Interview with Tomris Azeri, president of the Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA), the oldest grassroots organization of Azerbaijani Americans.
Q: What is your comment on the opinion that Armenians in Armenia itself don’t support the Armenian diaspora’s “genocide propaganda policy” and radical views on the Karabakh problem because they harm Armenian interests in the South Caucasus?
A: I disagree. I think diaspora Armenians could be more reasonable and easier to talk to on any issue, because they are less under the influence of the radical state propaganda produced by their nation-state, the Republic of Armenia. Some of the statements by Armenians in the diaspora may be more maximalist, but their views are less homogenous than the policy of Armenia. Moreover, unlike the republic, diaspora Armenians are not under the influence of foreign factors, such as Russia, they live in more advanced and less corrupt societies which promote free thinking and innovative ideas. Naturally in such an environment, it may be easier to reach out for a constructive debate.
As for the Karabakh issue, while it is rising in importance for Armenians worldwide, it should be a lesser priority for the diaspora. In reality, the Armenian diaspora does not possess mechanisms to influence the solution to the Karabakh problem. They have very little influence on foreign actors, such as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, and their political position on Karabakh has so far been that of an emotional distraction, rather than the pursuit of any constructive peace proposals.
Q: What events did US Azeris and Turks hold to mark 24 April, marked by Armenians as "genocide" day?
A: There was a counter demonstration in Washington, DC organized by Turkish- and Azeri-American communities in Washington, DC on 24 April. It was very successful in rebutting one-sided Armenian propaganda. On 30 April there will be another major demonstration against Armenian claims in Times Square in Manhattan, initiated by The Young Turks, USA and supported by the Azerbaijan Society of America. These events are aimed at mobilizing our community to increase overall awareness of the issue, to let an American audience hear our side of the story as well.
Q: Why do you think President Obama did not use the word "genocide" in his annual message to mark the date?
A: As last year, the president used the Armenian word "mets yeghern", which is how Armenians refer to the ethnic strife during World War I in Eastern Anatolia. In so doing, President Obama attempts to walk a fine line between Armenian-American demands and Turkey's position. And it does not matter, if for that purpose he has to step over the truth, essentially denying recognition to over a million Turkish victims who perished at the hands of the Russian army and armed Armenian militia during the same period.
I think in order to change such a one-sided attitude, the work of Turkish- and Turkic-American communities is very important. This is the front on which our community has to increase pressure on US official circles, media, and academia to listen and recognize our side of the historical narrative as well, to develop a more neutral approach. The claim of the so-called "Armenian genocide" in regard to the events of World War I in Eastern Anatolia is wrong not only as it lacks legal justification, but because it refuses to recognize all the victims of the World War I atrocities who were killed as a result of the pursuit of limited ethnic interests.
By this, I mean the massacres of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Turks, Kurds, Azeris and other Muslims at the hands of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun paramilitaries in Eastern Anatolia and the South Caucasus.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
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