Australia, 26th March, 2012
The Hon. Serzh Sargsyan
President of the Republic of Armenia
26 Baghramian Avenue,
Yerevan, 0077,
Armenia
Dear Mr President,
Regarding: The rejection of the Hellenic (Asia Minor and Pontic) and Assyrian Genocides by the Armenian National Assembly
We refer to the Armenian Parliament’s decision not to accept the bill criminalising the Genocide of the Hellenes of Pontos and the Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire, as initiated by Heritage Party Members of Parliament in connection to amend the bill of National Holidays and Memory Days.
We find this decision perplexing, perturbing and indeed absurd. Unequivocally, we condemn it without any hesitation and in the strongest terms.
We note that the Armenian Genocide has enormous academic bibliography and documents that explain this tragic event from a variety of perspectives. There is a conspicuous lack of detail or even mention in the published works outlining the suffering of the Greeks and Assyrians who, like the Armenians, were massacred by the same perpetrator.
We understand that some nations who have suffered genocide, sometimes consider it an exclusive event and may ignore the sufferings of other ethnic groups to their detriment. Greeks and Assyrians have supported and campaigned for the recognition of the Armenian genocide in North America, Europe and Australia. It is only by adopting a unified approach that the Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians can achieve success in the recognition of their genocides on the international stage.
It seems astonishing that the Armenian parliament failed to mention or even acknowledge the resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars of 2007 “affirming the 1914-1923 massacres and death marches of Ottoman Greeks was "genocide". The resolution also affirmed the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides.”
We remind you of the text of this resolution as below:
WHEREAS the denial of genocide is widely recognized as the final stage of genocide, enshrining impunity for the perpetrators of genocide, and demonstrably paving the way for future genocides;
WHEREAS the Ottoman genocide against minority populations during and following the First World War is usually depicted as a genocide against Armenians alone, with little recognition of the qualitatively similar genocides against other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire;
BE IT RESOLVED that it is the conviction of the International Association of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted a genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian Greeks.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association calls upon the government of Turkey to acknowledge the genocides against these populations, to issue a formal apology, and to take prompt and meaningful steps toward restitution.
We encourage the Armenian Parliament to reconsider its position in reversing its decision by recognising the Greek and Assyrian Genocides. As a reminder, we wish to submit a brief history when a defeated and demoralised Greece provided relief to Armenian refugees from Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace from September 1922 onwards. At our request, this has been prepared by our Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia’s Academic Advisory team:
Greece had to cope with a massive influx of Greek and Armenian refugees from Asia Minor, after its army suffered a crushing military defeat at the hands of the Kemalists in September 1922. More refugees left Eastern Thrace for Greece after the signing of the armistice at Mudania in October 1922. The Greek Government lacked the economic and financial resources to provide food, clothing and shelter to these destitute refugees. It was the American Red Cross who worked closely with the Greek Government to provide sustenance, accommodation and medical care to these unfortunate individuals.
The Greek economy was in ruins after being on a war-footing for a decade and the refugees had to be absorbed into Greek society. Foreign assistance could not last indefinitely, as the refugees had to become self-reliant. With the withdrawal of the American Red Cross in June 1923, the Greek government sought to raise an international loan through the League of Nations for reconstruction and resettlement purposes. Whilst the Greek government provided assistance to its compatriots from Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace; despite its economic difficulties at no stage did Athens neglect the Armenian refugees or force them to leave Greece. They left Greece of their own volition.
It must be noted that Dr Fridtjof Nansen, the League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, did sterling work in the assisting and resettling the Asia Minor refugees in Greece and other nations during the 1920s.
There are direct quotations from US Department of State, League of Nations and International Labor Office documents highlighting the number of Armenian refugees in Greece and assistance provided to them by the Greek government.
Caffery (US Chargė d’Affaires) to Acting Secretary of State, Athens, September 20, 1922
High Commissioner, Constantinople telegraphs “…I consider responsibility for care of refugees after they leave Asia Minor rests solely on Greek Government and Allies.
These destitute refugees being landed daily on Greek territory. Greek Government and organizations helping them but task is much too big. Money and food badly needed. I recommend urgently American relief organizations send assistance to Greece.
Greek Government giving some supplies Armenian children here from American Smyrna missionary institutions and Queen has offered villa for American Smyrna refugees.”
Phillips (Undersecretary of State) to the Chairman of the American Red Cross, Payne, Washington, February 28, 1923
“The question of the Armenian refugees is one of particular concern to this Department.
Whether, in addition to the refugees of Greek race and religion, Greece will be in a position to care for many thousands of Armenians is questionable, and it may be important to look forward to plans for finding homes elsewhere for Armenian refugees now in Greece.”
Tsamados (The Greek Chargé d’Affaires) to Assistant Chief of Division of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State, Dwight, Washington, August 18, 1923
“The Greek nation will never and under no pretext force them [Armenians] to leave the Greek territory in order to relieve the situation of those of Greek race,…but it must not be forgotten that unless help is forthcoming from richer and happier nations, more than half a million people, irrespective of race and religion, are facing certain death.”
League of Nations, International Labor Office
Report on the work for refugees
Census of unemployed Armenian refugees in Greece
Total 22, 689
League of Nations, International Labor Office
Appendix 11 Extracts from reports from the various refugee areas
“11.Armenian Refugees
Approximate number of Armenian refugees in Greece is 45,300 consisting of 11,400 families.”
A30 1923 X11, League of Nations, September 4, 1923
Report on the work of the High Commission for refugees presented by Dr Fridtjof Nansen to the Fourth Assembly
“900,000 refugees covered in Greece, including 300,000 from Eastern Thrace and at least 50,000 Armenians to whom the Greek Government distributed relief.”
Galust Sahakyan NA Republican Party leader argued that the bill has uncertain logic and it is not clear what is the benefit of Armenia to accept it, so the Republicans voted against the adoption.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov stated that the initiating of the bill is done for making appearances.
"Genocide of Christians in Ottoman Empire is the same with the Armenia Genocide". Sharmazanov deems that when we hail to recognize Armenian Genocide it includes recognition of other Christian nations genocides as well; whereas the recognition of Armenian Genocide is stipulated by the Constitution of Armenia. In this context Sharmaznov highlighted National Assembly call to the world to recognize Armenian Genocide;" "We are demand holders" Sharmazanov stated.
In light of the above, we wish to respectfully request that your Government, through the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, re-consider this decision and in fact reverse it immediately. The Genocide in Anatolia at the beginning of the previous century was specifically aimed at all Christians; and such Christians included Armenians, Assyrians and Hellenes (Asia Minor and Pontic).
I the meantime, awaiting your favourable response, we remain,
Ομοσπονδία Ποντιακών Σωματείων Αυστραλίας
Federation Of Pontian Associations Of Australia
15 Riverview Road, Undercliffe
NSW, 2206, Australia
Τηλ. 61(0)400699010, 61(0)404217369
Fax 61297730322
www.pontos.org.au
info@pontos.org.au
The Hon. Serzh Sargsyan
President of the Republic of Armenia
26 Baghramian Avenue,
Yerevan, 0077,
Armenia
Dear Mr President,
Regarding: The rejection of the Hellenic (Asia Minor and Pontic) and Assyrian Genocides by the Armenian National Assembly
We refer to the Armenian Parliament’s decision not to accept the bill criminalising the Genocide of the Hellenes of Pontos and the Assyrians in the Ottoman Empire, as initiated by Heritage Party Members of Parliament in connection to amend the bill of National Holidays and Memory Days.
We find this decision perplexing, perturbing and indeed absurd. Unequivocally, we condemn it without any hesitation and in the strongest terms.
We note that the Armenian Genocide has enormous academic bibliography and documents that explain this tragic event from a variety of perspectives. There is a conspicuous lack of detail or even mention in the published works outlining the suffering of the Greeks and Assyrians who, like the Armenians, were massacred by the same perpetrator.
We understand that some nations who have suffered genocide, sometimes consider it an exclusive event and may ignore the sufferings of other ethnic groups to their detriment. Greeks and Assyrians have supported and campaigned for the recognition of the Armenian genocide in North America, Europe and Australia. It is only by adopting a unified approach that the Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians can achieve success in the recognition of their genocides on the international stage.
It seems astonishing that the Armenian parliament failed to mention or even acknowledge the resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars of 2007 “affirming the 1914-1923 massacres and death marches of Ottoman Greeks was "genocide". The resolution also affirmed the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides.”
We remind you of the text of this resolution as below:
WHEREAS the denial of genocide is widely recognized as the final stage of genocide, enshrining impunity for the perpetrators of genocide, and demonstrably paving the way for future genocides;
WHEREAS the Ottoman genocide against minority populations during and following the First World War is usually depicted as a genocide against Armenians alone, with little recognition of the qualitatively similar genocides against other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire;
BE IT RESOLVED that it is the conviction of the International Association of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted a genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian Greeks.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association calls upon the government of Turkey to acknowledge the genocides against these populations, to issue a formal apology, and to take prompt and meaningful steps toward restitution.
We encourage the Armenian Parliament to reconsider its position in reversing its decision by recognising the Greek and Assyrian Genocides. As a reminder, we wish to submit a brief history when a defeated and demoralised Greece provided relief to Armenian refugees from Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace from September 1922 onwards. At our request, this has been prepared by our Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia’s Academic Advisory team:
Greece had to cope with a massive influx of Greek and Armenian refugees from Asia Minor, after its army suffered a crushing military defeat at the hands of the Kemalists in September 1922. More refugees left Eastern Thrace for Greece after the signing of the armistice at Mudania in October 1922. The Greek Government lacked the economic and financial resources to provide food, clothing and shelter to these destitute refugees. It was the American Red Cross who worked closely with the Greek Government to provide sustenance, accommodation and medical care to these unfortunate individuals.
The Greek economy was in ruins after being on a war-footing for a decade and the refugees had to be absorbed into Greek society. Foreign assistance could not last indefinitely, as the refugees had to become self-reliant. With the withdrawal of the American Red Cross in June 1923, the Greek government sought to raise an international loan through the League of Nations for reconstruction and resettlement purposes. Whilst the Greek government provided assistance to its compatriots from Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace; despite its economic difficulties at no stage did Athens neglect the Armenian refugees or force them to leave Greece. They left Greece of their own volition.
It must be noted that Dr Fridtjof Nansen, the League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, did sterling work in the assisting and resettling the Asia Minor refugees in Greece and other nations during the 1920s.
There are direct quotations from US Department of State, League of Nations and International Labor Office documents highlighting the number of Armenian refugees in Greece and assistance provided to them by the Greek government.
Caffery (US Chargė d’Affaires) to Acting Secretary of State, Athens, September 20, 1922
High Commissioner, Constantinople telegraphs “…I consider responsibility for care of refugees after they leave Asia Minor rests solely on Greek Government and Allies.
These destitute refugees being landed daily on Greek territory. Greek Government and organizations helping them but task is much too big. Money and food badly needed. I recommend urgently American relief organizations send assistance to Greece.
Greek Government giving some supplies Armenian children here from American Smyrna missionary institutions and Queen has offered villa for American Smyrna refugees.”
Phillips (Undersecretary of State) to the Chairman of the American Red Cross, Payne, Washington, February 28, 1923
“The question of the Armenian refugees is one of particular concern to this Department.
Whether, in addition to the refugees of Greek race and religion, Greece will be in a position to care for many thousands of Armenians is questionable, and it may be important to look forward to plans for finding homes elsewhere for Armenian refugees now in Greece.”
Tsamados (The Greek Chargé d’Affaires) to Assistant Chief of Division of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State, Dwight, Washington, August 18, 1923
“The Greek nation will never and under no pretext force them [Armenians] to leave the Greek territory in order to relieve the situation of those of Greek race,…but it must not be forgotten that unless help is forthcoming from richer and happier nations, more than half a million people, irrespective of race and religion, are facing certain death.”
League of Nations, International Labor Office
Report on the work for refugees
Census of unemployed Armenian refugees in Greece
Total 22, 689
League of Nations, International Labor Office
Appendix 11 Extracts from reports from the various refugee areas
“11.Armenian Refugees
Approximate number of Armenian refugees in Greece is 45,300 consisting of 11,400 families.”
A30 1923 X11, League of Nations, September 4, 1923
Report on the work of the High Commission for refugees presented by Dr Fridtjof Nansen to the Fourth Assembly
“900,000 refugees covered in Greece, including 300,000 from Eastern Thrace and at least 50,000 Armenians to whom the Greek Government distributed relief.”
Galust Sahakyan NA Republican Party leader argued that the bill has uncertain logic and it is not clear what is the benefit of Armenia to accept it, so the Republicans voted against the adoption.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov stated that the initiating of the bill is done for making appearances.
"Genocide of Christians in Ottoman Empire is the same with the Armenia Genocide". Sharmazanov deems that when we hail to recognize Armenian Genocide it includes recognition of other Christian nations genocides as well; whereas the recognition of Armenian Genocide is stipulated by the Constitution of Armenia. In this context Sharmaznov highlighted National Assembly call to the world to recognize Armenian Genocide;" "We are demand holders" Sharmazanov stated.
In light of the above, we wish to respectfully request that your Government, through the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, re-consider this decision and in fact reverse it immediately. The Genocide in Anatolia at the beginning of the previous century was specifically aimed at all Christians; and such Christians included Armenians, Assyrians and Hellenes (Asia Minor and Pontic).
I the meantime, awaiting your favourable response, we remain,
Yours respectfully,
Nikolaos Chrysostomidis
National President
Peter Papoulidis
National Secretary
Nikolaos Chrysostomidis
National President
Peter Papoulidis
National Secretary
Ομοσπονδία Ποντιακών Σωματείων Αυστραλίας
Federation Of Pontian Associations Of Australia
15 Riverview Road, Undercliffe
NSW, 2206, Australia
Τηλ. 61(0)400699010, 61(0)404217369
Fax 61297730322
www.pontos.org.au
info@pontos.org.au