By Karen Albrecht
Daily Bruin Contributor
In France, “genocide” now officially describes the
death of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks, after
landmark French legislation passed Jan. 18.
In the United States Congress, a similar Armenian Genocide
resolution was killed last October, preempted by warnings from
former President Clinton that it could jeopardize good U.S.-Turkey
relations. The Turkish government denies the 1915 event ever
occurred.
“National interests, fear of destabilization, and possible
alienation of an allied power are cited as justification for
killing the measure in the U.S.,” said Richard G.
Hovannisian, Armenian and Near Eastern history professor.
“This is an untenable position, because it contradicts
everything the U.S. claims regarding human rights issues and
condemnation of genocide.”
It is likely that the measure would have passed the house had
the Clinton administration not intervened, Hovannisian said.
The U.S. values the strategic location of Turkish allies, and
was correct in defeating the resolution in the House, according to
Ersin Sivrican, fourth-year aerospace engineering student and
president of the Turkish Student Association at UCLA.
“I do not think the U.S. will make the same mistake as the
French government in acknowledging this
“˜genocide,'” Sivrican said. “I also believe
that France will have to reconsider this matter in the near
future.”
Beginning in 1915, Ottoman Turks, members of the Triple Alliance
during World War I, began to relocate their minority Armenian
population to Syria. Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million
Armenians died in the process, many succumbing to the elements and
to starvation during their forced displacement.
While acknowledging that up to 600,000 ethnic Armenians were
left dead during this period, Turkish officials have traditionally
denied that the casualties were a result of an organized government
effort.
But American diplomats, missionaries and other personnel have
provided evidence of genocide through eyewitness accounts,
according to Hovannisian.
“Thousands of U.S. documents in the U.S. national archives
attest in no uncertain terms to the reality and factuality of the
genocide,” he said.
Among others, Italy, the Vatican, Greece, Belgium and Russia
have previously recognized the Armenian Genocide.
“The U.S. is now in somewhat of an embarrassing situation
as European counterparts, one after another, recognize the
genocide,” Hovannisian said.
While it is disappointing that the U.S. did not pass the
resolution last October, French recognition is symbolic of
increasing international awareness, said David Dahle, third-year
political science and sociology student, and deputy chief of staff
for Undergraduate Students Association Council President Elizabeth
Houston.
“As long as people recognize that genocide took place, it
is a step in the right direction,” he said.
The French legislation could spawn lawsuits and demands for
legal compensation from Turkey similar to that paid to Jewish
victims of the Holocaust. Furthermore, French business relations
with Turkey will likely suffer, according to Sivrican.
But Hovannisian said it is in the interests of the Turkish
government to acknowledge the Armenian genocide and deal with the
consequences. Their tactics of denial, he said, have not made the
issue disappear.
The Armenian presence in Southern California has grown to more
than 500,000 since 1915, and has become the largest Armenian
community outside of their country.
In addition, the number of UCLA students of Armenian origin has
risen to several hundred, according to Hovannisian.