Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied; Vote on Genocide is Postponed
by Harut Sassounian - California Courier Online
Posted: Thursday, October 05, 2000 08:13 am CST

Justice delayed is justice denied. This expression appropriately describes last Thursday's proceedings in the House International Relations Committee.

Two weeks ago, the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights adopted House Resolution 398 by an overwhelming majority. It called upon the President of the United States to recognize the Armenian Genocide in his annual statements and to provide training to government officials on this issue.

Following that vote, the Turkish government and its powerful allies left no stone unturned in trying to defeat the Resolution in the International Relations Committee. The Turks enjoyed the wholehearted support of the Clinton/Gore Administration, in particular the Departments of State and Defense, American oil companies and arms manufacturers, and former U.S. Congressmen working as highly paid lobbyists for Turkey.

To ensure the defeat of the Resolution, various Turkish officials have issued all kinds of threats against both the United States and Armenia, organized demonstrations in Turkey, and pressured the leaders of the Armenian community in Istanbul to condemn the U.S. Congress. These remnants of the once flourishing Armenian minority, recalling their many past tragic experiences, and fearful for their very lives, had good reason to cave in to such Turkish ultimata.

The supporters of Resolution 398, on the other hand, consisted of bipartisan congressional sponsors, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (who had pledged to bring this matter to a vote on the House floor), a coalition of Armenian American organizations, and a few individual activists.

Even though Armenian government officials have remained surprisingly silent, Turkish civilian and military leaders threatened to "teach Armenia a lesson." A "34-point action plan," which was leaked to the press, included everything from closing the Turkish air corridor for flights to and from Armenia, denying entry visas to citizens of Armenia, and taking other "more active measures." One Turkish newspaper even suggested "solving the Armenian problem" by dispatching troops to Yerevan! Old genocidal habits die hard.

The Turkish leaders also threatened the United States. The reprisals included refusal to purchase American military hardware, not permitting U.S. Air Force jets to fly over Iraq from Incirlik base in Turkey, and accusing the United States of committing genocide against native Americans.

It is evident that the Turkish government is deeply agitated that the U.S. Congress is considering the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Back in 1915, when Ottoman Turkish soldiers were busy slaughtering more than a million innocent and defenseless men, women and children, these thugs in uniform could not have imagined that the Congress of the United States, 85 years later, would hold hearings on their barbaric acts. They thought that, as Hitler did years later, they could carry out their dastardly work with impunity and get away with murder. After all, they were the executioners of a mighty military machine. No one could touch them.

Over the years, whenever someone dared to speak out about the tragedy that befell the Armenian nation, officials of the "modern" Republic of Turkey would take all effective measures to ensure that articles are not written, books are not published and films are not made on that subject.

The Turks and their cohorts, by threats and intimidation, tried and often succeeded in silencing the voices of truth and justice. By lying, denying and covering up, today's Turkish leaders have made themselves partners in the crimes perpetrated by their predecessors.

In their anger at the Genocide Resolution, the Turks are now lashing out at the U.S. Congress, the Republican leadership, the Armenian-American "lobby," and the President of Armenia. But, they have no right to be angry at
anyone but themselves! The Ottoman Empire is the one that committed the Genocide and today's Turks are foolishly defending the criminal actions of the former regime. Imagine the hue and cry worldwide if today's German leaders had defended the crimes committed by the Nazis.

Turkish officials state that the passage of the Resolution would have serious repercussions on U.S.-Turkish relations. Why should the civilized world conduct business as usual with a revanchist government that makes the falsification of history its state policy? When a whole race is slaughtered like sheep and the crime is somehow justified and excused, shouldn't the defenders of those acts be condemned and treated as members of a pariah nation?

Turkish officials have expressed their concern that after the Genocide is recognized, Armenians would claim compensation. Indeed, the Turks should be concerned. The surviving descendants of such a monstrous crime should have the right to claim compensation as the victims of the Holocaust have justifiably done.

The Turks are unhappy that Armenians keep raising the issue of Genocide year after year in the parliaments of various countries. In their anger, the Turks are blaming their own government, their highly paid lobbyists, and even Turkish organizations for not doing enough to stop these measures. When will this end, they ask? The answer is very simple -- when the Turkish government stops the lies and the denials, and faces the truth!

Last week, the opponents of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, led by Cong. Dan Burton (R-IN) and Cong. Tom Lantos (D-CA), used elaborate delaying tactics to force the postponement of the vote on this measure in the House International Relations Committee. Hoping to avoid a delay, the sponsors had amended Resolution 398 (now called 596) deleting the section that mandated the training and briefing of government officials on the Armenian Genocide. The change was made to sidestep a parliamentary maneuver by the opposition to hijack the bill to a different committee.

Delay tactics will not save the Turks from the judgment of history. If this Resolution does not pass this year, Armenians will raise it again and again, until the Genocide receives its proper recognition.

Unwittingly, the Turks are helping keep the memory of the Genocide alive by contesting it. The more they try to counter the facts of the Genocide, the longer they will keep the issue alive and burning in the hearts and minds of all people.

The post-war German government courageously faced the Holocaust committed by the Nazis and made proper amends to the Jewish survivors. The Turks, on the other hand, keep hiding their Ottoman skeletons in the closet. By refusing to come to terms with their own history, they are ensuring that the ghosts of their past will continue to haunt them!

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