Brussels, 28 of January- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking to a group from the Armenian community of Switzerland, made several inflammatory comments and engaged in outright genocide denial. Specifically, PM Pashinyan questioned the official narrative of the reasons given to the perpetration of the genocide against the Armenian civilian population of the Ottoman Empire, claiming more work needs to be done to understand “why” and “how” the event occurred. Crucially, Pashinyan also questioned the “appearance” of Armenian Genocide recognition advocacy in our communities stating: “How is it that in1939 there was no agenda for the Armenian Genocide, and how is it that in 1950 the agenda for the Armenian Genocide appeared”.
This comment directly aligns with the genocide denial narratives promoted by the Turkish government and misinformation campaigns that are actively levied against recognition efforts in various countries. While the PM hides behind the pretext of simply seeking more information, the mere questioning conceals a deeper layer of twisting reality and continued attempts of “concessions” for, Turkey. It is incredibly disrespectful towards the 1.5 million Armenian victims of the Genocide to have their victimhood and martyrdom questioned. It is further infuriating to hundred-year efforts of the Armenian people, to historians and academics, including Turkish ones, who have dedicated significant efforts towards the recognition of the historical truth and the seeking of Justice and compensation.
Firstly, the term “genocide” did not exist in 1939 as it was coined by Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1944. Lemkin further pushed for an international sensibilization of the topic, with many academics including Armenians pushing the issue of the Genocide of the Armenians on the agenda as well. These efforts were taking place after WW2, during which the international diplomatic and geopolitical situation was evolving exceptionally, with the establishment of the United Nations and its charter and the establishment of international judicial institutions that prioritized and focused their mission on the prevention of genocides and promotion of international norms that sought justice and punishment to perpetrators of acts against humanity such as the “UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” of 1948, a situation that did not exist and was not conceivable in 1939. Seizing the opportunity, the Armenian diaspora increased its campaigning efforts on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the establishment of the official historical narrative. These efforts have culminated in the Armenian Genocide being recognized by hundreds of international institutions and organizations, many countries, the Parliament of the European Union, the Council of Europe and at the United Nations level. Its historical truth cannot be denied, nor can the enormous efforts of the Armenian people to reach these levels be put under question.
Therefore, the “answer” as to what changes happened to the agenda are straightforward and easily accessible to those truthfully wishing to know the truth. We invite the Prime Minister to also consult his Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who has also historically dedicated efforts towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the international stage. To answer “why” the Genocide happened, the Ministry’s official website, as of this publication, states that “the Young Turks government, hoping to save the remains of the weakened Ottoman Empire, adopted a policy of Pan Turkism – the establishment of a mega Turkish empire […] the Armenian population became the main obstacle standing in the way of the realization of this policy. Although the decision for the deportation of all Armenians from the Western Armenia was adopted in late 1911, the Young Turks used WWI as a suitable opportunity for its implementation”. The website further adds an interesting passage that considers the final phase of the genocide being the complete denial and refusal of Turkey to accept responsibility and falsify the reality of the events that occurred stating “Turkey has consistently fought the acceptance of the Armenian Genocide by any means, including falsification of historical facts, propaganda campaigns, lobbying”.
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We invite the Prime Minister to consult these simple, widely available and accepted historical facts and understand that conflict resolution cannot be achieved through concessions of historical truth, quite the opposite, it can only happen with acceptance of responsibility from Turkey of the reality of the Armenian Genocide and the continued efforts towards the establishment of Justice and
Commenting on the situation, EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian expressed his profound disappointment of the PM’s actions, judging the statements to be “irresponsible”, further stating that it is “shameful for the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia”
“Engaging in this type of Genocide denial and historical revisionism is dangerous to an almost criminal degree. At a period during which our nation recently faced genocidal ethnic cleansing and is actively seeking the preservation of the Armenian heritage of Artsakh, promoting any type of genocide denial is unacceptable. Armenian Genocide recognition efforts have been the focal commitment of the Armenian community, a fight that allowed survivors of the very genocide to organize and mobilize around their dignified right for Justice. Any denialism needs to be met with firm rejection and an immediate change of servile policy against those who plot the extermination of the Armenian people and of Armenia.”. – concluded Karampetian.
ARF Public Relations Office