Armenian organizations of Europe made a joint response to US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon’s proposal on setting up a joint committee of Armenian and Turkish historians, French journalist Jean Ekian reported to PanARMENIAN.Net. “On June 16, Philip Gordon announced that Obama Administration encouraged Yerevan and Ankara’s steps towards setting up joint committee of historians with the purpose of resolving disputable issues concerning Armenian Genocide. We don’t think it’s up to US President to dictate methods of resolving historical conflicts,” says the statement released by Armenian organizations of Europe.
More than 30 years ago historian established the fact of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire, authors of the statement stress. “Historians should be free and independent in their professional activity. No committee set up by the decision of any state can adopt decisions concerning historical events,” they say.
Considering that over 30 thousand Turks have apologized to Armenians, and prominent Turkish historians like Taner Akçam use the word “Genocide” to refer to the extermination of Armenians in Ottoman empire, Barack Obama must admit that setting up such committee is pointless.
“US President had better help Turkey to renounce genocide denial policy and encourage Armenian-Turkish ties normalization process without preconditions. That’s the only way acceptable to Armenians,” the statement says.
