As Armenians around the world near the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) welcomes the call of newspaper editorial boards urging US and international affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
“The Armenian Assembly of America welcomes the editorials of major newspapers around the globe that are speaking truthfully about the need for recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “All people of goodwill, including President Obama, should embrace the call of Pope Francis and acknowledge the incontestable fact of the Armenian Genocide this April 24th,” Ardouny said.
During his mass on Sunday, April 12 at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis recognized the 1915 killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Empire as genocide by quoting his papal predecessor Pope John Paul II. He said, “In the past century, our human family has lived through three massive and unprecedented tragedies… the first, which is widely considered ‘the first genocide of the 20th century,’ struck your own Armenian people.” The Pope’s statement comes appropriately ahead of the April 24th centennial anniversary of the genocide and has caused a wave of editorial board support for the Pope’s statements and urging the US and other powerful allies to officially recognize the killings as a genocide.
Here’s a sampling of the strong statements of support from across the country:
Los Angeles Times Editorial Board: U.S. should call Armenian genocide by its name
• “The president should take a cue from Pope Francis and include the word genocide in his annual message marking the carnage a century ago. Enduring friendships require such honesty.” [Editorial, Los Angeles Times, 4/13/15]
Denver Post Editorial Board: Speaking the truth on genocide
• “The Ottoman Turks did indeed engage in what amounts to attempted genocide of its Armenian population between 1915 and 1923, slaughtering an estimated 1.5 million, and Pope Francis is hardly the first to say so. But the boldness of his declaration Sunday was refreshing nonetheless, even if it did anger Turkey.” [Editorial, Denver Post, 4/13/15]
• And if the pope isn’t qualified to speak out on behalf of beleaguered Christians, or in memory of them, then who would be?” [Editorial, Denver Post, 4/13/15]
New York Daily News Editorial Board: The true name of evil: The Pope rightly calls Armenian killings genocide
• “In 2001, Pope John Paul II used the word genocide to describe the Armenian massacre that began 100 years ago next week. Now, as he decries today’s massacres of Christians, Francis used his singularly unafraid moral voice to tell it like it was. And thank goodness he did.” [Editorial, New York Daily News, 4/13/15]
Jerusalem Post Editorial Board: Israel should recognize the Armenian genocide
• “Exhibiting his characteristic moral clarity and sensitivity, Pope Francis referred to Turkey’s brutal massacre of about 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children during World War I as genocide.” [Editorial, Jerusalem Post, 4/13/15]
• “Founded in the shadow of the Holocaust, the State of Israel is a living testament to the failure of the international community to prevent genocide. It was in large part out of international recognition of this failure that legitimacy for a uniquely Jewish state with its own armed forces and sovereignty was born. Israel has an obligation to live up to that legacy by using its political sovereignty to prevent genocide not just against Jews but against any group… Pope Francis has publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide. Now it is Israel’s turn.” [Editorial, Jerusalem Post, 4/13/15]
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.