Statement of the Armenian National Committee – International
on the 111th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
The 111th anniversary commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide is upon us. While the passage of time may appear to distance us from the consequences of that abhorrent crime against humanity, recent developments in our history—namely, the occupation and the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh—once again demonstrate that the Armenian Genocide was not a crime confined to a specific time and place, but an ongoing process aimed at the extermination or displacement of the Armenian people from their homeland.
Genocide remains both a crime and an existential threat so long as the perpetrating state has neither acknowledged its political and moral responsibility nor been compelled to do so by the international community. Recognition of genocide is equally necessary for the perpetrator—to cleanse itself of a historical stigma and cease to pose a civilizational threat—and for the victim, as a guarantee against the continuation of genocidal intent.
For decades, the struggle for the international recognition, condemnation, and reparations of the Armenian Genocide has been aimed primarily at ensuring the secure existence of Armenia and the Armenian people. This pursuit has never been an end in itself for the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora, or the international community; rather, it has sought to foster lasting peace and coexistence in the region through the restoration of justice and a reckoning with history.
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In Armenian–Turkish relations, there is no “conflict” in the classical sense. It is therefore misguided to approach interstate normalization through conventional conflict-resolution mechanisms. In this context, there exists a perpetrator state whose denialist policies—and ongoing actions—demonstrate the persistence of genocidal intent, and a victimized side seeking to prevent the recurrence of such actions.
The ongoing Armenia–Turkey negotiation process illustrates this reality. Despite the Armenian authorities having imprudently and unconditionally met all of Turkey’s preconditions, the Turkish side has not only refrained from implementing even agreed-upon symbolic steps but has also introduced new preconditions and continues to link Armenia–Turkey relations to Armenia–Azerbaijan dynamics. In effect, Turkey maintains an unlawful blockade against the Republic of Armenia, which constitutes a manifestation of hostile policy.
As a result, a situation has emerged in which the authorities of Armenia possess virtually no effective means to influence the course of normalization. Under these conditions, it becomes evident that Armenia–Turkey relations should not be treated as a conventional conflict. A genuine path toward normalization—both at the interstate level and, potentially, between the two peoples—can only emerge when the Turkish state adopts policies that do not aim at dismantling Armenia’s security architecture and do not entail the continuation of the genocidal crime.
On this solemn anniversary, we honor the memory of our innocent victims and reaffirm that the memory of the Armenian Genocide cannot be denied, and its international recognition cannot be subject to negotiation.
Armenian National Committee – International
(ARF Armenian Cause Central Council)