Halfway through a 55-day fast, US-Armenian remains determined to bring recognition to Genocide

The anniversary date has come and gone. The big March for Justice is over.

But Agasi Vartanyan, who is halfway through a 55-day fast that began last month, said his mission remains the same: to bring formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States and Turkey, Dailynews.com reports.

“For 100 years, Turkey hasn’t recognized the genocide,” Vartanyan said Thursday through a translator.

“Should we stop trying? I will continue to fight for my people. I can’t comment on what Turkey or President Obama are doing, but I can talk about my efforts, which I won’t stop.”

Vartanyan, a Glendale resident, has stayed inside the enclosure built on a high platform outside St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank since April 3. The front of the enclosure, which measures some 12 feet by 12 feet, is a glass wall, allowing the public to see him day and night, though there is some privacy. He’s been given 55 gallons of water, a few clothes, a cot and a television. He has lived on only water for the last 28 days and, so far, has lost almost 40 pounds.

Vartanyan couldn’t participate in the March for Justice last week, when more than 100,000 people walked for six miles through the streets of Los Angeles to mark the April 24 centennial. But he was filled with pride when he learned of the great outpouring.

“I am very proud that Armenians were strongly united,” he said. “It’s made me very happy to see countries like Germany, France and Russia acknowledged the genocide. I watched the Pope’s mass, and it was wonderful. When the world is recognizing the Genocide, it’s so important so mass crimes against humanity don’t happen again.”

Though several local and state governments recognize the events as a genocide, the issue remains politicized, with both the United States and Turkish governments refusing to call it genocide. Activists have said the U.S. government won’t officially recognize the killings as genocide because it would hurt relations with Turkey, a NATO ally.