English
Հայերէն
Obama Fails to Honor Pledge, ANCA Expresses ‘Sharp Disappointment’
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 statement evading the proper characterization of the Armenian Genocide.
ANCA 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 http://www.anca.org/change/docs/Obama_Armenian_Genocide.pdf.
6 Comments
i am from ethiopia as ethiopian we have connection with aremenia long long orthodox relation as an ethiopian to say about the genocide of orthodox armenian must be recogenize by whole world obama should recognize that and the turky government should pay the penality . i know the truth comes out soon . GOD bless Armenian and Ethiopia .
Obama showed his cowardice merely 24 hours after he made the following statements.
“Obama: Holocaust’s lesson is not to be silent
April 23, 2009
WASHINGTON (JTA) — The lesson of the Holocaust is never to be silent in the face of inhumanity, President Obama said.
“How do we ensure that ‘Never Again’ isn’t an empty slogan, or merely an aspiration, but also a call to action?” the president asked while speaking Thursday in the Capitol Rotunda at a commemoration organized by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. “I believe we start by doing what we are doing today — by bearing witness, by fighting the silence that is evil’s greatest co-conspirator.”
….
“The hope of a chosen people who have overcome oppression since the days of Exodus; of the nation of Israel rising from the destruction of the Holocaust; of the strong and enduring bonds between our nations,” Obama said.”
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/04/23/1004610/obama-holocausts-lesson-is-not-to-stand-by
I feel President Obama is compelled to think first and foremost of the national security of our nation and not focus on pleasing a minority of individuals or recognize a period of history for the sake of pleasing the outspoken. Heck, every year the Armenian expats, around the world, attempt to convince nations that truly have no interest in their plight about an alleged genocide. Let’s think about the present and ask what if anything the expats have done to improve the conditions and status of Armenia itself…probably as much as the average African American’s efforts to improve Africa. It is what it is, Turkey will never condone the acts as genocide nor will the United States so get over it!
Is this the politician Jim Keller? Please write back — and hold the vitriol.
Mr keller, you are a selfish person , I wish your family would have gonr through what the Armenian people have gonr through and that is when you would talk about “National Security” You are cowered, and do not have self respect as you do whatever the turkish governement tells you to do , shame on you .
First and foremost, Obama is President of the USA, his highest priority is our national interest.
It seems to me that using the phrase “meds yeghern” twice in his address seemed a smart way to underscore his position without adversely impacting USA-Turkey relationship and not scuttling the nascent dialogue between Armenia and Turkey. The President’s use of this Armenian term has not been missed by Turkey or the Turkish Press.
There seems to be a lot less concern about President Obama’s statement in Armenia than among those living comfortably elsewhere. Armenia seems to have a more pragmatic mindset that is focussed on the welfare of Armenians living today. Similar to President Obama, Armenian’s national leaders should be acting to strengthen the security and economy of their country. Their dialogue with Turkey is one step in the right direction.