Armenians are understandably distressed when they encounter statements that distort or deny the facts of the Armenian Genocide, and feel comforted when it is properly acknowledged, says Harut Sassounian, Editor of the California Courier weekly.

While they are quick to castigate the deniers, they rarely take the time to recognize those who speak the truth, he said.

In this context Sassounian refers to the Intermountain Jewish News (IJN) and the commentator Burak Bekdil of Hurriyet Daily News.

IJN particularly writes: “We could use the word ‘diplomacy’ or ‘politics’ or ‘ignorance’ or ‘objectivity’ or ‘fairness.’ In truth, there is only one word: lie. For many years, some national Jewish organizations lied about the Armenian genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks during WW I. These organizations said it didn’t happen, or that it was a matter of ‘historical dispute.’

”…On the grounds that Israel had to maintain good relations with Turkey, these national Jewish organizations—not to mention Israel herself—accepted Turkey’s denial of the Armenian genocide, or said it was ‘disputed.’ Good relations with Turkey could only be purchased by acceptance of Turkey’s lying about the Armenian genocide, we were told. It was disgraceful.

“…Lying about the Armenian genocide should not be part of the currency of Israeli—or American Jewish—diplomacy with Turkey. Israel and these national Jewish organizations should now see that, even pragmatically, the lying did not help…

”Can you imagine anyone credibly claiming that the Warsaw Ghetto revolt in 1943 shows that the Holocaust was just a ‘civil war’ between the Jews and the Germans? That’s how ridiculous the ‘civil war’ characterization of the Turkish prosecution of the Armenian genocide is coming to look…

Liberal Turkish commentator Burak Bekdil particularly says: ""First, let’s make a list of the Turkish atrocities of the past century… For a start, I shall also propose the Armenian genocide; war crimes against Greeks during the War of Independence; pogroms and other violence against Greeks, Armenians and Jews during the earlier years of the Republic; the deaths of 40,000 Kurds… Kurdish atrocities [from] 1984 to 2002. Of course, these sorrowful events can be multiplied endlessly… I would urge our pro-AKP liberals to pen a draft text in recognition of a full list of Turkish atrocities in the 20th century, decorated further with an official apology to the victims and their relatives."

Armenian organizations should pay tribute to the persons for daring to condemn their own leaders and expose their lies on the Armenian Genocide, Sassounian concluded.

T.P.