kind of atmosphere, no tsunami appears on the horizon;
perhaps just a breeze to soothe our burning hearts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress