Massacre of Armenians was recognized by U.S. as crime against humanity still toward the end of World War I

PanARMENIAN.Net - Glen S. Lewy, ADL national chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director, issued a statement, which partly encouraged the steps to create an atmosphere in which Armenia would respond favorably to the recent overtures of Turkey to convene a joint commission.

Once again Armenians witnessed disapproval of the term “genocide” by the Jews, when speaking about the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. Most experts explain this approach by the strategic relations between Turkey and Israel, but it is only a superficial view. According to a number of historical sources, most of the leaders of Young Turks, including founder of the modern Republic of Turkey Kemal Ataturk, were Jews who converted to Islam. In fact, it means that the Armenian genocide was unleashed by the Jews who are now reluctant to equate the Genocide to the Holocaust. Meanwhile, it must be admitted that as compared to the atrocities of 1915, the mass murder of the Jews in continental Europe was less terrible, if this determiner can ever be used in applying to mass slaughter of a people by ethnicity and race. The state of Israel is simply reluctant to live with the fact that another people, besides the Jews, can have been subjected to unprecedented persecution in the Ottoman Empire. Only when she accepts this, can there be discussed the possibility of the Armenian Genocide recognition by Israel. However, it should also be noted that, after all, the Jews and other national minorities converted to Islam mainly through force of circumstances; most of them were forced to do it. That is, by and large, this reason for rejection of the Armenian Genocide by the Jews has not a leg to stand on. Maybe it’s all about the U.S. stance? Many, perhaps, have already forgotten that still toward the end of the World War I the United States recognized the massacre of Armenians as a crime against humanity. The fact that Dr. Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide” can change nothing. And the U.S. Congress adopted a resolution on recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 1975. This notwithstanding, the activity of the Diaspora is reduced to arranging meetings every year with the requirement to once again recognize the Armenian Genocide. Perhaps still in the 70s the Diaspora ought to have gone to the UN International Court of Justice and demanded recognition and compensation. Unfortunately, this was not done, and the fault entirely lies with the Diaspora, since the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic had no legal right to bring any issue to the international court, bypassing the federal government.

As for the joint commission of historians, it must be noted that it’s necessary to no one, especially to Turkey. Neither is there any need to look up in the archive: everything related to the period of the Young Turks is unquestionably either destroyed, or properly adjusted. Let us not forget that the official language of the Ottoman Empire was Osmanli written in Arabic script. In fact, the documents must be read, translated into modern Turkish, then into English and other languages, which means that it’s a lingering and totally unproductive job.

And lastly, almost no one believes that in 2015 Turkey may recognize the Armenian Genocide. To recognize would mean to cast doubt on the very existence of the Turkish Republic. And it is what no Turkish politician will ever do, whatever roots they may have.