BAKU: "they speak of 1915 "genocide" constantly, every day"

Today.Az
"Secret of success of Armenians’ propaganda is simple: they speak of 1915
"genocide" constantly, every day"

24 April 2008 [13:41] – Today.Az

Day.Az interview with chief executive of USAN project Adil Baghirov.

-World Armenians mark the anniversary of what they call "the genocide" of
1915 on April 24. How do US Armenians prepare for this event within a year?

-You are right. Indeed throughout the whole year Armenians focus on
preparations for the day of 1915 "genocide". The Armenian diaspora arranges
numerous street rallies and protests on this day in the United States, in
particular, in front of the Turkish embassy to the United States in
Washington, in front of the Turkey’s Consulate in Los-Angeles.

Moreover, on this day films are transmitted by US TV channels about the
Armenian version of the 1915 events in Osman Turkey, articles are published
on this topic both in the Armenian US press as well as the overall US press,
lectures and presentations are arranged with leaflets issued on this topic
in various universities of the United States.

Considering the strong Armenian diaspora in the United States, the effect of
actions on this day is very strong, considering that such propaganda actions
have been carried out by the Armenian diaspora beginning from the 1960s.

– Is it possible to say that in the result of work carried out by the
Armenian diapora, an average American has fully agreed with the Armenian
version of the 1915 events?

-I would like to say that in fact an average American has no idea of the
details of the events, which occured in Osman Turkey nearly a century ago.
Though, we should confess, that when Armenia and "genocide" is spoken of in
the United States, this "genocide" is regarded as one that had taken place
in real. The secret of success of this propaganda is simple: Armenians speak
of "genocide" every day.

In particular, one of the leaders of Armenian diaspora in California told me
in the 1990s that the "genocide" of 1915 is a subject, Armenians discuss
during breakfact, lunch and dinner.

Practice shows that nothing of the kind is observed in case of the
Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora groups of the United States. We prefer to
focus on positive not tragic events of the history of our people. But
practice shows that people, in particular, in the United States attach
special importance to tragic events. In the result, the announcements about
tragic events and their analysis affects the society. Perhaps, this is the
reason of success of Armenian lobby in imposing their version of the 1915
events on the US society.

Naturally, we have made conclusions from what we have and we work to
neutralize the success of Armenian diaspora in this direction.

-Is there a hope that consolidating Azerbaijani diaspora of the United
States will manage to neutralize the effect of such propaganda actions of
the Armenian diaspora and attain similar influence in the United States?

-You were right to mention that the Azerbaijani diaspora of the United
States is consolidating. Being in constant contact and cooperation with the
Turkish diaspora and diaspora groups of other countries in the United
States, our diaspora becomes stronger, more informed and prepared.

Yes, we conduct numerous arrangements, expand field of our activity, but we
should not forget that Armenians have carried out such work for already 50
years, while Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora groups started to work in this
direction in the early 1990s and intensified their activity only in the late
1990s. In other words, Armenians have an advantage in the sense of
propaganda.

Despite this and despite the numeral superiority of the US Armenian diaspora
before the Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora groups, the facts, demonstrating
the real success of our diaspora groups, do exist at the moment. These
achievements should be considered in the context of strengthening positions
of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the world. And I am sure that this will have a
positive effect. However, this might not occur in a couple of years. We
should work much to neutralize the results of long activity of the Armenian
diaspora in the United States and to turn the balance in our favor.

-The example of the work of your organization demonstrates the achievements,
people loving Azerbaijan and living beyond its bounds, can reach. In this
connection, a question arises about the need for such organization of the
State Committee for work with Azerbaijanis, residing abroad.

To answer this question it is necessary to take a trip to a recent past. I
think, the overall success of the Azerbaijani diaspora and its achievements
in resistance to Armenian diaspora grew after the committee was founded.
Moreover, it should be noted that each country has its own pecularities. In
particular, for the CIS countries, such state committees and active role of
the state in strengthening positions of compatriots are crucial.

As for the United States, it is sometimes not impossible to reach success
there, as the United States is a large, multinational, multi-religious
country, where a diaspora, in this case, the Azerbaijani diaspora should
reckon on its own powers to strengthen positions. Our diaspora has recently
managed to establish ways of work with the US community, ways of
strengthening our own positions, informing Americans about our
interpretation of the events, which occured in the modern history of
Azerbaijan.

In other words, in a number of moments, the role of the Azerbaijani state
can not rival the role of Azerbaijanis, residing in the United States, as to
informing the Americans about any events in our modern history or in the
history, which Armenian diaspora of the United States tries to interpret
differently.

Therefore, we have no other way out except for basing on our own powers and
work in favor of both Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis, residing in the United
States.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS