Politics 16:36 23/04/2022 Armenia

Expert: Armenian Genocide issue has long been closed for current Armenian authorities

Armenia and the Diaspora have been working hard for years towards international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. For years Armenia has consistently promoted the agenda of preventing the crime of genocide. In 2015, through Armenia's efforts, December 9 was added to the list of UN International Days as International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. However, since 2018, according to expert on Turkey Varuzhan Geghamyan, Armenia has not dealt with the issue of the Armenian Genocide at all.

Panorama.am spoke with Varuzhan Geghamyan about the Armenian authorities' steps towards the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide over the past year, the main message of April 24, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, this year as well as the basic steps that should be taken in case of the formation of a pro-Armenian government.

Panorama.am: How would you assess the steps taken by the Armenian authorities towards the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide from April 24, 2021 to date, that is, over the past year?

Varuzhan Geghamyan: Unfortunately, it is impossible to give a positive assessment to the efforts of the Armenian leadership and the international community towards the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide due to only one circumstance: the Armenian state, which has always been in the forefront of this struggle, its coordinator and organizer, has essentially abandoned it, considering it not only ineffective, but also not in the interests of the Armenian people.

Moreover, there are now attempts on the part of Armenia's de facto leadership to rewrite history by saying that Armenia has never acted as a state institution in this matter, and the Armenian cause has been dealt with exclusively by the Armenian Diaspora, particularly by some Diaspora organizations.

This is also a distortion of the historical record by the de facto authorities in Armenia, an anti-Armenian statement, because it essentially echoes the Turkish propaganda thesis which have existed since the 1960s that if it were not for the Diaspora, Armenia and Turkey would live peacefully side by side, but some “Diaspora nationalists” undermine Armenian-Turkish relations by raising, in their words, the artificial issue of genocide, etc. This is an indirect repetition of this propaganda thesis of Ankara. Moreover, it runs counter to the basic law of Armenia, because the Constitution of Armenia is based on the Declaration of Independence, and one of its most important provisions is about the commitment to be consistent in the recognition and condemnation of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia.

Thus, it's against Armenian interests in every way. Naturally, as a result of this policy we can't make any progress in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The only noteworthy episode last year was the U.S. president's use of the word "genocide", which had no legal effect because amid Armenia's failure to deal with the Armenian Genocide issue at all, this move essentially amounts to nothing. Meanwhile, it could have been used to step up pressure on Turkey and could have become an important tool in our foreign policy.

Panorama.am: What will make April 24 stand out this year, what will be its message?

Varuzhan Geghamyan: This year's commemorative events, the events preceding and following them, will most likely send one clear message: at this point, we are on the threshold of opening the era of genocidal threats, in order to prevent such a scenario, we must remember how and why the Armenian Genocide, the numerous massacres and other crimes against the Armenian people up to and including what happened in Artsakh and Syunik in recent years and months, were committed.

Identifying this as part of the genocidal program will enable the Armenian society and various Armenian groups to rethink the ongoing processes, to overcome the stupor and manipulation by the current authorities and to be able to respond adequately to the current threats. This is the message.

Unfortunately, the capitulant authorities will do nothing about it, since the issue of the Armenian Genocide has long been closed for them. In the best-case scenario, we can see only some standard statements without any political message, only pathetics and no coherent policy at the state level aimed at addressing such acute issues.

I do not think that any action should be expected from any state institution. At the same time, all Armenian groups and organizations catering for the interests of the Armenian people must make April 24 of this year one of the most important symbolic days, during which messages must be conveyed to the widest possible audience that will enable the people to get out from under the manipulations of the capitulant authorities.

Panorama.am: What will Turkey's recognition of the Armenian Genocide give us? Is that our end goal?

Varuzhan Geghamyan: I think that the ultimate goal is not Turkey’s recognition [of the Genocide]. The end goal has always been to prevent the crime of genocide against us. And one of the best ways to achieve this is for Turkey to recognize it and take appropriate steps to make amends.

The Genocide recognition by Turkey is only one way to achieve the main goal, so I believe it would allow us to create an additional mechanism to prevent such a crime. Amid its absence, we see the continuation of genocidal actions under peaceful slogans – from beheadings of people in Artsakh to torture of Armenian prisoners of war, which did not take place 100 years ago like the Armenian Genocide, but right now, before our eyes.

Panorama.am: If we have a government that takes Armenia’s interests into account, what should be its first steps towards the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide?

Varuzhan Geghamyan: First and foremost, the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well as our pioneering role in preventing the crime of genocide should be made a part of the state policy. We had that role, but since 2018 it has virtually been non-existent, now it no longer exists de jure either. After this step, it is necessary to review the previous experience of struggle, i.e. to record the positive sides, failures, and in accordance with that to build a completely new, clear-cut policy, which must be all-embracing, because the issue of the Armenian Genocide is of national importance, directly concerns the identity of the Diaspora and its preservation. Therefore, all of this really should be in the focus of state attention, because Armenia is also responsible for the Diaspora. In this regard, the need for a state policy on the matter is once again emphasized.

Of course, these three steps should be combined with a broader political program, a concept to be adopted by the national government to neutralize the threats facing the Armenian states, Armenia and Artsakh, to set new national goals and achieve them. In other words, there should be a general picture of what we are going to do to restore the security system, the territorial integrity of Artsakh and Armenia, and how the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide should be used in this context. Only in case of adopting such an approach will we succeed.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

15:05
Caretaker deputy justice minister sacked
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decree to dismiss Armenuhi Harutyunyan as Acting Deputy Minister of Justice....
14:35
Armenian parliament speaker confirms MP's resignation
National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has issued a statement on the resignation of Narek Zeynalyan as an MP from Armenia’s ruling Civil...
14:06
Visa restricts media access to key event in Yerevan
Visa has restricted the media access to the Cashless Forum 2024 to be held in Yerevan for the first time on November 22. Only...
13:36
Orban says he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary after ICC warrant
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee...
13:11
Temps to plummet in Armenia
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
12:32
Alexis Ohanian showcases rare Armenian coin
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has showcased a rare Armenian coin from 95 BC featuring Tigranes the Great, a famous Armenian king....
12:16
German foreign minister criticizes Azerbaijan's human rights record
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the human rights record of Azerbaijan during her first appearance at the UN Climate Change...
12:06
Minister shares new images captured by Armenia's first satellite
Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has shared new satellite images from orbit captured by ARMSAT-1,...
11:36
World Cadet Chess Championship passes its halfway mark
The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship has passed its halfway mark in Montesilvano, Italy. After 6 rounds, in the Open 12 category CM...
11:15
Iran to launch 'new and advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA that...
11:00
Armenian, Iranian foreign ministers hold phone call
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi....
17:07
Winter military draft starts in Armenia on November 25
The winter conscription for compulsory military service starts in Armenia on November 25 to run through January 31, 2025. The...
16:45
Russian spokeswoman told not to comment on ballistic missile strike live on air
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing on Thursday telling her not to...
16:33
Belgian politicians call for immediate release of all Armenian prisoners held in Baku
In the backdrop of the COP29 currently taking place in Baku 20 members of the Belgian Federal Parliament, the Flemish Parliament, the Walloon...
16:06
Armenia thwarts large-scale drug smuggling attempt
Officers of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) have foiled an attempt to smuggle some 1,600 grams of cocaine into the country as part...
15:33
Armenian government reduces financial aid for Artsakh refugees
The Armenian government on Thursday approved a decision to reduce financial aid for the displaced Artsakh Armenians. Starting from...
14:45
Percival Everett wins National Book Award
Percival Everett has won the $10,000 National Book Award for fiction, one of the US’s most prestigious literary prizes, for James, his...
14:35
Pyunik v West Armenia match canceled
An Armenian Premier League match between FC Pyunik and West Armenia has been canceled. The 17th round match was scheduled for November 21....
14:06
Armenian Foreign Ministry denies cooperation with Azerbaijan on water management
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims of cooperation with Azerbaijan on transboundary water resources management. In a social...
13:36
No rain in sight for rest of the week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions from Thursday to Sunday.  Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
13:06
Pashinyan thanks dismissed officials for cooperation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the dismissed top government officials for joint work and wished good luck to...
12:36
Armenian church marks Presentation of Virgin Mary
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, November 21. According to tradition,...
12:15
Luxembourg's parliament demands immediate release of all unlawfully imprisoned persons in Azerbaijan
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies has adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government’s sanctions against the freedom of...
12:00
Davit Khudatyan appointed minister of territorial administration
Armavir Governor Davit Khudatyan has been appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. Armenian President Vahagn...
11:45
Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia's centre-left government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and...
11:30
Armenia's Andranik Avetisyan wins gold at World Military Wrestling Championships
The 37th World Military Wrestling Championships kicked off in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday, bringing together 400 participants...
11:10
Leopard missing for two years spotted in Armenia's Tavush
A leopard, that lost its front paw and disappered from Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province in December 2022, has been spotted in...
17:09
Armenian political analyst warns of risk of nuclear war
Political scientist Stepan Danielyan has warned of an imminent threat of nuclear war after the Russian nuclear doctrine change. President...
16:45
Rain, snow expected in parts of Armenia
Rain and snow are forecast for some parts of Armenia on Wednesday, overnight Thursday, late on Sunday and next Monday. Clear weather is...
16:22
GM Robert Hovhannisyan qualifies for FIDE World Cup
The European Individual Chess Championship 2024 has concluded. GM Aleksandar Indjic from Serbia became the champion, scoring 9 points...

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?"}