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Armenians on the Offensive at all Fronts
Financial Times Information
Armenian diaspora unleashes initiatives all over the world for April 24 to be recognized as the remembrance day of the so-called genocide
Following Robert Kocharian's appointment as Armenian president, it is evident that there has been an unprecedented increase in Armenian efforts to alter world opinion of the so-called genocide. The Armenian diaspora is working hard in many Western countries' parliaments and institutions to have the so-called genocide accepted. Ultimately they want recognition from Turkey with a view to eventually asking for compensation.
Armenian extremists have expressed a wish for Turkey's eastern part to be returned to Armenia. In the wake of the French Parliament's law recognizing the so-called genocide, the Armenian diaspora appears encouraged to pursue efforts for similar decisions worldwide, and so far they seem to be relatively successful.
The Armenians' latest target was the Canadian Parliament. Despite the government's opposition, a motion was brought both to the Senate and House of Commons in a bid to convince the Canadian Parliament to accept April 24 as a remembrance day of the so-called Armenian genocide. Diplomatic sources say that while it is unlikely the House of Commons will issue such a motion, there is a chance that it could be accepted by the Senate. The motion has been brought to the House of Commons by Armenian-origin deputy Sarkiss Assoudarian. The motion is expected to be debated on April 25.
While the Canadian Armenian population in Canada numbers around 100,000, Turks total only 20,000. The Jewish lobby is known to be quite strong in Canada, but observers say that the good relations between the Jewish and Turkish lobby in the United States are not yet established in Canada.
Armenians are also on the offensive in the United States. Stressing that President George W. Bush promised American Armenians that he would recognize the "genocide" if he was elected, Armenians insist Bush should keep his promise. Despite the Armenians' pressure on Bush, the strongest four American policy-makers have urged him not to refer to events in 1915 as "genocide." All previous U.S. presidents have refused to use the term, and Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice have all urged Bush to follow suit. The Turkish lobby in the United States has also stepped up its efforts to prevent any last-minute reference despite the strong warning from the Bush administration.
Armenians begin letter campaign
While Armenians push hard in Canada and the United States for the recognition of the Armenian claims, they have also begun a letter-writing campaign to Turkish leaders, calling on them to recognize the so-called Armenian "genocide." The lobby called on Armenians all over the world to send letters to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on April 24, the date Armenians claim the so-called genocide started.
One of the leading figures of the Armenian lobby in the United States, who is a columnist for the California Courier, Harut Sasunian, published the fax numbers of the offices of the Turkish president, prime minister and foreign minister. In his call to Armenians to write to Turkish leaders, Sasunian said: "You should not let April 24 be an ordinary working day for Turkish leaders. Remind them of the massacres committed by their ancestors and tell them that these massacres have been denied by sending them thousands of faxes on this particular date."
The Armenians have also made plans for demonstrations at Turkish
missions in the United States on April 24. Turkish Consulates in Los
Angeles and Chicago are likely targets for Armenian demonstrations.
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