Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
February 24, 2005
CONTACT: Ross Vartian
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (202) 669-7231
Armenian Assembly, AGBU and the Western Diocese Honor Righteous
Nations and Organizations as Part of 90th Anniversary Armenian
Genocide Events
Los Angeles, CA – More than 270 community leaders and supporters
participated today in a national tribute honoring countries that took
action while the Armenian Genocide was being carried out or later
affirmed the facts of history. A last-minute campaign waged by Turkey
to sabotage and prevent the remembrance ceremony failed.
The “International Refuge, Relief and Recognition Tribute,” part of a
series of local, national, and international events designed to
commemorate and raise awareness of the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, took on added significance last week when some
nations that agreed to receive the honor and attend the luncheon
tribute withdrew their participation in the face of Turkish demands
and intimidation.
The Armenian Assembly, Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and
the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, as event organizers joined
with the community in saluting those countries for either raising
awareness of this crime, for taking resolute steps to end the
genocidal process, for providing relief to the survivors or for
affirming the historical truth. Organizers and guests gave thanks to
all nations and organizations that helped save lives, but particularly
to those that attended today despite the Turkish government’s
campaign.
Among the countries honored today were: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia,
Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the
United States. The Vatican and the Near East Foundation were also
recognized.
“Some nations who had initially committed to participate in this
recognition commemoration withdrew in the face Turkish pressure. This
solves nothing,” Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian said in his remarks. “The dead are not honored for their
sacrifice. The actions of the righteous are not recalled. And
ironically, the descendants of the victimizers are not allowed to come
to terms with the truth.”
Special guests included former California Governor and Honorary
Chairman George Deukmejian, Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, Los Angeles
County District Attorney Robert Philibosian as master of ceremonies,
former Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Kirakosian,
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles’ President Rod Hagenbuch and
Chief Deputy Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Lisa
Kalustian.
Governor Schwarzenegger, for his part, marked the occasion with a
letter to event organizers which said in part: “I salute your efforts
to honor those courageous individuals, organizations and countries who
did not turn their heads but attempted to provide relief and refuge to
their neighbors. Thank you for your commitment to the democratic
principles that make ours a great nation.”
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), a staunch supporter of Armenian-American
issues, also extended her best wishes for the event via a letter which
said: “Although I cannot be with you today, please know that I am
there in spirit,” the Senator wrote. “I want you to know that I will
continue to support official recognition of the Armenian Genocide as
long as I am in the U.S. Senate.”
Barsamian, in his speech, applauded the efforts of the U.S. in
attempting to prevent the genocide while again calling on America’s
formal and irrevocable reaffirmation of the truth. “There is
inevitability to universal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and
America cannot be an exception.”
Barsamian also noted by way of example that U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans repeatedly categorized the events of 1915 as the “Armenian
Genocide” during his recent public meetings with Armenian-American
communities throughout the country. Evans’ remarks are in keeping
with contemporaneous declarations of Presidents Ronald Regan in 1981
and that of George Bush who employed the textbook definition of
genocide in 2001 and 2004.
Furthermore, Evans’ characterization conforms to the publicly stated
conclusions of over 120 renowned Holocaust and Genocide scholars on
the “incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide,” and that of the
International Center for Transitional Justice on the use of the term
Armenian Genocide, which stated that: “The Events, viewed
collectively, can thus be said to include all of the elements of the
crime of genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal scholars as
well as historians, politicians, journalists and other people would be
justified in continuing to so describe them.”
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
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NR#2005-015
Editor’s Note: Below please find the full text of Assembly Board of
Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian’s remarks at the “International
Refuge, Relief and Recognition Tribute”
February 24, 2005
Your Eminence, Reverend clergy, Your Excellencies, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
This remembrance and recognition highlights two issues of critical
importance to the horrific recurrence of Genocide and the apparent
impotence of the world to stop this crime against us all.
First, the history of genocide must remain inviolable and periodically
affirmed regardless of political discomfort or cost so that we may
learn its lessons.
Second, the actions of 3rd parties are vital to raising awareness
about the crime as soon as it becomes known, to taking resolute steps
to end the genocidal process, to bring to account the perpetrators, to
provide comfort to the survivors, and to forever remember all
instances of genocide.
This is why the Armenian Assembly joined with the AGBU and the Diocese
to remember those nations and organizations that took action while the
Armenian Genocide was being carried out and subsequently. Armenians
remain deeply indebted to all who refused the easy path of
indifference and inaction. You saved lives, you affirmed the truth,
and you bore witness so that the world would be better equipped to act
on the meaning of “Never Again”.
As Voltaire said, “to the living we owe respect, to the dead we owe
the truth”.
As is evident today, the Republic of Turkey refuses to accept the
judgment of history that the Ottoman Turkish government committed
genocide against its Armenian minority. Instead, Turkey attempts to
impose its revisionism on a civilized world that knows better, but
occasionally succumbs to Turkish demands and intimidation by
refraining from affirming the truth. Nations who had initially
committed to participate in this recognition commemoration withdrew in
the face of such Turkish pressure. This solves nothing. The dead are
not honored for their sacrifice. The actions of the righteous are not
recalled. And ironically, the descendants of the victimizers are not
allowed to come to terms with the truth.
Nevertheless, we pause today and throughout this 90th commemorative
year to give thanks to all nations and organizations that came to our
aid – but particularly to those that attended today despite the
Turkish government’s campaign to stop you.
For Turkey’s state sponsored denial effort, having this event is a
defeat. This is a good day for the truth.
As Armenian-Americans, we recall with special appreciation the leading
role of the United States in attempting to prevent the Armenian
Genocide and in aiding those that survived. As Armenian-Americans, we
look to the United States to continue this proud chapter of American
history by reaffirming the facts of this most calamitous chapter of
Armenian history. There is an inevitability to universal affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide, and America has not and will not be an
exception.
A case in point is the recently concluded visit of U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans with major Armenian-American communities across the
country. In his public commentaries, Ambassador Evans repeatedly
employed the words “Armenian Genocide” to properly characterize the
attempted annihilation of our people by Ottoman Turkey.
This is in keeping with President Regan’s proclamation of April 22,
1981 where he stated in part, “like the genocide of the Armenians
before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it – and
like too many other persecutions of too many other people – the
lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten”…
And also with the thrust of President Bush’s 2001 to 2004 April 24
messages that set forth the textbook definition of genocide without
using the word. Ambassador Evans completed the thought.
The Ambassador’s characterization also is in keeping with the public
declarations of over 120 renowned Holocaust and Genocide scholars
regarding “the incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide”.
Further, Ambassador Evans’ characterization conforms to the summary
conclusion of the International Center for Transitional Justice on the
use of the term Armenian Genocide. ICTJ stated that “the Events,
viewed collectively, can thus be said to include all of the elements
of the crime of genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal
scholars as well as historians, politicians, journalists and other
people would be justified in continuing to so describe them.”
The Armenian-American community will not rest until the United States
formally and irrevocably reaffirms the Armenian Genocide. By so
doing, we forever advance the special role of the United States in
genocide prevention.
Today, we are here to honor 17 nations who have joined the movement
towards universal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. You have
appropriately remembered this instance of man’s inhumanity to man.
You have stepped forward to combat denial and revisionism. We will
never forget your solidarity.