Author: Boris Nahapetian

Film: The Promise: Romance amid horror: A backdrop of the Armenian genocide in the early 20th century is not overplayed

Boris Nahapetian
Canberra Times (Australia)
Sunday
The Promise review: Romantic saga told against backdrop of Armenian genocide

★★★
M, 134 minutes

It’s old-fashioned. Terry George, director of The Promise, agrees with the film’s critics on that point.           

The difference is that he believes it’s necessarily old-fashioned – a romantic saga built on the David Lean model by way of persuading audiences to see a film about the Armenian genocide. And it’s an understandable argument. There is not only the horrific nature of the Turkish government’s massacre of 1.5 million of its Armenian population between 1915 and 1922. There are also the difficulties presented by Turkey’s persistence in denying it ever happened.

MGM tried and failed to make a film about the genocide in the 1930s. Clark Gable was to have starred in an adaptation of The Forty Days of Musa Dagh by Austrian novelist Franz Wurfel until the Turkish government threatened an international campaign against the film. And the Canadian independent Atom Egoyan, who is of Armenian descent, also found himself in a fight with “the denialist lobby” over his 2002 film Ararat. According to Variety, Miramax, Ararat’s distributors, were bombarded with so many negative responses that its website crashed.

With these precedents working against it, The Promise would not have been made if it hadn’t been for Kirk Kerkorian, a former head of MGM, whose family fled the Ottoman pogroms. Shortly before his death in 2015, Kerkorian put up the finance for the film, which was budgeted at $100 million, quite a chunk of money for an independent production.

George, who told the story of another genocide in Hotel Rwanda (2004), plots a careful course between romance and history, with romance coming out on top. It’s an international cast. The ever-adaptable Oscar Isaac, whose career has seen him play Mexican, French, Russian and Indonesian, is cast – quite credibly – as the Armenian hero Mikael Boghosian.

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French-Canadian Charlotte Le Bon is the Armenian girl he loves and Christian Bale supplies the American element that seems to be essential to any historical epic that comes out of the US, whether or not the Americans had a significant role to play. He’s a hard-drinking, hot-headed yet gallant American correspondent who insists on staying in Turkey to report on the massacre.

The action begins in 1915 with a glimpse of paradise. Mikael leaves his poor but happy village in southern Turkey to study medicine, having promised his new fiancee (Angela Sarafyan) he will be back in two years to marry her. Arriving in Constantinople, he finds a luminous fairytale city rich in possibilities.

His uncle, a prosperous Armenian merchant, welcomes him to his sunlit villa on the Bosphorus and five minutes later he’s already regretting his engagement because he’s fallen for Le Bon’s Ana Khesarian. Paris-educated, she’s working as tutor to his uncle’s children but she also has a lover – Bale’s Chris Myers. Wearing a moustache that is a performance in itself, he spots the couple’s growing attraction to one another and morosely takes another hit of whisky. 

But Turkey’s entry into the war as Germany’s ally soon puts an end to paradise, scattering the cast in various directions. Chris and Ana escape to the south so that he can get another angle on the war, while Mikael is shipped off to a labour camp. Death from starvation and overwork is imminent when he’s saved by a series of niftily choreographed exploits of the “with one leap, Jack was free” variety.

Then he, too, heads south, speeding towards his inevitable reunion with Ana at such a rate you could be excused for imagining Turkey to be the size of Lord Howe Island, if it weren’t for the effort that George’s cameras put into evoking the country’s desert flatlands, pine forests and rocky hillsides.

It’s a handsome film and George manages to keep the genocide in focus with shots of the Turks herding long lines of refugees across the desert expanses.  But the full horror is kept at one remove. Either it remains in the middle distance or we arrive for the aftermath – to be told rather than shown. And I can’t pretend to be sorry about that, given the savagery with which the killings were carried out. At the same time, the facts of it all have been shoehorned so tightly – and tritely – into an over-familiar narrative formula that you don’t feel a thing.

Ankara Says Congress Vote on DC Attacks ‘Against Spirit of Alliance’

Boris Nahapetian
Aravot, Armenia
June 8 2017

ANKARA—The resolution that passed  unanimously on Tuesday condemning last month’s attacks on peaceful protesters in Washington by the Turkish president’s guards has rattled nerves in Ankara, prompting the Turkish Foreign Ministry to issue a statement calling the measure “against spirit of alliance” between Turkey and the United States.

“The steps taken by the U.S. legislative branches to distort and politicize the matter are not constructive. This is also against the spirit of alliance and partnership between Turkey and the U.S.,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Hüseyin Müftüoğlu said in a written statement on Wednesday, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

The bi-partisan resolution, which passed with a vote of 397-0, elicited praise from various congressional leaders, among them Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

“Today, the House sent an unequivocal message that violence against peaceful demonstrators will not be tolerated. The blame for this assault lies with the Turkish government alone. I urge Ankara to finally accept responsibility for this egregious incident and apologize to those who were harmed. With the leadership of Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and members on both sides of the aisle, our resolve to defend the First Amendment and condemn suppression is stronger than ever,” said Ryan after the passage of the resolution.

The Armenian National Committee of America was quick to counter the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s posturing on the matter.

“Erdogan’s claiming that Congressional condemnation of the attack he ordered on American protesters runs counter to the spirit of Turkey’s alliance with the U.S. – but what he’s really voicing is his frustration that the free pass that Ankara has long enjoyed here in Washington has been revoked,” said Aram Hamparian, the ANCA Executive Director.

“As much as he might like to resurrect Ankara’s old arrangements, it’s clear today that U.S. policy-makers – from both parties and in both the legislative and executive branches – won’t countenance a return to the days when Turkey crossed every line, confident that America would remain silent about its sins,” added Hamparian.

At least 11 people were injured on May 16 after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to order his bodyguards to attack a group of peaceful demonstrators gathered outside of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence in Washington to protest Turkey’s policies against its minorities, especially the regime’s treatment of the Kurds.

At the time, the State Department said in a statement that the conduct of Turkish security personnel during the incident was “deeply disturbing,” while the Turkish government summoned the U.S. ambassador in Ankara to discuss the “violent incidents.”

The beatings also raised the ire of many congressional leaders, with chairman of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee John McCain calling for the expulsion of the Turkish Ambassador from the US.

El Congreso conmemoró los 10 años de la ley de reconocimiento del genocidio armenio

Boris Nahapetian
Semanario Parlamentario, Argentina
6 junio 2017


El Congreso conmemoró los 10 años de la ley de reconocimiento del genocidio armenio
Se realizó un acto en el Salón Pasos Perdidos y se entregaron diplomas a los legisladores que fueron parte de la sanción de la norma.
6 de junio de 2017

La Cámara de Diputados conmemoró los 10 años de la Ley 26.199, que reconoce el genocidio armenio perpetrado por el Estado turco, con un acto en el Salón Pasos Perdidos.

El acto fue convocado por el presidente de la Cámara de Diputados, Emilio Monzó, y el presidente del Grupo Parlamentario de Amistad con la República de Armenia, el diputado Waldo Wolff (Pro), quien fue uno de los oradores junto a sus pares Remo Carlotto (PpV), Brenda Austin (UCR), y el presidente del Consejo Nacional Armenio de Sudamérica, Bartolomé Ketchian.

A su turno, Wolff sostuvo que “si en la Primera Guerra Mundial el mundo no le hubiera dado la espalda al pueblo armenio seguramente nosotros hoy no estaríamos lamentando la cantidad de genocidios que ocurrieron en el siglo XX”.

Austin, por su parte, afirmó: “el genocidio del que fue víctima el pueblo armenio y la humanidad entera es quizás el ejemplo más cruel de lo que es capaz un Estado cuando no reconoce en la vida del otro la dignidad humana”.

Carlotto recordó orgulloso haber formado parte de los 165 diputados que votaron a favor del proyecto de reconocimiento del genocidio armenio en 2006. “Aplaudimos de pie la posibilidad de dar una señal importante para el conjunto de la humanidad”, dijo.

“La Argentina ha construido una tradición desde el retorno democrático: los tres poderes del Estado han reconocido el genocidio armenio y han tenido conductas en consecuencia. Debemos estar siempre atentos porque sostener la memoria es cuidar que estos hechos no se repitan”, agregó.

En tanto, Bartolomé Ketchian, resaltó: “debemos reconocer que ante los intentos por tergiversarla, menoscabarla o invisibilizarla (a la ley), el Congreso se mantuvo siempre del lado de la verdad histórica”.

Ketchian hizo un recorrido cronológico hasta llegar a la sanción y promulgación de la Ley, recordando la importancia del reconocimiento explícito del presidente Raúl Alfonsín en septiembre de 1987; las distintas declaraciones de las cámaras de Diputados y de Senadores; recordó también el veto del presidente Carlos Menem en 1995 de una ley aprobada por unanimidad por el Congreso hasta llegar a la promulgación de la Ley en 2007 por parte del presidente Néstor Kirchner.

El Consejo Nacional Armenio entregó un reconocimiento a los legisladores que tomaron parte del proceso de aprobación de la Ley 26.199. Los diplomas fueron para Rafael Bielsa, Hermes Binner, Carlos Raimundi, Federico Pinedo, Miguel Ángel Pichetto, Rubén Giustiani, Ernesto Sanz, Vilma Ibarra, Agustín Rossi y Liliana Negre de Alonso.

It’s impossible to continue living under constant ceasefire violation and mutual offence: Jean¬-Francois Charpentier

Boris Nahapetian
168 Hours, Armenia
June 1 2017

“OSCE MG is in its active status. The Co-Chairs regularly keep in touch and there is regular socialization with presidents and FMs of two negotiating countries,” French Ambassador to Armenia H.E. Jean­-Francois Charpentier told reporters today.

He also informed that 10 days later the Co-Chairs will pay a regional visit.

“Mission of the Minsk Group is undertaking measure ensuring the opportunity to find a solution, however, those finding solutions aren’t the Co-Chairs, but the two sides,” the Ambassador said. Touching upon position of France on the issue, Jean­-Francois Charpentier said,

“Quite recently—in March meeting of French president Francois Hollande and Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan was held, in the agenda of which there was a reflection to Karabakh conflict, and during that meeting president of France once again confirmed readiness to receive the sides and organize a meeting when a proper moment comes.”

He believes everything should be done to provide solution as soon as possible, and that there was a solution, which would be acceptable by both sides, and an option based on the three fundamental principles,

“Simply from human and also political perspective it’s impossible to continue living under constant ceasefire regime and mutual offense,” the Ambassador said.

Reflecting to recent statement issued by OSCE MG addressed to Azerbaijan, the Ambassador said, “These recent statements are more addressed, than previous ones, however, those preceding them were also quite addressed, if it’s possible to read between the lines.”

By Roza Hakobyan

Pro-Erdogan muscle against D.C. protesters came from Canada

Boris Nahapetian
MacLean’s Magazine, Canada

Joe Castaldo

Alpkenan Dereci (far left) and cousin Ahmet Dereci (far right) pose with Erdogan and an unidentified man in a photo posted on Alpkenan’s Facebook page (Facebook)

Two Toronto men who clashed violently with protesters during Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to the White House sought refugee status in Canada more than a decade ago, but were rejected.

Cousins Alpkenan and Ahmet Dereci travelled to Washington, D.C. from Toronto in May, according to the New York Times, when Erdogan met with U.S. President Donald Trump. Outside of the Turkish ambassador’s residence, Erdogan’s security forces attacked a group of demonstrators protesting the president’s policies, including his treatment of Kurds and Armenians. A number of civilian Erdogan supporters were involved in the clash, as well.

Video footage shows a man identified by the Times as Alpkenan running toward protesters and repeatedly punching a male demonstrator. Another protester then hits Alpkenan with a bullhorn, leaving him bleeding from his forehead. Ahmet is also seen repeatedly punching a male protester, and kicking the man after he falls to the ground. Neither was arrested or charged.

The U.S. Department of State condemned the actions of Turkish security personnel. “We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms,” according to a statement. “Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech.” The local police chief described the confrontation as a “brutal attack on peaceful protestors.” Turkish officials, meanwhile, blamed local police for failing to tamp down an “unpermitted” and “provocative” protest.

Alpkenan and Ahmet live in Toronto, according to their Facebook profiles, which feature an identical photo of the pair posing with Erdogan. Ahmet’s profile lists him as the owner and operator of an electrical contractor with an office in North York. An employee who answered the phone on Friday said Ahmet would not be commenting, and that “he’s just not gonna return calls.”

RELATED: Canadian-Turkish woman arrested for insulting President Erdogan

According to court documents, Alpkenan and Ahmet made refugee claims in Canada roughly 15 years ago, and were initially rejected. They filed individual applications for judicial review in 2003 on nearly identical grounds, including that the Immigration and Refugee Board ignored and misconstrued evidence, and that it made errors in reviewing evidence stating Alpkenan and Ahmet suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The applications were dismissed in 2003. What actions the pair took afterward remained unclear, as was their current status in Canada.

The available court file for Alpkenan, which is more extensive than Ahmet’s, shows that after entering Canada in 2001, he claimed his life would be in danger if he returned to Turkey owing to his status as a practising Sunni Muslim and his membership in the pro-Islamic Virtue Party. In 2001, a Turkish court banned the Virtue Party, arguing it violated a law prohibiting religious activities that could undermine the secular government. The Justice and Development Party, which Erdogan now heads, later emerged from the defunct Virtue Party.

Alpkenan claimed that in 1998 he and two others (including a cousin, though it’s unclear if it was Ahmet) organized a demonstration to protest their university’s actions in violating their right to freedom of religion. University officials summoned the police, who arrested the trio and detained them for three days, beating and torturing them, according to Alpkenan. The police released them and warned if they organized any more demonstrations, it would be their last. Alpkenan also claimed police later visited him at his university dorm room, and threatened that the military would conscript him and would likely harm or kill him.

Alpkenan left for the U.S. and obtained a student visa in 2000. When he learned the Virtue Party had been banned and that some of its members had been arrested, he claimed refugee status in Canada, concerned about what he saw as close ties between Turkey and the U.S. He also told immigration officials in Canada he was a conscientious objector to bearing arms and feared if he returned to Turkey, he would be sent to fight the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey and the U.S. view as a terrorist organization. According to court documents, Alpkenan said he “refuses to engage in military exercises against the Kurds that may result in their death.”

The Immigration and Refugee Board was not convinced. “I find that there is insufficient credible and trustworthy evidence to establish that the claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution in Turkey for a convention ground,” wrote IRB panel member Brian Goodman in a decision. Nor was there sufficient proof to establish Alpkenan as a person in need of protection. Goodman concluded that “on a balance of probabilities, [Alpkenan] fabricated his evidence concerning his alleged participation in the demonstration and his alleged arrest … and subsequent detention, as well as the alleged police visit to his dorm.”

Alpkenan could not be reached for comment. But in an interview with Turkish state broadcaster TRT about the clash in Washington, he said he and his peers were the real victims of the attack.

Soccer: Mkhitaryan dedicates Europa League victory to fellow Armenians

Boris Nahapetian
Normangee Star


Mkhitaryan dedicates Europa League victory to fellow Armenians 
   

25.05.2017 Madeline Patrick      

Goals from Paul Pogba and Henrik Mkhitaryan in each half gave the Red Devils their first Europa League crown and the first European trophy since 2008. Ed Woodward has what I want, what I would like, for more than two months.

“But the world goes on, it doesn’t stop and we have to do our work”.

He added: “I would like to play football, they totally do not”. It obviously takes happiness from our achievement.

“Football can do brilliant things so don’t go off on holiday, get back to Manchester, get the trophy out and share the success with the city”.

“So so so happy with our win tonight!” But sorry Jose, we’re not giving you the Community Shield as a major trophy.

“These things are bad all over the world, in London and in Paris”. We had to focus, it was very important. But playing for Manchester United we should do better in the Premier League and that’s our aim next season: trying to win it. “We play for England, for Manchester and the people who died”.

“Yesterday morning, we were devastated”, said United midfielder Ander Herrera, dedicating the win to the victims.

“They have actually not created any chances, but neither did we”.

“But we just come to do our job”.

Manchester United will avoid Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, FC Porto and Borussia Dortmund in next year’s UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United’s walking wounded invaded the pitch like a group of zombies after the final whistle in Wednesday’s Europa League showpiece.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has not played in a European final since he began his domination in football in the late 1990s. Of course Champions League is bigger than Europa League, but that’s the last trophy and the last trophy is the one where the feelings are under the skin and it’s obviously a fantastic feeling for the team.

“I haven’t seen the Ajax that I am used to”, Ajax coach Peter Bosz said.

Rooney, 31, is contracted to United until 2019 but it has been speculated he could move away from Old Trafford this summer, after making 15 Premier League starts this season.

“Now I don’t want to see any football, or any worldwide friendlies”.

“This was about trying to play Champions League next season”.

“(They) managed to finish with some dignity.

“If we can keep this squad together then we will be stronger next season for sure”. “If he stays I am happy”, the manager said.

Vardan Aramyan: The country will lead additional incomes of the budget to infrastructure development – improvement of roads and irrigation systems.

Boris Nahapetian 
ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
 Tuesday
 Vardan Aramyan: The country will lead additional incomes of the
budget to infrastructure development - improvement of roads and
irrigation systems.
Yerevan May 23
Naira Badalyan. Armenian Government is intended to drive additionally
collected assets at AMD 50 bln to the infrastructure development
projects. " I think, today it would be more justified to invest the
amount stated and to generate the added value, which, in its turn,
could be led for maintaining the state debt, " Vardan Aramyan,
Armenian Ministry Charge D'Affair stated in his interview to ArmInfo.
According to Aramyan, as far as budget tax incomes based on the
results of QI have already exceeded those planned for AMD 13 bln, the
Government took a decision to review the item of capital expenditures
to the increase of those. The economic activity has also exceeded the
expectations, marking the level of 6- 6,6%. " Already in annual view
the Government expects for additional tax-based incomes forming about
AMD 50 bln, and accordingly plans to increase the capital expenditures
respectively, which will give an option to plan higher indicators of
economic growth for 2018," Aramyan said, mentioning that for today
Government goes for GDP growth higher indicators, than those set in
2017 budget.
At the same time, according to him, the Government does not forget
that similar targets Armenian economy has taken also in the first
semester of 2016, which was followed by the period of economic
slowdown. Aramyan himself had stated many times that the economic
activity indicator could drop down a bit proceeding from basic effect
of its growth from the middle of last year. Besides, according to the
head of Armenian Financial Entity, Armenian economy has a traditional
"postponed" effect depending on Russian one, and negative tendencies
there impact the local economy with a certain delay. " Let's suppose
for a moment that international market shows a sharp drop[down, which
is reflected on export, financial flows and, as a result, we get lower
speed of economy growth. In this case, within the framework of anti-
cycle policy, when the demand has already fixed its natural dropdown,
the Government has to go in other way - reasonably increasing the
capital expenditures through involving new loans, allowing with that
some increase of budget deficit, of course," the Finance Minister
stated.
He accentuated that within the framework of this policy, the
additional income of the budget forming AMD 50 bln, will be led first
to infrastructure projects - improvement of roads and irrigation
systems. " this strategy has its philosophy. But today, despite all
our calls for private sector to make investments in the development,
within the absence of appropriate quality of roads and other
infrastructure units, one could hardly hope for that. The investments
should be motivated by highly developed infrastructure," Armayan
accentuated.
To recall, according to Armenian State revenue Committee Head Vardan
Harutyunyan estimates. Armenia in 2017 QI an unprecedent level of
state incomes - AMD 255 bln instead of 242 bln planned. The volumes of
shadow economy have also essentially decreased - from 48,8% down to
33,2%. From October 2016 and until April 2017 the Committee secured
AMD 653,8 bln. Tax collections, which is 7,6% higher if that for the
similar periods of 2015-2016. AMD 500,3 bln of the amount collected
was provided by tax authorities, and AMD 153,5 bln - by customs
entities. In respect to tax incomes the growth formed AMD 43,1 bln or
9,4%, in respect to tax fees - AMD 3 bln, or 1,9%.

ANKARA: Bundestag rejects leaving İncirlik, while Turkey stays indifferent

Boris Nahapetian 
Sabah, Turkey
May 19 2017
Bundestag rejects leaving İncirlik, while Turkey stays indifferent
DAILY SABAH WITH ANADOLU AGENCY
ANKARA
Published May 19, 2017
Germany's conservative-left coalition government Thursday rejected a
motion filed by opposition parties to "immediately" withdraw German
troops from İncirlik Air Base, amid political tensions between Berlin
and Ankara.
The joint motion filed by the Socialist Left Party and the
environmentalist Green Party was rejected by Chancellor Angela
Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and their coalition partner the
Social Democratic Party (SPD) after a heated debate in parliament.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Wednesday that
Ankara would not beg if Berlin decided to leave Incirlik. "It is up to
them, we will not beg them," Çavuşoğlu said, accusing the German
government of trying to patronize Turkey on the issue. "We are telling
Germany that they cannot treat Turkey as they wish, Turkey will not
accept hypocrisy," he added.
Senior Christian Democrat lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter criticized
Turkey for refusing demands by German lawmakers to visit İncirlik Air
Base but warned against making a hasty decision.
"A unilateral and immediate withdrawal of German troops is neither in
the interest of Europe, nor in the interest of Germany," he told
lawmakers ahead of the vote on Thursday night. Kiesewetter urged
lawmakers to wait for the outcome of discussions at next week's NATO
summit as well as ongoing talks with Jordan for the potential
relocation of German troops there.
At the suggestion of Christian Democrats and the Social Democratic
Party, the majority of lawmakers voted in favor of submitting the
motion to the Foreign Affairs Committee for further deliberation.
The rejection of the motion filed by the Left Party and the Green
Party is interpreted as gaining time ahead of the bilateral meeting
between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Merkel in
Brussels at the NATO summit.
Merkel is expected to request that German lawmakers be granted the
permanent right to visit the air base whenever they want and Erdoğan's
reaction to Merkel's request will reportedly be decisive in the future
of German troops stationed at İncirlik.
The İncirlik crisis started on Monday after it was revealed that a
parliamentary delegation was not allowed to visit the air base for
several reasons. After news reports about the ban surfaced, the German
government threatened to pull out from İncirlik. Berlin has been
hinting at the possibility of moving personnel to Amman, Jordan.
Germany has repeatedly underlined the importance of such visits,
saying the German army was not under the control of the government but
rather parliament.
The two countries went through the same crisis almost a year ago. A
German parliamentary defense commission delegation was not allowed to
pay a visit to the İncirlik Air Base after the Bundestag adopted a
resolution regarding the Armenian events of 1915. Federal Parliament
approved a controversial motion labeling the 1915 events as
"genocide."
The crisis was solved months later after Von der Leyen was allowed to
visit the air base with a German delegation.
Since 2015, around 260 German troops, six high-tech Tornado
surveillance jets and a tanker aircraft have been stationed at
İncirlik Air Base, providing support for anti-Daesh operations.

Turkey denies German lawmakers access to troops at Incirlik base

Boris Nahapetian

Turkey has prohibited several German members of parliament from visiting German soldiers stationed at Turkey’s Incirlik air base, people familiar with the matter told on Monday.

As a result, the German federal government is considering removing its soldiers from the base, according to information given to members of the Bundestag defence committee by the Defence Ministry.

Last year a delegation of lawmakers including members of a parliamentary defence committee were initially denied access to Incirlik, but were later allowed to carry out the trip.

Germany has about 260 soldiers stationed at Incirlik as part of the anti-Islamic State military coalition. The German deployment is a combat-support mission which includes reconnaissance and jet refuelling.

The dispute first arose after the German parliament voted he mto designate tass killing of Armenians at the hands of te Ohttomans a genocide.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to lobby Germany’s Turkish expatriate population to vote in favour of constitutional reform to extend his powers earlier this year caused new tensions between the two countries.

The sources said the latest decision from Turkish authorities had been taken in part as a response to Germany’s decision to grant political asylum to members of the Turkish army.

The Defence Ministry has already vetted alternative military bases for its soldiers in Jordan, Cyprus and Kuwait and a decision is expected in the coming weeks.

Glendale City Council will support Rep. Schiff’s resolution to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide

Boris Nahapetian 
Photo: Tim Berger / Glendale News-Press

 

Not long following the city of Glendale’s week commemorating the Armenian Genocide, the City Council moved to support a resolution asking the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize and reaffirm the atrocity, the reports.

The combined resolution and motion by the council will show support for Rep. Adam Schiff’s House Resolution 220 from March 22, the congressman’s latest bipartisan attempt toward Armenian Genocide recognition.

HR 220 asks the House to commemorate and condemn past genocides — including the one committed by Ottoman Turks against Armenians — as a way to bolster the nation’s stance on preventing modern-day genocides.

“This resolution has removed some of the language on Turkey, and references the Ottoman Empire, and includes a broader range of genocides,” said Christine Powers, a program supervisor with the city. “This is to appeal to representatives in other parts of the country who may not be attuned to the history of Armenians and the Armenian Genocide.”

This is not Schiff’s first resolution aimed at Armenian Genocide recognition and affirmation to the House, but the Glendale City Council has supported several of them in the past, including resolutions in 2005, 2007 and 2011, according to city documents.

The council will also send a letter signed by all current members to show support for HR 220. Council members will also send a five-signature letter directly to President Trump that urges him to “recognize and reaffirm” the Armenian Genocide.

The United States government has not officially acknowledged the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a genocide in over 30 years. The last president to describe the events as a genocide was Ronald Reagan in 1981. Turkey, an American ally in a sensitive region, strongly disputes the term “genocide,” and the U.S. has been reluctant to anger its leadership.

The Glendale move comes from a letter sent to the city by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis about actions being considered by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Barger made a motion Tuesday to the board to consider supporting HR 220.

“We’ve just been through our week of remembrance with some very important events that occurred during the week, and I think it’s time for us to stand up and speak about the genocide as well and to reinforce what the supervisors are doing,” said Councilwoman Paula Devine.

Along with the letters, the council will adopt an official city position that supports “legislation and administration action that recognizes and reaffirms the Armenian Genocide by the United States Government.”