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I am writing to congratulate you on your inauguration as President of the United States and to raise several priorities that hold great meaning for my family and me.
* Ending the Darfur Genocide: As a vital part of the growing genocide-prevention movement, Armenian Americans and all people of good conscience look forward to working with you from the first day of your Administration to end the Darfur Genocide and to help bring peace to Sudan. I urge you to act decisively on this urgent matter.
* Standing up for the Truth: I encourage you to continue energetically working toward Congressional commemoration, Presidential recognition, and Turkish acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. As you have stated so eloquently and repeatedly, the facts of this crime are undeniable and should be recognized by the United States. I look forward to your straight-forward condemnation of the 1915-1923 crime of race extermination by Ottoman Turkey that killed one and a half million Armenians, emptied vast areas of the Armenian homeland, and inflicted grave material harm to every aspect of the Armenian people's cultural heritage, depriving it, to this day, of its right to exist on its native soil. The Armenian people deserve, and the conscience of humanity, demands a just resolution of this crime.
* Rejecting Foreign Pressure: The clarity of your promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide is particularly welcome in light of the unfortunate practice of past Presidents to use, under Turkey's pressure, evasive and euphemistic terminology rather than directly acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. Clearly, for reasons of morality, respect for historical integrity, and the imperative of genocide-prevention, the term Armenian Genocide is the only one that can meaningfully be used to characterize the crime committed by Ottoman Turkey.
* Calling for Change: Sadly, Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide has contributed to its inability to adapt to the changing realities in the region. Rather than being a factor for peace, Turkey, as a result of its denials and other antagonistic policies, has actively contributed to increased tension and division in South Caucasus. Instead of demonstrating a willingness to honestly confront the past in the spirit of truth and justice, its leaders have sought instead to pressure other governments to underwrite Turkey's historic guilt. The United States should neither be a hostage to Turkey’s fears, nor a victim of its moral failings.
Strengthening U.S.-Armenia Ties and Promoting Peace: I look forward to your concerted efforts on the broad range of issues of concern to Armenian Americans, including, of course:
* Building stronger U.S.-Armenia economic, political, military, development, and cultural relations.
* Strengthening Armenia through increased aid, trade, and economic cooperation.
* Lifting the Turkish and Azerbaijani economic blockades of Armenia
* Fostering a durable regional peace based on a Nagorno Karabagh settlement that respects democracy and self-determination.
I am particularly encouraged that you will be joined in your Administration by longtime friends of Armenia and supporters of Armenian Genocide recognition, among them Vice President-elect Joe Biden, a 35-year champion of this human rights issue, and Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton. Others in your Administration, including incoming Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and CIA Director Leon Panetta have also supported Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I am also pleased to see that the Congress will be led by two of the most vocal and longstanding advocates of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, both of whom have repeatedly called for full and proper U.S. recognition of this crime against humanity.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns and for working closely, as President, with the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), which, as you know, endorsed you in January of 2008 and led the Armenian American community in energetically supporting your candidacy throughout your long campaign for the White House.
Sincerely,
Albert Gabri - Woodland Hills, CA
