HistoryofTruth.com - Armenian Allegations

Interview with Dr Javid Huseynov, general director of the Azerbaijani-American Council (AAC).

Q: How would you describe the US House Foreign Affairs Committee resolution recognizing the killings of Armenians in 1915 as 'genocide'?

A: House Resolution 252 is a repeated insult to the intelligence of American taxpayers. We see this insult every year thanks to the efforts of the Armenian lobby. And especially in 2010, when the US economy is in recession, when tens of thousands of jobs are lost every month, when the health care reform is in legislative limbo, when war is raging in Afghanistan, coercive legislation on century-old history is not something that the US Congress should be pursuing.

But House Resolution 252 is not only untimely, it is also prejudiced. The Congressional committee, without any investigation of historical facts or any independent tribunal, 'determines' a victim and a perpetrator in the World War I era conflict, where Turks, Kurds and Armenians equally perished. This 'determination' is based not on legal grounds but on various folk stories of one side, sub-planted by paid lobbying. The resolution on the 'Armenian genocide' thus became not a way of addressing a human rights concern but only an effort to outspend 'the other side'. This obviously serves no justice for anyone killed in World War I, whether Turk or Armenian, and most importantly, it does not serve the ultimate objective of peace and reconciliation.

Q: How strong is the Armenian diaspora to achieve the recognition of the so-called 'genocide', and how strong and united are the Turkish and Azerbaijani diasporas in resisting it?

A: Undoubtedly, the Armenian diaspora is influential, both financially and politically. They have well established grassroots organizations involved in lobbying, there are also a number of elected public officials of Armenian heritage in the US federal and state governments and legislatures. Turkic-Americans are new at this, although their learning curve is also much steeper, Azeris and Turks must and do adapt quickly to face the challenge. There are a number of Turkish- and Azeri-American organizations conducting activities at various levels, ranging from political grassroots to community advocacy. Last year, for the first time, an Azeri-American ran for public office in Virginia, and this year another Azeri-American is running to be lieutenant governor in Nevada. These are major achievements for Azerbaijani and Turkic communities in a relatively short period.

But the essence of the 'genocide resolution' is not only about the strength of constituent communities. It is also a mechanism of manipulation and influence in the policy of the United States towards both Turkey and Armenia. Neither Armenian nor Turkic diasporas have full control of this mechanism, as only the US policymakers do. Therefore, I believe, this year that House Resolution 252 will again fail to reach full Congressional approval. But it will remain active on the US agenda as a card that can be played if Turkey becomes 'uncooperative'. Ironically enough, however, both diasporas may have some influence over how effectively this card can be played. And the unprecedented margin of one vote in the 23-22 decision in the House Foreign Affairs Committee is a reflection of the growing influence of the Turkic-American grassroots.

Q: Some Turkish news agencies reported that allegedly the Azerbaijani diaspora in the US did not support Turkish efforts to stop House Resolution 252. Are these claims right? If so, why didn't the Azerbaijani diaspora support their Turkish allies?

A: The article printed in Aksam newspaper claimed that the Azerbaijani diaspora did not support the Turkish efforts against House Resolution 252, speculating that this 'change of heart' allegedly emanated from the ill-fated Turkish-Armenian protocols signed last year. This information is obviously false, and in fact, yesterday, the leading Turkish-American grassroots organization, the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA), issued a statement noting the important role of the Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA), the US Azeris Network (USAN) and the Pax Turcica Initiative (endorsed by a number of Azerbaijani and Turkish groups) in the efforts to defeat the resolution.
Yet the article in Aksam was subsequently picked up by Kaan Soyak, a prominent lobbyist of Armenian interests in Turkey, who claimed that Azeris 'yet again did not support Turks'. Soyak's misuse of the initial Aksam article obviously aims to smear the image of Azeri-Americans in the eyes of Turks and Turkey, and to justify the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border despite Armenia's ongoing occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Q: Do the Azerbaijani and Turkish communities in California encounter any problems, considering the substantial Armenian population in this state?

A: First and foremost, the problem is the issue of anti-Turkic defamation spread by some Armenians in California, both individually and in groups. A Turkish kid going to school in Hollywood or Glendale is most likely to face an accusation of being a 'descendant of murderers' at some point in his life. An Azeri kid going to the same school in California will study in his curriculum that the 1988 Sumgayit riots (where 26 Armenians and six Azeris were killed and the courts identified and punished the perpetrators) were an 'act of genocide against poor Armenians', while the 1992 Khojaly Massacre (where 613 Azeris were murdered and mutilated by Armenian forces without any further investigation or tribunal) was a 'lie made up by evil Azeris'. This is the sort of defamation that the Turkic-American taxpayer has to deal with today.

There is no consistent point of view on the Armenian side as to what they want from Turkey or Azerbaijan. What is consistent though is the passionate Turcophobia and inability to move beyond the historical argument. The Armenian ideal is to have the region without Turkey and Azerbaijan, their vision of peace and the future does not include the existence of these two nations. And that is the essence of the problem which manifests itself in California and elsewhere where Turks and Azeris end up coexisting with Armenians.

Q: Considering that the US Administration spoke against the recognition of the 'Armenian genocide' by Congress, can we assume that President Obama will not label the events of 1915 in Eastern Anatolia 'genocide'?

A: As I've already said, I doubt this resolution will receive full Congressional approval prior to 24 April 2010, simply because it has to remain on the agenda as a pressure mechanism to implement the protocols. Once it is adopted, it will no longer be useful for pressuring Turkey. As for President Obama, he will not say the word 'genocide' on this particular case until Congress decides that he must. This is what House Resolution 252 is all about.

News.Az

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