The Foreign Service Journal, June 2015

14 JUNE 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL This administration is under no illusions about the continued barri- ers to internationally recognized freedoms that remain for the Cuban people, nor are we under illusions about the nature of the Cuban govern- ment. When we sat down with our counterparts in Havana, we were clear that our governments have both shared interests and sharp differences. From mail service to counternarcotics to oil spill mitigation, we owe our people a diplomatic relationship that allows an effective pursuit of their interests. On these types of practical issues, we agreed to continue dialogue and increase cooperation. —Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta S. Jacobson speaking before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Feb. 3. Contemporary Quote Time to Recognize “The Great Crime”? A pril 24 marked the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the period (1915- 1923) during which 1.5 million Armenians were systematically displaced and killed under Ottoman rule. Of the remain- ing population, 90 percent fled to other countries. The Armenian diaspora, a large part of which lives in the United States, continues to commemorate the trauma of “Medz Yeghern,” the “Great Crime.” Although the genocide is now an acknowledged historical fact, only 25 countries recog- nize the events of 1915-1923 as genocide. Most—including the United States—do not officially use the term, in deference to Turkey. Many advocates have expressed hope that the 100th anniversary year will be a turning point. In April, Pope Francis became the first Pope to publicly rec- ognize “the first genocide of the 20th century.” In response, Turkey recalled its Vatican-based envoy, who stated: “I find the Pope’s statement immoral, and can’t reconcile it with basic Christian values.” Germany, Austria and the European Parliament all reversed their positions of non-recognition in April. Russia and France have long recognized the geno- cide, and Presidents Putin and Hollande attended the anniversary ceremonies in Yerevan. From the United States, reality TV star and pop culture fixture KimKardashian, who is of Armenian descent and has publicly called for genocide recognition for several years, visited Yerevan for the anniversary. Her trip was widely covered by mainstreammedia outlets and docu- mented for her reality television show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Although Kardashian was criticized for her use of, perhaps overly enthusiastic, exclamation points in her anniversary tweets, millions of Twitter and Instagram users heard about the Armenian geno- cide, probably for the first time. In Washington, President Barack Obama issued a statement of sympathy, avoiding use of the term genocide. Arme- nia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian spoke at the National Press Club on May 7 as a member of President Serzh Sargsyan’s delegation to the commemorative events in Washington that drew thousands from the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. In connection with the anniversary, the Helsinki Commission held a hearing on the effects of continued U.S. non-recogni- tion of the genocide on April 23, which The Foreign Service Journal attended. Chaired by Rep. Chris H. Smith (R-N.J.), the hear- ing featured testimony from both academ- ics and representatives from the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly of America and the Genocide Education Project. Mentioned at the hearing was the fact that, as a senator, Pres. Obama advocated for recognition of the Armenian genocide and criticized those who refused to use the term. All five witnesses, as well as Chair- man Smith, urged official recognition by the United States. Van Krikorian of the AAA noted that many Turks are increasingly interested in investigating their national past, but “it is still dangerous to advocate for genocide recognition inside Turkey, and journalists who do so have been imprisoned, tortured and even assassinated.” Other panelists emphasized that U.S. non-recognition is “hypocritical,” and that the government cannot continue to uphold American values only when con- venient. They maintain that recognition would make it more difficult for the Turk- ish government to suppress free speech and obscure historical truths. —Shannon Mizzi, Editorial Intern President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan speaks at the National Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Ecumenical Service at Washington National Cathedral on May 7 in Washington, D.C. KRISCONOR/GETTY IMAGESFORNCAGC