April 24, 2009, Washington, DC - President Obama in his statement on the occasion of the Armenian Remembrance Day refrained from the use of the term “genocide” to describe the tragic events that occurred nearly a century ago in the Ottoman Empire and lent his strong support to dialogue between Turks and Armenians, as well as normalizing relations between Turkey and Armenia.
President Obama has sent a clear message to America and the world that his Administration will not sacrifice a long-term strategic alliance with Turkey for an issue that cannot be resolved by third parties and is best addressed jointly by Turks and Armenians. The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) thanks President Obama for withstanding enormous political pressure in this respect and hopes that Congress will follow the President’s example. Nonetheless, we regret that the President did not use this occasion to show similar sympathy for the well documented losses and immense suffering of the Ottoman Muslim population caused by the Armenian armed rebellion in the Ottoman Empire. Without recognition of this twin tragedy, a truthful historical narrative cannot be established, while reckoning and reconciliation may sadly remain elusive.
In this context, TCA reiterates its support for an international commission of scholars and experts with access to all relevant archives, including those of Armenian organizations that remain closed today. We see such an effort as the fairest method for assessing the truth, which will pave the way for reconciliation, in lieu of politically charged legislative or executive decisions by third parties.
TCA also takes this opportunity to announce the launch of a new website, highlighting the findings and opinions of reputable Western scholars on the Ottoman-Armenian tragic events. This site seeks to provide historical facts and contextual background which dispel the one-sided Armenian narrative and expose the falsehoods perpetrated by Armenian advocacy groups and their supporters.
