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Ambassador Arman Kirakossian's remarks at the public commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
St. Paul, MN

April 24, 2001

Dear guests,
Dear members of the Armenian Cultural Organization of Minnesota,

Thank you for this opportunity to speak before such a distinguished audience today. I am delighted to be in this state, which, not unlike my Homeland, is famous well beyond its boundaries by its talented and industrious people. I have heard a lot of Minnesota's Armenian-American community, whose fortunes and progress closely mirrored that of our world-scattered people. Your community stands out for its dedication, values and principles that are so representative of the Armenian and American spirits. When the Minnesotans hear the word 'Armenia', they immediately recognize their good neighbors, colleagues, and friends. Each of you is a very good ambassador of the Armenians in their community.

Before I start, I would like to thank the Governor of the State of Minnesota and the Mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis for their resolution declaring April 24, 2001 as a Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide 1915- 1923. This is another indication of this state's adherence to the values and ideals of freedom and justice, on which this country was founded more than 200 years ago. It is also a potent message of friendship and sympathy to the Armenian people, and it means a lot to us.

The Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide is a noble and sad occasion for the Armenians throughout the world, as it singularly represents the inglorious and frequent persecution of our people by evil imperial regimes. It is not a coincidence that the date that commemorates the Armenian Genocide is April 24, because it is on that date 86 years ago that the Armenian intellectuals, writers, artists, musicians were rounded up in Constantinople - Istanbul and met their death at the hands of the faceless servants of the Ottoman Government. By beheading the intellectual capacity of the Armenian people, the perpetrators of the Genocide hoped to deprive us of our collective memory and condemn us to eternal oblivion. Conducting an ethnic cleansing of Western Armenia, and devising a vicious Eastward march - Drang Nach Osten of their own - to destroy the nascent First Republic in 1918, the genocidal Ottoman Empire and its successor regime nearly succeeded in exterminating the Armenian race from the face of Earth.

Indeed, it seemed for a while that - quoting Winston Churchill's 1929 book "The World Crisis" - "history will search in vain for the word Armenia." Much as the Biblical Job challenged the notion that "Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?" (Book of Job, Chapter 4, verse 7), so could the Armenians rightly say: yes, we were innocent yet we perished, we were upright but were nearly annihilated.

Eighty-five years later, we face an altogether different reality. The Armenian people persevered and overcame this sadistic and unnecessary trial. Yet the Genocide of 1915 has left permanent scars in the psyche and body of our nation. Our people are scattered all over the world since the Genocide has led to creation of a Diaspora. Millions of Armenians found refuge in foreign lands where they created miracles by their hard work and dedication. In this country alone there are nearly one million Armenian-Americans, including many distinguished residents of this state. While everyone admires the resilience and vitality of the Armenian Diaspora, we should always remember that the Diaspora of today is descended from men and women who had lived in their ancestral homeland for millennia before they were uprooted and cleansed away by a vicious regime.

The words Diaspora and Genocide have become an integral part of the Armenian people's national identity. The two concepts are intertwined, and one is an obvious result and proof of the other. Today's Diaspora cannot exist without upholding and honoring the memory of the fallen martyrs, without fighting for a universal recognition and condemnation of the genocide. The path toward achieving a greater recognition of the Genocide is not easy, and it will require a further consolidation of the Diaspora's resources. It is also an issue that transcends the traditional party, Church, and community affiliation, and it is truly a unifying factor for the Armenians in the Diaspora.

In the absence of an independent and free Armenia, the Diaspora and its institutions have emerged as carriers of the custodianship of the legacy of free Armenia, Azat Hayastan. Ten years ago, the Armenian tricolor was once again raised in Yerevan, symbolizing the rebirth of an independent homeland. Entering an independent homeland into the big picture is continuing to alter the Armenian national identity, and is requiring of every Armenian a concerted effort to make it home for every Armenian. Armenia's newly recovered independence is not a gift but the only way to consolidate a democratic and civil society based on shared values and the rule of law. The Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora are not simply partners and allies, or two parts of the historical Armenia. The Republic of Armenia is more than a sum of all the parts of the Armenian people. It is the custodian and guardian of the free Armenian spirit, a gravity point for the nation, and a voice for all the Armenians.

The existence of the Republic of Armenia has considerably altered not only the way we Armenians view the Genocide but also the venues for achieving its international recognition. An independent and strong Armenia will never again allow Genocide perpetrated against its people.

One example of this new reality is Artsakh. Everybody in Armenia and the Diaspora was determined not to allow another Genocide against the Armenian people. That's why the Republic of Armenia, with the help of its Diaspora brethren, stood firmly behind the heroic people of Artsakh and prevailed over the forces that were ready to unleash a new wave of massacres. An unprecedented unity in the ranks of the Armenian society allowed us to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno Karabakh Armenians. And even greater harmony is required to accomplish the historic task of reaching a just and lasting settlement of the Artsakh conflict.

It is the lack of social harmony and self-governance that evaded out nation for so long in its millennia-long history and brought misery and death to our doorsteps. On the contrary, when we, as a nation, were determined and worked together to achieve an important national task, we have always succeeded. Thus it was at Avarayr in 451, and in Artsakh in 1992 - 1994. We therefore believe that the national task of today is to spare no effort in order to build a strong, stable, prosperous and secure nation at peace with itself, and at peace with its neighbors, a guiding light and source of pride for all the Armenians.

A truly strong, independent and prosperous Armenia is the best memorial to the martyrs of the Genocide. Their sufferings very much loom on our minds, but we have to build a free Homeland for their descendants.

As a representative of the Armenian Government in this country, I want to assure you that the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is very much on the policy agenda of our Republic. The Republic of Armenia views the international recognition of Genocide from the point of view of upholding the honor of the fallen martyrs and the duty before the descendants of the victims of the Genocide in Armenia and its Diaspora. The efforts toward greater recognition of the Genocide by the international community, and, ultimately, by modern-day Turkey require that we adopt a balanced approach and work together, as one man. We should stay away from petty squabbles and internecine struggle, which, unfortunately, seemed to be the mark of the passing age. In 2001, we celebrate the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia and the tenth anniversary of the independent Armenia. These double anniversaries are the testimony to the dual character of our nation, which combines both the ancient and the modern and adheres to both spiritual and civil values.

We are committed to promoting a greater international acceptance and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, viewing it in several contexts, including the international and regional security aspects.

The twentieth century witnessed many massacres, Genocides, and wars, which took lives of millions of people. The Armenian Genocide was the first organized effort in the modern history of the mankind, which was aimed at a total annihilation and/or deportation of a whole nation. It was a sad precursor to the Jewish Holocaust during the World War II, which took lives of more than 6 millions Jewish citizens of Europe. We have witnessed genocidal campaigns in Cambodia and, most recently, Rwanda. In our view, the fact that the Armenian genocide went unpunished was a major impetus for future dictators who didn't think twice before issuing orders for a new massacre. All of us know the quote from Hitler, "Who now remembers the Armenian massacres?"

This proves the point that the historians always make: those who forget the past are condemned to re-living it in the future. Although there is a 1948 United Nations convention aimed at prevention of the genocides, we feel that this or any other document cannot be properly enforced unless the previous massacres are exposed and examined. Armenia works very actively with the United Nations and other international fora to achieve a universal condemnation of such acts in any part of the world. Therefore, an international recognition of the Armenian Genocide will serve the dual purpose of exposing the first Genocide of the XX century and better prevention of new Genocides.

From the regional context, the Genocide is the thorny issue in the development of the sound security system in the South Caucasus and a healthy bilateral relationship between Armenia and Turkey. Acceptance of the fact of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Government and its successor regime is one of the components of our policy to improve the relations with Turkey. Stability and strength of the Armenian-Turkish bilateral cooperation can only be based on the historic rapprochement between the two nations. The modern Turkey strives to join the family of European nations and become a member of the European Union. Therefore, a wider international recognition of the Armenian Genocide raises the standards to which Turkey is aspiring to adhere and will ultimately promote the understanding of the issue in Turkey proper.

Only acceptance of the historic truth can heal the deep-running discord between the Armenian and Turkish people, which, in turn, will normalize the bilateral relations between Armenia and Turkey. In our opinion, recognizing the Armenian Genocide can in no way be viewed as a threat or attack on the Turkish people. It is only a myth invented by the lobbyists of the world, united. On the contrary, I am convinced that accepting the historical fact can only contribute to the health and self-confidence of any nation, including Turkey. To quote from the Gospel according to John (Chapter 8, verse 32), "you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free". Once free of this historic burden of Genocide denial, the Turkish people can work in concert with Armenia and other nations to promote peace and understanding in the whole region. But before it happens, we have to work hard to make this reality true.

We are entering the new century with new hopes and vision of a better future. We are sad that millions of Armenians perished before they could see their dreams of an independent homeland materialize. At the same time, we are confident that we, the descendants and heirs of the martyrs, will find in ourselves the determination and strength to preserve and enhance Armenia's independence. By dedicating ourselves to the national tasks of today, we will make Armenia's re-acquired freedom an eternal reality.

Thank you.

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