All countries have "dark pages", but none denies them, except for Turkey
"I wonder, whose version of history is President Bush referring to when saying that Congress should not sort out the historical record of the Ottoman Empire?" AAA Country Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Arpi Vartanian said in an interview with PanARMENIAN. Net.
"The Armenian Genocide resolution is affirming, reiterating the U.S. historical record, as documented by thousands of items in the U.S. national archives, including the testimony of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Henry Morgenthau, who witnessed the terrifying massacre. To forget it means to call in question U.S. history. Moreover, the United States recognized the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 and formed Near East Foundation NGO for assistance to Armenian orphans. 123 thousand children were sent to asylums and were rescued from starvation and diseases. To deny with fact is to deny own history. I wonder why the President of the United States yields to Turkish pressure and fears to confirm the history of his country? Each state has "dark pages". U.S. has massacre of Indians, France has Algeria, Germany has Holocaust. None of these states denies that it had happened. None, except for Turkey," she said.
"Why can the Dalai Lama be awarded the congressional medal of honor, despite China's protests, threats, yet Armenian Genocide recognition is being frustrated by Turkey's threats. What's the difference between China and Turkey? China is a more important ally for the U.S. than Turkey. One thing should not be forgotten: present-day Turkey and its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, always did what it wanted. If Turkey wants to open archives, it opens. If it wants to close the Incirlik base for the U.S., it closes. Neither the U.S. nor other states can prohibit this country from doing what it wants," she said.
Full text of the interview
"The Armenian Genocide resolution is affirming, reiterating the U.S. historical record, as documented by thousands of items in the U.S. national archives, including the testimony of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Henry Morgenthau, who witnessed the terrifying massacre. To forget it means to call in question U.S. history. Moreover, the United States recognized the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 and formed Near East Foundation NGO for assistance to Armenian orphans. 123 thousand children were sent to asylums and were rescued from starvation and diseases. To deny with fact is to deny own history. I wonder why the President of the United States yields to Turkish pressure and fears to confirm the history of his country? Each state has "dark pages". U.S. has massacre of Indians, France has Algeria, Germany has Holocaust. None of these states denies that it had happened. None, except for Turkey," she said.
"Why can the Dalai Lama be awarded the congressional medal of honor, despite China's protests, threats, yet Armenian Genocide recognition is being frustrated by Turkey's threats. What's the difference between China and Turkey? China is a more important ally for the U.S. than Turkey. One thing should not be forgotten: present-day Turkey and its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, always did what it wanted. If Turkey wants to open archives, it opens. If it wants to close the Incirlik base for the U.S., it closes. Neither the U.S. nor other states can prohibit this country from doing what it wants," she said.
