Sweden’s parliament voted Thursday to recognize the Armenian genocide (article). While I generally stand clear of political controversy in my blog (mostly since no one ever wins and inevitably there’s some nutter who is going to try to draw some moronic comparison to something completely unrelated and irrelevant) everything unbridled in me emotionally is thrilled. And in case there’s some outrage about all the “other bad side of this”, I do acknowledge that there is a practical side of looking at the negatives of this political decision, but eh, screw that. That’s political debate and I’ll hash that out over dinner, drinks or some other interactive media.
The raw feeling of satisfaction and excitement to this heated event is deep rooted in my Boston origins, Watertown specifically, and growing up amid one of the greatest concentrations of Armenians outside of Armenia. Heck, I even have two fake Armenian IDs (by only slightly altering my mother’s maiden name) which were used during the two Armenian sports weekends I took part in (mostly because all of my friends were going but also because I was one of the ringers on our basketball team.) I’m honorary Armenian. That honor was bestowed upon my by Fr. Davidian from the St. James Apostolic Church (we won’t go into detail that it was merely a humorous commentary while in passing conversation.) And yes, I’m making light of it, but I do have a long, rewarding history very closely connected to many wonderful Armenian friends.
Until Sweden voted today to recognize the Armenian genocide I had never really thought about the political ramifications of countries taking official stands regarding events in history. Frankly, I am a bit surprised that the vote was so close (by one vote in fact.) Even more surprising is that 3 alliance politicians broke party ranks and voted their conscience.
Unfortunately what keeps me from feeling truly elated is a nagging lack of enthusiasm. After all, what is the point? There’s only one country which really needs to recognize that there was a concerted effort on the part of the Ottoman Empire to murder Armenians, Assyrians and Pontian Greeks, And that’s Turkey. And that ain’t going to happen anytime soon.
So is the US going to now too?
Tags: armenian, armenian genocide, armenian holocaust, genocide, holocaust, sweden, swedish parliament.
Thank you.
Actually, the US already has recognized the Armenian Genocide as “genocide,” in 1975 and 1984 by a vote of the full US House, and by Reagan’s official proclamation in 1981, and more.
About 20 countries, the EU Parliament, and the COE Parliament and more have done the same.
(Please visit http://www.Armenian-Genocide.org and click on International Affirmations. I think you will be amazed. Please stop by at http://www.NoPlaceforDenial.com too.)
Turkey has done little more in “retaliation” – nor could it – to all these acknowledgments of the Armenian Genocide than bluster, bluff, and blow smoke.
Most of what you read in the international mainstream press about the recent vote by the US House committee is simply lies that flat-out ignore simple facts.
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Every year prior to April 24, the Armenian lobby increases pressure upon the US President over the speech he will deliver. But the difference now compared to the previous years is that the aim of the considered resolution by the Foreign Affairs Commission is to corner Turkey into ratifying the protocols. The same is valid for the Sweden parliement’s decision.
However, they are the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia’s decisions which have brought the process to point of zero. Because:
The court stated that the protocols can not be interpreted or applied in a way that would contradict paragraph 11 of Armenian Declaration of Independence.
Article 11 of the Armenian Declaration of Independence of August 23, 1990 refers to Eastern Anatolia of Turkey as Western Armenia and as such beholds that this area is part of Armenia.
Since the Armenian constitution recognizes as a basis “the fundamental principles of the Armenian statehood in the Declaration of Independence of Armenia”, it likewise accepts the characterization of Eastern Anatolia as Western Armenia and this, albeit indirectly, translates into the advancement of territorial claims.
Additionally paragraph 11 also states that The Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.
This means that:
1) Since genocide is accepted as a reality fort he Armenians, it will not be possible to discuss whether the 1915 events are genocide or not in the Sub-commission on the Historical Dimension mentioned in the Second Protocol. Therefore, the question arises of what this Sub-commission’s task will be.
In response, it has been expressed that its task will include the discussion of issues like returning back of Armenian properties left behind after the Armenian relocation, giving compensation to descendants of the relocated Armenians, and preserving Armenian monuments, such as churches, in Turkey. Turkey is not willing to re-examine these issues which have already been resolved with the Treaty of Lausanne.
2) By putting forth that some of the Turkish lands are in fact Armenian, Armenia indirectly claims a right over these territories. In other words, again indirectly, it does not recognize the border between the two countries.
I want to remind you that The main trigger to force USA to join WWI was the letter sent by German Foreign Minister Zimmerman to Mexico expressing support to Mexico to get back the Mexican states Arizona, Texas which had just been annexed by the USA.
Germany’s claim on Zudetland and Gdansk just because they were its historical lands caused burst of World War II! The Worls history is a history of wars which broke up because of territorial claims of states.
While territorial claims are so important to be reasons of war, it is not possible to understand the indifference of the USA to the Armenian claims as an ally and of Sweden as a developed European country. Armenia, the US and Sweden have a false conviction that under such a pressure, Turkey will be forced to ratify the protocols.
Adoption of the resolutions in the House of Representatives and the Sweden Parliament clearly will damage the US-Turkey and Sweden-Turkey relations. Whether it is brought to the House Floor does not change the negative feelings of the Turks against the American politicians including the president.
This will also push Turkey-Armenia relations which have already reached a deadlock to enter into an irreversible path and will harm the normalization process. Rejection of the protocols by Turkey can even be possible.
This situation could harm Turkey, but will also harm the US and hinder the Turkey-Armenia relations. Moreover, it will also increase anti-Americanism which already exists in Turkey.
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Armenia doesn’t need to come to terms or investigate what happened in 1915. It is pretty well established of the Turkish intent to liquidate the Armenian , Greek and Assyrian populations. In fact, the United States National Archives and Record Administration holds extensive and thorough documentation on the Armenian Genocide, especially in its holdings under Record Group 59 of the United States Department of State, files 867.00 and 867.40, which are open and widely available to the public and interested institutions. Also the Treaty of Sevres, which is still viable and legally cannot be revoked, must still be in the backs of the Turkish authorities minds.
It is Turkey that has no desire or intention to come to terms with its past as doing so would profoundly alter the very foundation upon which it was created. The secret of their genocidal past is the “glue” that holds their society together. I disagree with the author in that since genocide is a crime against all humanity therefore it is the duty and right for all others to condemn the Armenian Genocide even though Turkey is afraid to come to terms.
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