Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

U.S. and Turkey Must Recognize Genocide Before They Can Mediate in Karabagh
by Harut Sassounian - California Courier Publisher
Posted: Saturday, December 23, 2000 10:16 am CST

In the waning days of his administration, President Clinton is making a desperate attempt to walk away with some feathers in his cap. After failing to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, he is now trying desperately to force a settlement on Karabagh. Earlier this month, the President dispatched his Special Negotiator, Carey Cavanaugh to Turkey, Armenia, Karabagh and Azerbaijan. The December 10 edition of the New York Times carried a lengthy article by Douglas Frantz on Mr. Cavanaugh's latest trip to the Caucasus. The article basically had nothing new to report. It was a pure and simple attempt to rehabilitate Turkey's image and present it as a peacemaker.

While such a crass effort would not fool the knowledgeable reader, there are plenty of uninformed people who rely on the New York Times as an authoritative source for their news of the world.

Instead of disclosing Turkey's blockade of Armenia and its one-sided support for Azerbaijan's violent attempts to eradicate the Armenian population of Karabagh, the New York Times shamelessly reported that the Turks have made "an important promise…to restore regional trade and to aid both neighboring Azerbaijan…and Armenia…if peace is agreed."

Mr. Cavanaugh was quoted as saying: "We came here to highlight the important role that Turkey would play and to coordinate with Turkey on the steps we are taking to try to move forward in the peace talks." There are three problems in this one sentence.

1. Neither Armenia nor Karabagh can accept Turkey as an honest broker in this conflict. It stretches one's imagination to present the murderers of the Armenian nation as peacemakers. As recently as a few weeks ago, the Turkish government was threatening to take retaliatory measures against Armenia if the U.S. Congress approved a Resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
2. Turkey has provided money and weapons to Azerbaijan to wage war against Karabagh and Armenia. Furthermore, Turkey actively lobbies in favor of Azerbaijan's claims to KaRabagh in the United Nations and other international organizations.
3. Turkey has repeatedly rebuffed Armenia's unconditional offers to establish mutual diplomatic relations over the past 10 years. Therefore, before Armenians can even think of accepting Turkey as a mediator, the government of Turkey must recognize the Genocide of 1915, establish diplomatic relations with Armenia, lift the blockade of Armenia, and maintain a neutral approach between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The New York Times also reported that the international negotiators are "trying to assemble a multi-billion dollar international rebuilding package to make peace more acceptable." One would assume that peace is in the interest of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Why would then the U.S. and others try to offer an incentive to them to make peace, unless the terms are so unacceptable that a substantial "bribe" is necessary to make it more palatable?

It is clear that the United States is trying to take advantage of Armenia's economic weakness to impose unacceptable peace terms. Rather than securing an enduring peace, such a forced settlement would only lead to the destabilization of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Officials in Armenia and Karabagh should not take seriously last minute visits by U.S. negotiators, barely a month before the end of their term in office. Obviously, the U.S. negotiators don't care about the long-term prospects of their "peacemaking" efforts. Their visit looks to me more like a last ditch shopping spree than a serious attempt to end an intractable conflict. Pres. Clinton, on the other hand, cares only about ending his presidency on a high note.

Furthermore, Armenians should reject for the time being any mediation by the United States government following Pres. Clinton's unconscionable intervention blocking the vote on the Armenian Genocide in the House of Representatives. As a result of this unscrupulous act, the United States under Clinton has lost all credibility and moral authority with Armenians worldwide.

Before agreeing to any overtures from lame duck U.S. officials, the leaders of Armenia and Karabagh should wait until the Bush administration takes office next month. However, before the negotiations on Karabagh are resumed, Armenian Americans should insist that Pres. Bush keep his campaign promise on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Otherwise, how could Armenians trust any other promise made by his administration?

In a separate article, the Agence France Presse quoted Mr. Cavanaugh as saying that Turkey could help resolve the dispute over Karabagh "by providing funds to rehabilitate the war-torn region." If the Turks make such an offer, Armenia should declare that it considers the payment from Turkey a partial compensation for the Genocide of 1915!

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