Joint Statement Welcoming President Sargsyan to Washington

Published on Apr 15 2010 by Divan of the Diocese

Washington, DC - The visit to Washington, DC for the Nuclear Security Summit affords President Serzh Sargsyan an important opportunity to meet directly with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Armenia-U.S. relations need to be strengthened across a broad range of issues. Of special importance is America's role regarding the Protocols to facilitate the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey without preconditions and the obligation of the Obama administration to reaffirm the U.S. record acknowledging the Armenian Genocide if we are to prevent future genocides and maintain credibility. Rather than employ the Armenian term for the Armenian Genocide - Metz Yeghern - we urge President Obama in his April 24 statement to use the English term, to be true to his word and promises in developing U.S.-Armenia ties.

We welcome and congratulate President Sargsyan, and we believe that the Republic of Armenia and its President deserve our support in this critical work. This is an extension of Armenia's policy since independence, and the efforts of the President toward a breakthrough in Turkish-Armenian normalization represent major steps toward peace and justice.

The participation of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his delegation in the Summit also offer an opportunity for the Turkish government to live up to its words by ratifying the Protocols immediately and as signed.

We also encourage the Republic of Turkey to utilize this opportunity to make a bold step forward and signal its willingness to come to terms with its past.

We have supported and continue to support the reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey. The Erdogan government's behavior since the signing of the Protocols last year, however, indicates that it has breached and will continue to breach both the letter and the spirit of those documents. The examples of these breaches include not only the failure to ratify the protocols in a reasonable period, but also the condemnable threat of deportation with respect to Armenians living in Turkey by Prime Minister Erdogan.

We, therefore, anticipate that a frank and sober assessment of the current status of Armenia-Turkey rapprochement and future prospects will take place this week. Regardless of the outcome, President Obama's reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide can only help to heal the wounds of denial, and bring Turkey one step closer toward true reconciliation.

We recognize that the path forward will not be easy, especially this month of April when Armenians worldwide commemorate the 95^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

We pray that all participants in this process approach the issues with great wisdom and courage.

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Armenian General Benevolent Union

55 East 59^th Street - New York, NY 10022, USA

Tel (212) 319 6383

www.agbu.org

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 Second Avenue - New York, NY 10016, USA

Tel (212) 686 0710

www.armenianchurch.net

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Western)

3325 N. Glenoaks Boulevard - Burbank, CA 91504, USA