The Armenian Genocide Memorial Day serves as a solemn reminder of the atrocities suffered by the Armenian people. As we commemorate the 110th anniversary, the pursuit of recognition and justice remains paramount. This article delves into the statement by the Armenian National Committee International, highlighting the challenges and the path toward true peace.
The continuous denial by Turkey casts a long shadow, exacerbating the pain and hindering reconciliation. The unwavering support of Turkey to Azerbaijan has further fueled ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, deepening the wounds of the past. Understanding these issues is crucial for fostering a future where such atrocities are never repeated.
In this article, we will explore the key points of the Armenian National Committee International’s statement, the ongoing struggle for international recognition, and the steps needed to address the consequences of the genocide. We aim to shed light on the importance of preserving national identity and strengthening the Armenian state.
Turkey’s Denial and Existential Threat to Armenia
The Armenian National Committee International emphasizes that as long as Turkey continues its policy of denial, it remains an existential threat to the Republic of Armenia. Turkey’s objectives include undermining Armenia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as dismantling its security system. The ongoing blockade of the de facto interstate border subjects Armenia to additional economic and political pressure.
According to the statement, there is a lack of political will within the Turkish state apparatus to engage in substantive and unconditional negotiations with the Republic of Armenia. This intransigence perpetuates a cycle of hostility and mistrust, hindering any progress toward normalization.
The policy of denial is not merely a propaganda tool but a deliberate action with far-reaching political objectives. In this context, Turkey continues to be involved in genocidal actions against the Armenian people, perpetuating a cycle of violence and injustice. This underscores the urgent need for international recognition and condemnation of these actions.
The Importance of International Recognition
The continuation of the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the internationalization of the ongoing genocidal actions against the Armenian people are matters of national security for the Republic of Armenia. International recognition serves as a crucial tool for preventing future genocides against the Armenian people.
The fight against the denial of the Armenian Genocide and international actions aimed at addressing the consequences of the Genocide are crucial for preventing future genocides against the Armenian people. This involves not only acknowledging the historical facts but also taking concrete steps to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.
It is essential that key players in international relations—both supranational organizations and individual states—closely monitor Turkey’s military-political behavior, assess its potential direct or indirect involvement in genocidal actions against the Armenian people, and take appropriate measures. This requires a concerted effort to hold perpetrators accountable and to support the victims of these crimes.
Declaration of Independence and Normalization of Relations
Through the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia, and later through the Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian people have clearly outlined their guiding principles in the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the normalization of relations with Turkey. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia unequivocally upheld the irreversibility of the provision in the Declaration of Independence concerning the pursuit of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the context of Armenia–Turkey interstate relations.
By setting new preconditions, the Republic of Turkey excludes the possibility of establishing normal relations with the Republic of Armenia based on mutual trust, reciprocity, and equality. This intransigence further exacerbates the challenges in achieving lasting peace and reconciliation.
In cooperation with Azerbaijan, Turkey is pursuing a policy of the use of force or the threat thereof against Armenia. Under such circumstances, any unilateral concessions made by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia lack legitimacy. This underscores the importance of a balanced and principled approach to negotiations, ensuring that the rights and security of the Armenian people are protected.
The Role of the Armenian Diaspora
The targeted efforts of the Armenian Diaspora, as well as the political and community leaders within it, are important and valuable in the pursuit of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and in raising awareness about its contemporary manifestations. The Diaspora plays a crucial role in advocating for justice and ensuring that the memory of the genocide is never forgotten.
The unfounded assessments made by the authorities of the Republic of Armenia regarding the history and current state of Armenia–Turkey relations are devoid of historical and political basis and legitimacy. These assessments directly contradict the well-known provisions of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Armenia and clash with our people’s spiritual and moral values.
Statements made by the Armenian authorities directly serve the hostile propaganda aimed at downplaying the crime of the Armenian Genocide, further reinforcing the sense of impunity enjoyed by Turkey and its genocidal ally, Azerbaijan. This highlights the need for a unified and consistent message in the pursuit of justice and recognition.
The Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh
The ethnic cleansing of Artsakh fully fits within the context of the Turkish policy aimed at displacing the Armenian people from their historical homeland, annihilating them, and creating conditions incompatible with their continued existence. What happened in Artsakh was merely one manifestation of the materialization of the genocidal threat against the Armenian people.
Therefore, for the Armenian people, the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and steps toward the elimination of its consequences are of vital security importance, particularly in terms of countering Turkish expansionism and genocidal policies. This underscores the urgent need for international action to protect the rights and security of the Armenian people.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as we commemorate the memory of our one and a half million canonized martyrs, we call upon our people—both in the Homeland and the Diaspora—to continue the struggle for the preservation of national identity, the strengthening of the Armenian state, the full protection and restoration of the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh, and more broadly, for the elimination of the consequences of the Armenian Genocide and the restoration of justice.
The path toward true peace is fraught with challenges, but it is a path that must be pursued with unwavering determination. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is not merely a historical issue but a matter of present-day security and justice. It requires a concerted effort from individuals, organizations, and governments around the world.
Let us honor the memory of the victims by continuing the fight for recognition, justice, and lasting peace. The preservation of national identity and the strengthening of the Armenian state are essential for ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated. This is the difficult path toward true peace, and it is a path that we must walk together.
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