We should not be minimalists ahead of Genocide centennial, says US-Armenian politician
In an interview with Tert.am, Viken Hovsepian, Chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaksutyun’s Western US Central Committee, shared his concerns over the Genocide recognition issue. Asked to comment on why President Barack Obama disavowed his pledge to support the Armenian Cause after being elected and chose the phrase Medz Yegheran (great massacre) instead of Genocide for his annual address to the Armenians on the tragic anniversary, the politician noted that such a wording does not typically exist in either international law or in any political context.
Mr Hovespian, when the group arranging the 100th anniversary events was summing up its assembly, there was a proposal for changing the slogan by replacing We Remember and Demand with We Remember and Demand Justice. What’s your opinion? What do you suggest if you do not agree with that?
There were many debates on the topic and even controversies. We were among those who proposed a demanding posture - to be reflected not only on slogans but also in practice – in all our initiatives and events.
Does that suggest revising the foreign policy line, I mean, making the claims that have always been voiced: “international recognition”, Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions etc?
Yes, that should range from demands to court decisions regarding the property and, why not, the lands. But before passing on to the land issue, there are many other claims that have to be addressed, of course. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is demand that has to be submitted to Turkey, but there is also the issue of reparations, which may also cover other demands, including land-related ones. There are different levels, so now just look at where we are. We have a problem in terms of reaching even level one. And the approach that it isn’t worth pursuing demands is absolutely obvious.
Have you considered the fact that Armenia has always been in geopolitically complicated conditions, the situation being more intricate today in light of the signals for joining different unions on the one hand and the shootings across the border- on the other? Isn’t your remark maximalistic?
Everything is relative, and all that is going on between us and Azerbaijan or Turkey is the result of our non-demanding attitude. It is not because of a strictly radical and bold demand-maker’s posture that we are facing this kind of situation today. What personally troubles me is the opposite reality: the declining resistance. The problem is more psychological and moral in this respect; what we have here is a country with limited resources and hard socio-economic living standards. We do really have limited resources, so the people must, in spite of all this, live moments of pride for sticking to their own land. Unfortunately, we, in Los Angeles, only see and accept everything that is going on in Armenia. And it is very clear that the recent migration trends are not linked only with socio-economic conditions. The lack of an Armenian’s belief in his or her children’s future is the cause of exodus.
People and nations also need a dream in ideas, whereas we are all the time in a process of bargaining over our principles and desires … You speak of maximalism, but I would say that minimalism is our problem, as we are sinking all the time, reducing flexibility to a concession. This is not understandable. I think people have to experience also that moment in a way. If we state, for example, that Turkey has committed a crime and say things that is known to us all – the authorities, the opposition, the people and the diaspora - what will be the outcome of it? And besides, if [a crime of] genocide was committed, there must also be a demand for reparation. Someone must pay reparations. So who is to do that if not Turkey?
So do you think the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is the best occasion for considering the issue?
Yes, this is the idea that should have become the cornerstone of the centennial events and laid the foundations of corresponding legal claims. And that has to be achieved through the civilized way I pointed out to; I am not making a call for war.
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