All Armenian governments have 'key omission' on Genocide recognition agenda - politician

Both the former and the incumbent authorities of Armenia have a major omission on their Genocide recognition agenda as they fail to properly raise the demand for the elimination of its consequences, according to Giro Manoyan, the Political Affairs Director of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun (ARF-D) Bureau. 

''Our task and approach today should focus on making April 24 a day of not only commemorating the Genocide but also standing up for our rights ... So it is important to do everything possible to prevent the repetition of such [tragedies] in the future,'' he told reporters.

Manoyan noted that the key demand “has been and remains missing” in the programs of the successive governments. ''It is important to talk about not only the recognition and condemnation of the Genocide but also the elimination of its consequences. But the concept was never incorporated in the programs of either the former or the current authorities. We find that an omission.''

Recognition and condemnation alone are not absolutely enough after more than 100 years, the politiican added. ''The Pan-Armenian Declaration, proclaimed on the occasion of the 100th anniversary, outlined also the framework of the requirements which was necessary to sketch its continuation,'' he said, admitting at the same time that last year's political developments (“Velvet Revolution”) slowed down the process a little bit.

''It is really important to make that issue a primary task for not only the state but also each and every of us, i.e. – to have the understanding who can put forward demands to Turkey and for what. The 2015 Pan-Armenian Declaration reflected the general approaches underlining the importance of individual-to-collaborative work,'' he added.

Manoyan said he doesn’t see a proper consideration of the issue by any serious government agency. ''Turkey can be said, in a way, not to have contested the issue at all, although the definition itself is being contested. But the fact that the Armenians were deported – and killed and massacred during those deportations – is no longer contested by any state,'' Manoyan said.

The politician also agreed that the superpowers, which avoid recognizing the Genocide (UK, Israel, etc.), do so ''in order not to trouble Turkey.''  

But he said he is still uncertain whether US President Donald Trump will opt for using the legal definition of the word in his annual April 24 address this year

''Though [the US presidents] do not normally give that definition in their anual addresses, their evasive approach is not absolutely because they are contesting the fact; they are simply reluctant to trouble Turkey. There were presidents who did recognize the Genocide, and there were others who avoided using the term but at least the House of Representatives - the lower chamber of the US legislature - has several times recognized it. And currently too, there are resolutions on the two chambers' agenda, with 49 out of the 50 US states having, some way or another, acknowledged the fact. All that gives us ground to say that the US too, has recognized the Genocide,'' he said, calling for the executive authorities to follow suit.  

But Manoyan ruled out any optimistic expectations from Turkey, which he said refuses to even establish diplomatic relations with Armenia “for fear of offending Azerbaijan”.  

''Hence, there are no grounds at all to believe that this will be part of the agenda or a priority in the near future, as they themselves are facing problems today and have no interest in dealing with the issue,'' he added.