It’s time for a new American approach to the Armenian Genocide, one that is as simple as it is sound: Progress and peace based upon truth and justice.

In a telephone interview this week, Asbarez Editor Ara Khachatourian discussed prospects of expanding US trade with Armenia with Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

Despite the best efforts of Ankara and its allies to get us to buy into their alternate reality, the fact remains that Turkey-Armenia relations remain defined by the massive demographic, geographic, economic, security and other modern-day consequences of Turkey’s still unpunished genocide of the Armenian nation.

We’re Armenians, and we stand together, as proud sons and daughters of our ancient tribe, in believing in and building a bright and brilliant future for ourselves and all of humanity.

My fellow Armenians, Turkey and Azerbaijan are using their wealth and power to lie about our history, crush our homeland, and destroy our future. The attack that they have launched is against all of us.
Not just those in the Diaspora or in Armenia or Artsakh.

When Ankara or its allies say there can be no present-day consequences for the Armenian Genocide, they are, very simply, trying to trick you.

Common sense and consensus. Words you don’t often hear in connection with the Armenian American community.

As Armenians, we join together this Easter in celebrating the resurrection of Christ and also, as Armenians – heirs of an ancient people that arose nearly a century ago from the ashes of genocide – in marking our own rebirth as a nation.

It’s sometimes said that the obstruction of truth and justice for the Armenian Genocide is the result of actions by the Turkish state, not a reflection of the values of Turkish society.

President Obama, as a Senator, called President Bush’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide “inexcusable,” and sharply criticized Secretary of State Rice for recalling Ambassador John Evans from Yerevan for speaking honestly about this genocidal atrocity.

This April, for the first time since 1915, the 24th falls on Easter Sunday on the Armenian Church calendar.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, James Jeffrey, in a January 2010 cable, offered his suggestions as to how the United States should respond to Ankara’s movement away from its traditional Western orientation.

It’s self-evident that peace talks are held between enemies, not friends. And it’s reasonable to expect that in any serious negotiations, both sides will need to reconcile some big differences.

This Easter – a wonderful time of faith and family, redemption and rebirth – can also be a great chance to reach out (in a low-key way, of course) to friends and relatives who may not be as tuned in as you are to the challenges facing the Armenian people.