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I am here to bring you the greetings of
more than one-million Armenian-Americans. (0:05)
I am here to express my gratitude to the
French-Armenian community (0:12)
for its activism and to the representatives
of the elected officials who are with us today. (0:19)
I am also here today to transmit to you
the solidarity of all Armenian Americans. (0:26)
The Armenian communities of
France and the United States (0:31)
are two of the most important
communities in the Diaspora. (0:33)
They could accomplish much
more by coordinating (0:39)
their efforts, and sharing their
considerable experience in lobbying. (0:49)
Many of you want to know if President
Obama is going to say Genocide later today. (0:55)
Many of you also want to know if the U.S. House of Representatives would adopt the Armenian Genocide resolution (1:03)
that was approved by the Committee on
Foreign Affairs on March 4, 2010. (1:10)
I am here to tell you that it is not important if President Obama uses the term "Armenian Genocide" in his annual April 24 statement. (1:22)
Why?
Because you have been misinformed regarding the
non-recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the United States. (1:30)
That is not true because President Ronald Reagan
issued a Presidential Proclamation in 1981 (1:42)
that specifically mentioned the term
"the genocide of the Armenians." (1:48)
Equally, the House of Representatives, twice, in 1975 and 1984,
adopted resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide. (2:03)
Furthermore, 43 out of 50 U.S. States and countless governors
and mayors have recognized the Armenian Genocide. (2:16)
In fact, the U.S. government first acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide in 1951, in a document it submitted to the World Court. (2:28)
In addition to the United States and of course France, more than 20 other countries have acknowledged the Armenian Genocide ever since 1965. (2:39)
Furthermore, the U.N. Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities adopted a report in 1985 (2:51)
stating that the Armenian Genocide meets the United Nations criteria for genocide. (2:58)
As you know. The European Parliament also adopted a resolution in 1987, recognizing the Armenian Genocide. (3:07)
In addition, hundreds of Holocaust and Genocide scholars have issued joint statements confirming the facts of the Armenian Genocide. (3:19)
After so many acknowledgments, the Armenian Genocide has become a universally recognized historical fact. (3:28)
However, a simple acknowledgment of the Genocide would not heal the wounds and undo its devastating consequences. (3:37)
Armenians seek justice, in order to restore their historic rights and gain the return of their confiscated lands and properties. (3:50)
You already know about the successful lawsuits against American and French insurance companies & pending lawsuits against German banks. (4:01)
Armenians are entitled, as in the case of the Holocaust, to just compensation for their enormous losses (4:10)
of homes, lands, houses of worship and personal properties. (4:19)
Armenian organizations in France and other European countries, after consulting international lawyers, should file lawsuits against Turkey (4:34)
with the European Court of Human Rights to return to the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul the more than 2,000 Armenian churches (4:40)
and religious properties that have been expropriated and converted to mosques, warehouses, homes or outright destroyed. (4:59)
Armenian organizations no longer need to devote
their human and material resources (5:06)
to prove that Genocide was committed against Armenians. (5:11)
Instead, they should devote their valuable time
and energy to obtain restitution for their losses. (5:18)
Let us not fall in the Turkish trap of getting us stuck
on proving the Genocide year after year. (5:26)
Let us move on to the next step, demanding
our historic rightsfrom Turkey (5:36)
through the World Court, European Court
of Human Rights, and U.S. Federal Courts. (5:43)
Today, we must seek justice, rather than Genocide recognition! (5:50)
L'éditorialiste américain du "California Courier" prononce un discours devant les français d'origine arménienne rassemblés aux Champs Elysées à Paris.
American Columnist of the "California Courier" delivers a speech to the
French people of Armenian descent gathered on Champs Elysees in Paris.
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5:43
ARPA Lecture by Harut Sassounian - Part Twoby hpanossian376 views
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