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SARKISIAN SHOULD EDUCATE HIMSELF ABOUT GENOCIDE
Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 | Posted by Ara Khachatourian
http://asbarez.com/108142/sarkisian-should-educate-himself-about-genocide/
[malatianserzh.jpg]
President Sarkisian at the Malatia-Sebastia campaign rally on Tuesday
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
At a presidential campaign rally in the Malatia-Sebastia district on
Tuesday, President Serzh Sarkisian told his constituents that Armenia
will fight for the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
It's what he went on to say begs the question as to whether
Sarkisian, who is seeking a second term in office, fully comprehends
the Armenian Genocide as a human rights and international justice
issue.
According to Armenpress, the president said: "The words 'genocide'
and 'yeghern' are the same. By even not pronouncing the word
'genocide,' the U.S. President has said everything." This was a
clear reference to President Obama's consistent use of the word
"Medz Yeghern" in a transparent and obvious effort to avoid the
properly referencing the Armenian Genocide in his annual April 24
statement.
To add insult to injury Sarkisian went on to add: "Perhaps due to
our own incorrect emphasis, the US president uttered the word "Medz
Yeghern" not in his office, but in the country's legislature. Even
if he used the word Genocide we would have been dissatisfied and said
why he didn't say it twice."
Perhaps the president needs a refresher course-or a tutorial-on
this most critical issue, so that while making empty promises on the
campaign trail he does not jeopardize the pursuit of the Armenian
Cause or disrespect the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the
Armenian Genocide.
Without even pointing out the factual errors in his statement about
Obama (references to statements in his office or legislature are
totally from left field), this pedestrian and irresponsible statement
from Armenia's president is nothing short of the manifestation of
his ignorance on the matter. It is, however, consistent with his
administration's disregard to the issue of the Genocide.
The Sarkisian administration has not demonstrated, through clear
action, its commitment to the constitutionally-mandated pursuit of
the Armenian Genocide recognition. Shortly after taking office in
2008, Armenia signed the "roadmap" for the dangerous Armenia-Turkey
protocols on the eve of the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
It's rabid pursuit of the US-orchestrated protocols also impacted
the pursuit of the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, with members of Congress here in the US - and President
Obama himself - using the protocols as an excuse to delay proper
condemnation of this crime.
Years after the signing of the protocols - with the world as witness
to Turkey's immediate efforts to use the document as a method to
derail international Genocide affirmation and force a pro-Azerbaijan
resolution of the Karabakh conflict - the Sarkisian Administration,
astonishingly, still remains a signatory of the document-a pathetic
participant in Turkey's diplomatic games.
Aside from two noteworthy speeches in Der-Zor and in London, the
Sarkisian Administration's role, through its diplomatic missions and
its support for the protocols, has not reflected a firm priority as
stated by the authorities.
Then, there's the issue of the president's complete
misunderstanding of the term Genocide and his irresponsible game of
semantics. If by now the president has not understood that the word
Genocide carries a distinct set of political implications, then
perhaps before stomping on the campaign trail, he should pick up a
dictionary.
Sarkisian's callous misrepresentation of the Armenian Genocide does
not bode well with his argument and insistence that the international
recognition of the Genocide is a national and regional security issue
and shifts the paradigm from what is really the crux of Hai-Tahd.
Furthermore, by publicly making this egregious statement, Sarkisian
is playing directly into the hands of those-especially President
Obama-who have not demonstrated the courage to speak the truth,
continue to fuel Turkey's denial of the Genocide by shamelessly
bastardizing the Armenian term "Medz Yeghern" for their own
political benefit, and believe that the Armenian people can be
placated with cheap semantic maneuvers.
If Sarkisian truly believes the words "Genocide" and "Medz
Yeghern" are the same then he is not fit to lead a country whose
current national liberation struggles are so deep rooted and directly
connected with the Armenian Genocide.
Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 | Posted by Ara Khachatourian
http://asbarez.com/108142/sarkisian-should-educate-himself-about-genocide/
[malatianserzh.jpg]
President Sarkisian at the Malatia-Sebastia campaign rally on Tuesday
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
At a presidential campaign rally in the Malatia-Sebastia district on
Tuesday, President Serzh Sarkisian told his constituents that Armenia
will fight for the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
It's what he went on to say begs the question as to whether
Sarkisian, who is seeking a second term in office, fully comprehends
the Armenian Genocide as a human rights and international justice
issue.
According to Armenpress, the president said: "The words 'genocide'
and 'yeghern' are the same. By even not pronouncing the word
'genocide,' the U.S. President has said everything." This was a
clear reference to President Obama's consistent use of the word
"Medz Yeghern" in a transparent and obvious effort to avoid the
properly referencing the Armenian Genocide in his annual April 24
statement.
To add insult to injury Sarkisian went on to add: "Perhaps due to
our own incorrect emphasis, the US president uttered the word "Medz
Yeghern" not in his office, but in the country's legislature. Even
if he used the word Genocide we would have been dissatisfied and said
why he didn't say it twice."
Perhaps the president needs a refresher course-or a tutorial-on
this most critical issue, so that while making empty promises on the
campaign trail he does not jeopardize the pursuit of the Armenian
Cause or disrespect the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the
Armenian Genocide.
Without even pointing out the factual errors in his statement about
Obama (references to statements in his office or legislature are
totally from left field), this pedestrian and irresponsible statement
from Armenia's president is nothing short of the manifestation of
his ignorance on the matter. It is, however, consistent with his
administration's disregard to the issue of the Genocide.
The Sarkisian administration has not demonstrated, through clear
action, its commitment to the constitutionally-mandated pursuit of
the Armenian Genocide recognition. Shortly after taking office in
2008, Armenia signed the "roadmap" for the dangerous Armenia-Turkey
protocols on the eve of the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
It's rabid pursuit of the US-orchestrated protocols also impacted
the pursuit of the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, with members of Congress here in the US - and President
Obama himself - using the protocols as an excuse to delay proper
condemnation of this crime.
Years after the signing of the protocols - with the world as witness
to Turkey's immediate efforts to use the document as a method to
derail international Genocide affirmation and force a pro-Azerbaijan
resolution of the Karabakh conflict - the Sarkisian Administration,
astonishingly, still remains a signatory of the document-a pathetic
participant in Turkey's diplomatic games.
Aside from two noteworthy speeches in Der-Zor and in London, the
Sarkisian Administration's role, through its diplomatic missions and
its support for the protocols, has not reflected a firm priority as
stated by the authorities.
Then, there's the issue of the president's complete
misunderstanding of the term Genocide and his irresponsible game of
semantics. If by now the president has not understood that the word
Genocide carries a distinct set of political implications, then
perhaps before stomping on the campaign trail, he should pick up a
dictionary.
Sarkisian's callous misrepresentation of the Armenian Genocide does
not bode well with his argument and insistence that the international
recognition of the Genocide is a national and regional security issue
and shifts the paradigm from what is really the crux of Hai-Tahd.
Furthermore, by publicly making this egregious statement, Sarkisian
is playing directly into the hands of those-especially President
Obama-who have not demonstrated the courage to speak the truth,
continue to fuel Turkey's denial of the Genocide by shamelessly
bastardizing the Armenian term "Medz Yeghern" for their own
political benefit, and believe that the Armenian people can be
placated with cheap semantic maneuvers.
If Sarkisian truly believes the words "Genocide" and "Medz
Yeghern" are the same then he is not fit to lead a country whose
current national liberation struggles are so deep rooted and directly
connected with the Armenian Genocide.