Politics 11:44 28/07/2021 Armenia

Secret State Dept. cable reveals shameful U.S. pressure on Armenia’s leaders

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

The U.S. Department of State declassified on March 24, 2021 a ‘secret’ government cable, under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

The cable described the extensive efforts made by the Clinton administration in late October 2000 to block the vote in the House of Representatives on a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

As part of its efforts to defeat the resolution, top State Department officials exerted pressure not only on the leadership of the House of Representative, but also, unethically, on Armenia’s top leaders. As if it were not immoral enough to deny the occurrence of the Genocide and undermine its recognition, going much further, the U.S. government tried to enlist leaders of the victimized Armenian nation to support the denial of their own Genocide.

The ‘secret’ cable dated Oct. 16, 2000, described the conversation of high-ranking State Dept. officials with Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian and Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian, a few days before the House vote. The Clinton administration was extremely concerned with the passage of that resolution.

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (Republican) had personally pledged, during an earlier meeting with Armenian community leaders in Glendale, California, to bring the resolution to a vote, at the request of Republican Cong. James Rogan who was in a tight race for reelection, in his heavily Armenian-populated district.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had sent letters to Speaker Hastert and Democratic Minority Leader Cong. Richard Gephardt objecting to the resolution. A similar letter was sent by Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Meanwhile, Turkish leaders were threatening to disrupt political, economic and military relations with the United States, should the resolution be adopted.

The newly-revealed cable described a phone call between Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and Oskanian a few days before the scheduled vote in the House. Here is what the cable stated: “Strobe laid out the essential pitch: Want to underscore why we think it’s important to postpone or defeat the resolution; hope you [Oskanian] will support or at least not hinder our efforts to work this on the Hill [Congress]. Strobe emphasized the possibility of violence should the resolution pass and noted all the other negative consequences, such as: events in the Middle east, dangers of Iraqi miscalculation following U.S.-Turkish differences, damage to Nagorno Karabagh process, consequences for Turkey-Armenia relations and vulnerability of Armenians in Turkey…. The position of the Government of Armenia, Strobe emphasized, would be very important.”

Everything Talbott told Oskanian was a lie. Two resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, similar to the pending resolution, had already been adopted by the House in 1975 and 1984. There were no negative consequences as a result of these earlier resolutions. The Turkish threats were empty bluffs as we saw it after the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Pres. Joe Biden in April 24, 2021. The world did not come to a stop. The more U.S. officials catered to Turkey’s threats, the bolder the Turkish leaders got with their scare tactics.

In addition, Deputy Secretary of State Talbott shamelessly asked Oskanian to support the postponement or defeat of the resolution. This is similar to asking victims to cover up the crimes of their victimizers or asking Israeli leaders for help to defeat a resolution recognizing the Holocaust!

In response, Oskanian told Talbott that he had just spoken with Pres. Kocharian. The cable stated that “the two had agreed it would take something tangible in hand from the Turks to be able to stop the ever-increasing momentum in favor of the resolution. In the absence of that ‘political minimum’ from the Turks, it would be domestic political suicide to stand in the way of congressional passage. The Armenians could, however, agree to simply keep their mouths shut as we worked this on the Hill, he said. In point of fact, he argued, the Government of Armenia’s position has always been that this is a matter of U.S. politics and they have nothing really to do with it.”

In the above statement, Oskanian made two points: one correct and one incorrect. He is right that it would have been “political suicide” for the Armenian government to oppose the congressional resolution on the Armenian Genocide. However, Oskanian is wrong that the adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the House is a matter of U.S. politics and that Armenia has nothing to do with it! How can an Armenian official make such a false statement? The Armenian Genocide is a critical matter for the Armenian government and all Armenians worldwide. Clearly, Oskanian was trying to distance Armenia from this resolution to appease the State Dept. In the meantime, Turkey was doing everything in its power to defeat the Genocide resolution. Turkish officials never stated that this is a matter of domestic U.S. politics!

Talbott then told Oskanian, according to the cable, that the passage of the Genocide resolution would disrupt Armenia-Turkey relations and halt “the whole truth and reconciliation process, which in and of itself was of far greater value to Armenia than the resolution.” This is another lie by Talbott, designed to fool Armenians into “reconciling” with Turkey without recognition of the Genocide and without holding Turkey responsible for the consequences of the Armenian Genocide. Regrettably, this meaningless and fruitless U.S. initiated “reconciliation” effort was formalized a few months later, under the name of “Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission.”

The cable then went on to describe the phone call from Stephen Sestanovich to Pres. Kocharian on Oct. 16, 2000. Sestanovich was ambassador-at-large and special adviser to the Secretary of State for the new independent states of the former Soviet Union.

According to the cable, Kocharian told Sestanovich that “the attention and discussion of the issue [of the Armenian Genocide] evoked in Turkey in many circles and the press was a positive development…. Instead of preparing for retaliation, Ankara should simply regard it as a domestic issue U.S. issue.” Sestanovich then tried to scare Pres. Kocharian by saying that the adoption of the Genocide Resolution would endanger Armenia and the Armenian community in Turkey. The U.S. official also predicted unrest and terrorist attacks against Americans in the Middle East.

Kocharian then stated that Armenia was “open to dialog as a tool of reconciliation” with Turkey. But he said he was not “worried about a backlash against Armenia and Armenians in Turkey.” Kocharian correctly noted: “I don’t think that the U.S. needs Turkey nearly as much as Turkey needs the U.S., and nations should not think that they can settle issues through blackmail and threats.”

The cable then mentioned that Kocharian provided three intriguing examples of possible dialog with Turkey without going into any details:

1) “An Armenian-Turkish businessman had recently suggested to him an idea for such dialog that could be acceptable.”

2) “Kocharian also had considered writing a letter to the President of Turkey expressing concern, but did not want to act on anything until the situation settled down somewhat.”

3)  Kocharian “pointed to Turkish-Armenian business interactions, including the planned privatization of a textile plant in Gyumri to a Turkish investor (Netex Textile), [as well as] University and NGO exchanges.”

The cable also stated that “in the long run, Kocharian concluded, Armenia cannot build normal relations with Turkey without addressing the Genocide.”

The vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution in the House was cancelled by Speaker Hastert at the last minute on Oct. 19, 2000, using as an excuse a letter from Pres. Bill Clinton urging him “in the strongest terms” not to bring it to a vote.

Not surprisingly, after retiring from the House, both Hastert and Gephardt were hired by Turkey as paid lobbyists in Washington. Subsequently, Hastert was convicted and jailed for bank fraud to cover up his sexual abuse of young boys. He was also accused of receiving bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turks to prevent the adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution.

Clinton was a shameful president who broke his promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide. In addition to Clinton, Presidents George Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama also broke their promises. Even though Pres. Trump had not promised to recognize the Armenian Genocide, he too did not acknowledge it. All of their names should be etched in a public “Wall of Shame.”



Source Panorama.am
Share |

Related news

Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:15
Armenian authorities in no rush to leave EAEU, says senior Russian MP
The Armenian authorities will hardly rush to leave the Eurasian Union (EAEU), claims Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin, the deputy chairman of the...
16:45
It's been the hardest year of my life, Prince William says
The Prince of Wales has described the past year as the "hardest year" of his life. Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit...
16:36
Armenia inclined towards cooperation with Russia, former PM says
Armenia is inclined towards cooperation with Russia, former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at the Valdai Club debates on Friday. When...
16:14
Dozens of French politicians call for boycott of COP29, demand release of Armenian hostages
Around three dozen French politicians have urged the French government to boycott the upcoming COP29 UN climate summit in Baku and demanded the...
15:34
Yerevan court allows cleric to visit Armen Ashotyan
A Yerevan court on Friday allowed Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan to visit opposition politician Armen Ashotyan who is currently under house...
15:12
Serzh Sargsyan trial judge to challenge his dismissal in ECHR
Judge Vahe Misakyan, who acquitted former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan earlier this year, plans to challenge his dismissal in the European...
14:36
Conference League: Chelsea defeats FC Noah 8-0
FC Noah suffered a crushing 0-8 defeat to Chelsea in the Conference League on Thursday.  "A tough loss in London....
14:14
Yerevan theater employees stage sit-in
Employees of Yerevan’s Goy Theater on Thursday resumed a sit-in outside the Gabriel Sundukyan State Academic Theater, demanding the...
13:33
Trump's second term will be different, expert says
Donald Trump's second presidency will look nothing like the first, political analyst Suren Sargsyan claims. “Times and realities...
12:46
Israeli football fans attacked in Amsterdam
Assailants attacked Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam on Thursday, with the Dutch prime minister vowing those responsible would be “tracked...
12:34
Armenia's Gyumri heading for snap elections
Snap municipal elections will be held in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri. In a statement on Friday, Knarik Harutyunyan, the...
12:05
Reducing sugar in first 1,000 days of life may protect against chronic diseases, study says
A study published on Friday in the journal Science found that reducing sugar in the first 1,000 days after conception – through...
11:30
Armenian sends 20 players to European Individual Chess Championship
The European Individual Chess Championship 2024 is being held in Petrovac, Montenegro from 7-20 November. The championship is an...
11:15
Iran to develop relations with neighbors regardless of US election results, leader says
Iran plans to expand partnership with neighboring and Islamic countries regardless of whom America elected as its new leader, TASS...
11:00
Pashinyan, Macron meet in Budapest
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Budapest on Thursday. The meeting was held on the...
17:03
Senator Jadot urges French government to boycott COP29 in Baku
French Senator Yannick Jadot has called on the French government to boycott the COP29 UN climate summit in Baku. “COP29...
16:32
Deputy FM: Armenia hopes for full normalization with Turkey
Armenia hopes for full normalization of relations with Turkey, including the opening of their shared border, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan...
16:03
Analyst: Trump and Biden only US presidents who held no meetings with Pashinyan
Donald Trump and Joe Biden have become the only U.S. presidents who have held no meetings or phone calls with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol...
15:31
Temperatures to rise in Armenia next week
Clear weather is expected in all parts of Armenia on Thursday and in the next few days. The capital Yerevan will also see rainless...
15:14
Russia sees preconditions for improvement of South Caucasus situation
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu says that Moscow sees prerequisites for improvement of the situation in the South...
14:36
Armenia to take €236 million loan from EIB for North-South road construction
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €236 million to Armenia to finance the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran road. The...
14:06
Armenia seeks to intensify talks with Azerbaijan, deputy FM says
Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan says that Armenia and Azerbaijan have not yet finally agreed on all terms in the bilateral peace treaty....
13:30
US pushing Armenia to 'suicide', Russian intelligence says
The US is determined to force Armenia down an anti-Russian path and towards “national suicide,” the Russian Foreign Intelligence...
13:00
Turkey's Erdogan visits Budapest for EPC summit
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan on Wednesday travelled to Budapest, Hungary, to attend the fifth summit of the...
12:36
Armenian government approves Mesrop Mesropyan's candidacy for PSRC head
The Armenian government on Thursday approved the candidacy of Mesrop Mesropyan as the new head of the Public Services Regulatory Commission...
12:08
Opposition MP: Armenian leadership has illusions about normalization with Turkey
Armenia’s authorities have illusions about building relations with Turkey, a country whose leader called Azerbaijani victory in the 2020...
11:38
15 cutting-edge Apple devices for Byblos Bank Armenia Mastercard Digital cardholders
Byblos Bank Armenia, in partnership with Mastercard, has launched a new campaign featuring a giveaway of 5 iPhone 16 Pros, 5 Apple Watch SE (2nd...
11:33
Lawmakers express grave concerns about U.S. participation in COP29 in Baku
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL),...
11:15
Trump's election victory likely upends all criminal cases against him
Donald Trump's presidential victory is also a win as he seeks to resolve his four criminal indictments. His win may largely free Trump...
11:00
Leopard again caught on camera in Armenia's Zangezur Biosphere Complex
A female leopard, named Misty, has again been caught on camera in Armenia's Zangezur Biosphere Complex, WWF Armenia reported....

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}