WASHINGTON—President Obama, once again, used euphemistic language and verbal gymnastics to characterize the murder of 1.5 million Armenians in his annual April 24th remembrance day statement, breaking his pledge as Senator and Presidential candidate to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide as President.
“President Obama today completed his surrender to Turkey, shamefully outsourcing U.S. human rights policy to a foreign state, and tightening Ankara’s gag on American recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “The President’s capitulation to Turkey – on this, the last April 24th of his term – represents the very opposite of the principled and honest change he promised to Armenian Americans and to all the citizens of our nation. President Obama’s pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide stands today as a stark lie, a painful promise etched on the hearts of all who had hoped and worked for change, but who, today, have been betrayed by a politician who failed to live up to his own words.”
The complete text of President Obama’s statement is below.
Obama’s Pledge to Recognize the Armenian Genocide:
As Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama consistently and repeatedly urged former President Bush to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, and pledged, as President, to recognize that crime. In a January, 2008, statement, then Senator Obama clearly stated, “as President, I will recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
Read then Senator Obama’s complete statement.
Review then Senator Obama’s complete record on Armenian Genocide affirmation related issues.
International Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide:
More than 20 countries and 42 U.S. states and have properly recognized the Armenian Genocide, the listing of which follows.
Countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, The Vatican and Venezuela. Other International Affirmation includes the European Parliament and the UN Subcommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.
U.S. States: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged the crime as genocide in 1981.
The U.S. House adopted Armenian Genocide legislation in 1975 and 1984 and included reference to the crime in House adopted amendments in 1996 and 2005. More recently, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed Armenian Genocide legislation in 2007 and 2010.
The Republic of Turkey continues its international campaign of Armenian Genocide denial, issuing economic and political threats against countries who properly characterize the crime. Those threats have largely been hollow, with economic trade data showing a marked increase in trade with Turkey after the Genocide has been recognized. More information on the trade data
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2012
Statement by the President on Armenian Remembrance Day
Today, we commemorate the Meds Yeghern, one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. In doing so, we honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were brutally massacred or marched to their deaths in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. As we reflect on the unspeakable suffering that took place 97 years ago, we join millions who do the same across the globe and here in America, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and families. Through our words and our deeds, it is our obligation to keep the flame of memory of those who perished burning bright and to ensure that such dark chapters of history are never repeated.
I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915. My view of that history has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Moving forward with the future cannot be done without reckoning with the facts of the past. The United States has done so many times in our own history, and I believe we are stronger for it. Some individuals have already taken this courageous step forward. We applaud those Armenians and Turks who have taken this path, and we hope that many more will choose it, with the support of their governments, as well as mine.
Although the lives that were taken can never be returned, the legacy of the Armenian people is one of triumph. Your faith, courage, and strength have enabled you to survive and prosper, establishing vibrant communities around the world. Undaunted, you have preserved your patrimony, passing it from generation to generation. Armenian-Americans have made manifold contributions to the vibrancy of the United States, as well as critical investments in a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future for Armenia. The United States is proud of your heritage, and your contributions honor the memory of those who senselessly suffered and died nearly a century ago.
On this solemn day of remembrance, we stand alongside all Armenians in recalling the darkness of the Meds Yeghern and in committing to bringing a brighter future to the people of Armenia.
I dont know why,you are so distressed that obummer the muslim,doesnt recognize by proper name of the Armenian Genocide;he and his co-worker hilary clinton are paid turkish stooges.You cant depend on people who sell out their own country.Thats what you should be worried about.
As christians you should know the punishment for High Treason.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_treason)
“High treason is criminal disloyalty to one’s government. Participating in a war against one’s native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps the best known examples of high treason. High treason requires that the alleged traitor have obligations of loyalty in the state he or she betrayed, such as citizenship, although presence in the state at the time is sufficient.”
The punishment is always “DEATH PENALTY”, since ancient times… Instead of trying to clean the tribal (armenians are a tribe, not a high culture nation, do not forget that) honor, you are riding on your treason like on the dead donkey your forefather were… they thought the russian and france would give them anything for their treason against their native country… You did not even get 30peices of silver like JUDAS…
So why should we in Turkiye give them the 30 silver pieces for their treason? No money at this door, go and beg somewhere else… In russia, france or by your allies IRAN…
No Armenian in Ottoman Empire or Fascist Kemalist Turkey owed any allegiance to criminal barbarian foreign invaders who came and took their land. No Armenian voted to be included in the Ottoman Empire. It is no treason to fight criminal foreign invaders of one’s own land. It was high honor and glory to serve the Armenian nation.
And when your nomadic Turkic tribal ancestors were chasing stray dogs for food on the Mongolian steppes, Armenians were building magnificent cities like Ani. Which your barbarian nomadic Seljuk Turk tribes destroyed. I guess anything that did not look like a yurt had to be destroyed. Mind of a barbarian tribal goon.
Hey Barry, I don’t want a denialist like yourself to stand next to me anywhere.
Lets not forget to send this BACKSTABBING COWARD the right message in the fall. And if the next US president from either party looses his balls sometime between his candidacy and his presidency, our community should send him the same message as well.
POINT BEING – WHEN YOUR PRESIDENT INSULTS YOU AND PLAYS DUMB TO GAIN POLITICAL FAVOURS RETURN THE FAVOUR USING YOUR VOTE AND KEEP HIM OUT OF OFFICE.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! Asbarez suprized me again!
obama is not a free person , he is a slave of his new turkish masters.His place is not in the white house but rather in the farm of his turkish masters
Armenian’s should have patience, Turkey is not trustworthy, sooner or later will bite the US, he did in the past during Irak war and he will do it again, just have patience
Frankly, this does not surprise me.When we will be able to muster enough political presence at the national level, whether it is a democrat or republican at the White House , they will have to think twice before repeating such platitudes. In the meantime we must continue our political action, patiently, ever stronger, in planned and integrated fashion, building alliances at all levels and ensuring that the US public,broadly speaking, supports our cause. This is not impossible, if we can integrate our efforts at all levels, meaning if all political,religious and social organizations come together, to work together and to pursue our cause together.Why is it that we ( in this case the “we” means individual organizations) think that we can our own deliver on a complex issue that requires common cause and effort ?
I am not surprised – though I am very disappointed – that President Obama did not keep his promise (and perhaps won´t in the future) of recognizing/acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. After all he, too, is a war president,and needs the Turkish “facilities” at Incirlik, close to Adana. .
To my mind, war “efforts” are more important to American presidents than anything else. Who doesn´t remember Mr. Obamam´s pledge to end wars and close down the Guantanamo concentraion camp? Or his
pun about the war in Iraq, by calling the war a mistake. I who lives in Scandinavia would call it WRONG.
US Armenians can “punish” Mr. Obama by casting their votes to other candidates who promise to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. It is as simple as that.
Why do we even care if Obama or the US recognises our genocide! we should more pay attention Internationaly like CHINA, INDIA or even IRAN per say , these will be nations that would control the world pretty soon , forget USA and their Muslim president…yes Muslim just like the Turks.
and let us not forget how hard the ARF supported him in the last election.
No people on earth has suffered as much as the Christians have from their Muslim overlords in the Middle East. No one in the world will ever know how much they have suffered because what remains is just a fraction of millions who died trying to survive their fourteen hundred year long ordeal. No court in the world can compare it to any pain suffered by anyone.