Armenians Disappointed, Say Obama Failed Pledge to Recognize Genocide

Map and flag of Armenia (image: state.gov)

The following article is from ArmenianWeekly.com.

Note:  Armenians in Turkey were murdered en masse in 1915.  The use of the word "genocide" to describe the killings is a heated point of contention between Turkey and Armenia.  Armenians - of whom a sizable community lives in Watertown, Mass., where the Armenian Weekly is based - have urged the US Congress, Pres. Barack Obama, and previous presidents to offically recognize the mass murders as the "Armenian Genocide."

WASHINGTON—Despite repeated statements properly characterizing the Armenian Genocide during his Senate career and a clear pledge stating that “As President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide,” President Barack Obama today issued an April 24, 2009, statement evading the proper characterization of the Armenian Genocide.

ANCA (Armenian National Congress of America) chairman Ken Hachikian issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s April 24th statement:

“I join with all Armenian Americans in voicing our sharp disappointment with President Obama’s failure to honor his solemn pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“In falling short of his repeated and crystal clear promises, which reflected a thorough knowledge of the facts, the practical implications, and the profound moral dimension of Armenian Genocide recognition, the president chose, as a matter of policy, to allow our nation’s stand against genocide to remain a hostage to Turkey’s threats.

“The president’s statement today represents a retreat from his pledge and a setback to the vital change he promised to bring about in how America confronts the crime of genocide.

“Genocide must be confronted unconditionally at the level of American values and our common humanity. As Americans, we should never allow the prevention or recognition of this crime to be reduced to a political issue that can be traded away, retreated from under pressure, or used to advance a political agenda, of any kind.

“We urge the president to act quickly to correct his administration’s stand on the Armenian Genocide by properly condemning and commemorating this crime, removing Turkey’s gag-rule on its recognition by the United States, and working publicly toward the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution before Congress,” concluded Hachikian.

As a Senator and presidential candidate, Obama pledged repeatedly to recognize the Armenian Genocide and promised “unstinting resolve” to end the Darfur Genocide, stating, “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.”

View his record on the issue at www.anca.org/change/docs/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf.

SEE PRES. OBAMA's STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN REMEMBRANCE DAY:  www.ethnicnewz.org/en/pres-obamas-statement-armenian-remembrance-day

SEE "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION INTRODUCED IN US CONGRESS":www.ethnicnewz.org/en/armenian-genocide-resolution-introduced-us-congress  Source:  ArmenianWeekly.com Copyright 2009 New England Ethnic News, EthnicNEWz.org.  All rights reserved.  This material may not be republished, rewritten, broadcast or distributed without the permission of the source.  E-mail NEWz at EthnicNews (at) yahoo (dot) com for information. NEW ENGLAND ETHNIC NEWS WELCOMES YOUR VIEWS.Post your comments below.  A one-time-only registration is required for new NEWz users.

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