YEREVAN—“Auschwitz is the Der Zor of the Jews,” said President Serzh Sarkisian in a speech delivered Wednesday at the historic mass grave-site of Armenian Genocide victims, adding that the details of the atrocities that took place at Der Zor were well known even to those “who publicly deny the veracity of the [Armenian] Genocide.”
Sarkisian also made an apparent reference to recent comments by, among others, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that a so-called “historic commission,” as cited in the Armenia-Turkey protocols, will be tasked to address the Genocide issue. Sarkisian provided perspective by saying that “It is inappropriate to cite some commission of historians, since the Armenia-Turkey protocols task the creation of a mere governmental sub-commission on historic matters. I assume everyone understands what it means and what the differences are.”
He then blasted the use of the Armenian-Turkey normalization process as a justification for not recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian president went on to urge all those who are discussing the Armenian Genocide and its recognition to “remember this desert, remember the ruined fate of millions and this ancient people deprived of their homeland.”
“What has brought me here is the greatest pain of my nation—the first genocide of the 20th Century and the greatest disgrace of the civilized world. The stigma of that shame, even in the 21st century, stains those who have turned the denial of obvious facts into their policy, have turned into a bargaining chip and into a norm of their behavior and lifestyle,” said Sarkisian.
Armenians in Der Zor, Sarkisian said, were doomed to lose their life “in accordance with the state orchestrated and meticulously developed plan of extermination.”
“The most horrifying acts of the tragedy took place in the desert of Der Zor. It is neither possible to describe the specifics of the tragedy in a language known to humankind, nor will I attempt it, since those details are well-known even to those who publicly deny the veracity of the Genocide,” said Sarkisian.
“Quite often historians and journalists correctly compare De Zor with Auschwitz saying that ‘Der Zor is the Auschwitz of the Armenians.’ I think the chronology of events forces us to formulate the facts in a different manner: ‘Auschwitz is the Deir ez Zor of the Jews.’ Merely a generation later humanity witnessed the De Zor of the Jews,” said Sarkisian. “Today, as the President of the Republic of Armenia, the homeland of all Armenians, I am here to ask: ‘Where and when will our Nuremberg [trials] be held?”
Despite the Genocide and all that has happened, Sarkisian said Armenian stands ready to normalize relations with the republic of Turkey. “We are ready to have open borders and economic relations; we are ready to take steps toward building confidence between the people of Armenia and Turkey; we are ready to bring closer the two societies by breaking stereotypes and myths that have nothing to do with reality and have developed throughout decades in the absence of any meaningful relations,” he said.
“We do this sincerely since we believe that neighboring people have no alternative but to coexist and develop, and, at least as a start, through the implementation of what has been proposed and is still on the table,” the Armenian leader added. “The signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols presented us with an historic opportunity that should have its logical conclusion.”
“However, we do not accept the manner in which the Armenian-Turkish dialogue is being used as reasoning to refrain from recognizing the Armenian Genocide. It is inappropriate to cite some commission of historians, since the Armenia-Turkey protocols task the creation of a mere governmental sub-commission on historic matters. I assume everyone understands what it means and what the differences are,” he said.
Good job Mr. President
Acknowledgment with Accountability: Land * Reparation * Restitution
Fine words, now follow up your words with action, after all that’s what matters.
OPEN LETTER,
Dear Mr President Serzh Sarkissian,
I Am Writing This Letter In Support Of Your Standing For Armenian Genocide of 1915, My Name Is
Gevorg Der-Galestanian And I Am Grand Son Of Late Mr Sarkiss Baloian MUSHETSI (Western Armenia) Survivor Of Armenian Genocide Of 1915 Which He Lost All Of His Family in That Horrific Savagery,
And My Mother And Her Sisters Are His Daughters Are US Citizen And Live in CA/USA With Their Families and Grand and Great Grand Children,
You Gave My Family And All Armenians All Over The World The HOPE That Finally A Leader With Exceptional Quality Will Stand Strong In Supportive of Nations So Long Pain To Rest, And We Are Strong Supportive Of You As The Leader Of All Armenians, To Put To Rest The Souls Of 1.5 Million Victims Of Armenian genocide Of 1915, You As A Leader Of Armenian Nation Finally Will End 95 Years Of This Nations Sorrow and Pain With
Dignity and Respect Which They Deserve,
Dear Mr President You As An Armenian Made Us Strong And Proud of Your Leadership With Exceptional Rare Quality and Leadership Of All Armenians That Leads The Nation Towards Peace And Dignity Strong As More Than 3000 Years of Great History And Your Name Will Be Remembered As The Rest Of Great Leaders In The Past, As A Nations HERO,
Dear Mr President, Your Next Official Visit To USA, Ask Mr President Obama To arrange A Joint Session Meeting With US Senate and Congress And In That Meeting Ask The Senate and Congress Members To Honor And Respect Their Great President's Mr Woodrow Wilson's Signature And Decision Of Designated Boundaries of Western Armenia And Implementing and Enforcing “The Peace Treaty Of Sevres 10 August, 1920”
I Would Suggest Have Former Governor California, Mr George Deukmejian and Kirk Kerkorian And Other Armenian Top Ranking Officials In US Government To Company You In That Session,
You have 10 Million Armenians Strong Support,
“GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'
“MAY GOD'S FORCE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS”
“GOD BLESS ARMENIA AND ARMENIANS”
Sincerely Yours
Gevorg Der-Galestanian
The Peace Treaty Of SEVRES,
10 Aug,1920
http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Peace_Treaty_o…