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On December 12th, the US Senate passed a resolution formally recognizing the Ottoman Empire’s genocide against the Armenian people.
The move is strongly opposed by the Turkish government, and is another symptom of the dead-end of relations between Washington and Ankara and how the two appear to be drifting apart.
In addition to giving “recognition and remembrance” to the Armenian genocide, the resolution also rejects attempts to “enlist, engage, or otherwise associate” the U.S. government with denial of genocide and “encourage education and public understanding” of it.
Sen. Bob Menendez passed the resolution, which provides “official recognition and remembrance” of the Armenian genocide, by consent.
“We have just passed the Armenian genocide resolution … and it is fitting and appropriate that the Senate stands on the right side of history in doing so. It commemorates the truth of the Armenian genocide,” Menendez said.
Under the Senate’s rules any senator can ask to pass a resolution. As long as another senator doesn’t object, the measure will clear the chamber. The Armenian genocide resolution passed the House in a 405-11 vote.
Previously, the Republican members of Senate blocked the resolution, under pressure of the White House in order to not negatively impact relations with Turkey.
Sen. Ted Cruz noted that it was the fourth time that supporters have tried to pass the resolution.
“This is the third week in a row we have come to the Senate floor seeking to pass this resolution, and I’m grateful that today we have succeeded,” Cruz said. “This is a moment of truth that was far too long coming.”
This resolution passed one day after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed Turkey sanctions legislation, underscoring the deteriorating relations.
In response, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called the vote a “political show” on social media, adding that “it is not legally binding and it has no validity whatsoever.”
Turkey’s state-run news agency, Anadolu, quoted Cavusoglu as saying that those who use history for political purposes are “cowards who do not want to face the truth”.
Turkey’s foreign ministry also issued a statement condemning the vote as “one of the shameful examples of how history can be politicized.”
In October, the Democratic-led House of Representatives had passed the resolution by an overwhelming majority.
“This is a tribute to the memory of 1.5 million victims of the first #Genocide of the 20th century and bold step in promotion of the prevention agenda. #NeverAgain,” Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on social media following the vote.
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Idiots.
Demonizing Armenian minority in Turkish school texts, yes. Armenians, whose ancestors were not deported in WWI, are living under suspicion, yes. Doors closed to Armenian minority for jobs, nope. Armenians are prosperous as well as other minorities. Their ancestors living in Izmir and Istanbul for centuries, they are really rich. Most of the Armenian minority citizens are smart and well educated and offer many jobs for the Turks. Armenians excel most of other citizens in arts, literature and especially in business. Armenians are not safe in Turkey. Well yes, but are well organized in security. Just like other minorities. Armenians have a bilingual newspaper “Agos” in Istanbul and his editor was killed by a Turkish nationalist in 2007. There was a huge Turkish crowd supporting the Armenian minority congregation at the funeral. Most of the well educated Turks don’t see Armenians as back-stabbers anymore, it has long gone. Problem is that every nation has ultra-nationalists inside, those still see Armenians are enemy and haters! Problem was that Russian army supplied arms in WWI and offered an independent Armenia in East Turkey. What would you expect other than a deportation? Empire should protect its own army while fighting with Russians. Many were starved or massacred on the way, yes, because empire was poor and army was in full of hate! But West Turkey Armenians are spared, so it wouldn’t be called as a government policy or a genocide. Allied court in Malta after the WWI tried Ottoman government about the mass killings in East Turkey. Verdict was there is no evidence to try about Armenian massacre policy applied as a government policy. Huge number of Armenians are dead in East Turkey, yes, nobody would realise the exact number mass killings. We all wish that it wouldn’t have happened that way, it is a big loss for the colorful mosaic of this land. We try to spare their church ruins, repair some of them that are like a 1000-year-old! Truly cultural heritage. Conclusion is that Turks accepts Empire times were with full of war, blood and sins. Not only Eastern Armenians suffered in great war. Entire Empire with all nations inside suffered ultimately. Modern Turkey should open the border gates with Armenia and do business! Armenia should also act calm and warm. Armenians outside of Armenia should also accept that as is and start to do business, instead of spreading hate. If you leave history to the politicians, they will certainly distort the fact and spread the hate for votes. Hate doesn’t bring prosperity to countries, it’s just good to sell weapons to both sides. As a peaceful Kurd, I have Armenians friends here in Istanbul, that they are sick of Armenians living abroad telling lies about their community in WWI. Real story of events by an Armenian citizen of Turkey; http://armenians-1915.blogspot.com/2009/02/2739-death-announcement-of-sevan-ince.html
Demonizing Armenian minority in Turkish school texts, yes. Armenians, whose ancestors were not deported in WWI, are living under suspicion, yes. Doors closed to Armenian minority for jobs, nope. Armenians are prosperous as well as other minorities. Their ancestors living in Izmir and Istanbul for centuries, they are really rich. Most of the Armenian minority citizens are smart and well educated and offer many jobs for the Turks. Armenians excel most of other citizens in arts, literature and especially in business. Armenians are not safe in Turkey. Well yes, but are well organized in security. Just like other minorities. Armenians have a bilingual newspaper “Agos” in Istanbul and his editor was killed by a Turkish nationalist in 2007. There was a huge Turkish crowd supporting the Armenian minority congregation at the funeral. Most of the well educated Turks don’t see Armenians as back-stabbers anymore, it has long gone. Problem is that every nation has ultra-nationalists inside, those still see Armenians are enemy and haters! Problem was that Russian army supplied arms in WWI and offered an independent Armenia in East Turkey. What would you expect other than a deportation? Empire should protect its own army while fighting with Russians. Many were starved or massacred on the way, yes, because empire was poor and army was in full of hate! But West Turkey Armenians are spared, so it wouldn’t be called as a government policy or a genocide. Allied court in Malta after the WWI tried Ottoman government about the mass killings in East Turkey. Verdict was there is no evidence to try about Armenian massacre policy applied as a government policy. Huge number of Armenians are dead in East Turkey, yes, nobody would realise the exact number mass killings. We all wish that it wouldn’t have happened that way, it is a big loss for the colorful mosaic of this land. We try to spare their church ruins, repair some of them that are like a 1000-year-old! Truly cultural heritage. Conclusion is that Turks accepts Empire times were with full of war, blood and sins. Not only Eastern Armenians suffered in great war. Entire Empire with all nations inside suffered ultimately. Modern Turkey should open the border gates with Armenia and do business! Armenia should also act calm and warm. Armenians outside of Armenia should also accept that as is and start to do business, instead of spreading hate. If you leave history to the politicians, they will certainly distort the fact and spread the hate for votes. Hate doesn’t bring prosperity to countries, it’s just good to sell weapons to both sides. As a peaceful Kurd, I have Armenians friends here in Istanbul, that they are sick of Armenians living abroad telling lies about their community in WWI.
Armenians, whose ancestors were not deported in WWI, are living under suspicion in Turkey. Their ancestors living in Izmir and Istanbul for centuries, they are really rich. Most of the Armenian minority citizens are smart and well educated and offer many jobs for the Turks. Armenians excel most of other citizens in arts, literature and especially in business. Armenians have a bilingual newspaper “Agos” in Istanbul and his editor was killed by a Turkish nationalist in 2007. There was a huge Turkish crowd supporting the Armenian minority congregation at the funeral. Most of the well educated Turks don’t see Armenians as back-stabbers anymore, it has long gone. Problem was that Russian army supplied arms in WWI and offered an independent Armenia in East Turkey. What would you expect other than a deportation? Empire should protect its own army while fighting with Russians. Many were starved or massacred on the way, yes, because empire was poor and army was in full of hate! But West Turkey Armenians are spared, so it wouldn’t be called as a government policy or a genocide. Allied court in Malta after the WWI tried Ottoman government about the mass killings in East Turkey. Verdict was there is no evidence to try about Armenian massacre policy applied as a government policy. Hate doesn’t bring prosperity to countries, it’s just good to sell weapons to both sides. As a peaceful Kurd, I have Armenians friends here in Istanbul, that they are sick of Armenians living abroad telling lies about their community in WWI.