Sosse Beugekian
Suffolk University, Class of 2012
Leo Sarkisian Interns with Amb. Yovanovitch following her Library of Congress presentation
United States Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch has been touring Armenian American communities throughout the U.S. – providing the State Department view on U.S.-Armenia relations, the situation in the Caucasus, and reasons for the Obama Administration’s NON-affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Her Washington, DC stop took place at the Library of Congress on June 30th. And, like every other “town hall” she hosted – her remarks and responses were genial yet disappointing and frustrating.
She began by giving an update of the situation in Armenia -
discussing many different issue areas from democracy to security to
the economy etc. I won’t go into those. You can read the talking
points on the U.S. Embassy website – www.usa.am . The more
interesting part arrived when the audience had a chance to ask
questions.
When it came to the Armenian Genocide issue, Yovanovitch mentioned
it briefly saying “the killings” shouldn’t be forgotten and we
should work towards a better future. She also mentioned that she
“understands the anger and frustration of the Armenian community”
when it comes to this issue. She talked about the importance of
opening borders with Turkey and about the importance of Armenia
being at peace with its neighbors. Unfortunately she only made the
public more frustrated with her broad answers and constant
mentioning of the fact that she only follows U.S. policy – which
apparently means dodging questions related to the Genocide.
The ANCA’s Kate Nahapetian asked if Ambassador Yovanovitch feared
for her job if she properly characterized the events of 1915-1923
as ‘genocide’ – noting the presence of former U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans, who had been fired for just that reason.
Ambassador Yovanovitch reduced a fundamental human rights concern
to mere employment policy, answering that she cannot comment on
“personnel issues.” Is that where human rights and complicity in
genocide denial rank in today’s State Department?
The Ambassador spoke about the importance of U.S. aid to Armenia in
assisting in democracy building and helping the rural poor, among
other things – basic issues of fundamental importance most would
agree on. But when ANCA Leo Sarkisian intern Hovanes Gasparian
asked why then the Obama Administration had called for a 38%
reduction in aid to Armenia in the FY 2010 budget, her response was
Washington double-talk. Apparently, according to the Obama
Administration, we should compare the FY2010 proposed Armenia aid
figure ($30 million) to that which had been proposed by Pres. Bush
last year ($24 million) – and not the actual money that went to
Armenia ($48 million). In that convoluted formulation, there would
be an “increase” in aid to Armenia (of $6 million).
A couple of questions come to mind here. First of all, is Pres.
Bush the benchmark the Obama Administration really wants to compare
itself to? Secondly, say Armenia were to get Obama’s request of $30
million – do they think the folks on the ground won’t notice that
there would be 38% less money for programs? The House
Appropriations Committee, understanding the Armenian American
community’s concerns and the needs in Armenia, has put forward $48
million for Armenia and $10 million for Nagorno Karabagh. Now we
need to get that approved in the House of Representatives and get
similar legislation in the Senate.
All of this reminds me of a lecture we had earlier in the week,
jointly with the Armenian Assembly interns, given by Raffi Balian.
Balian provided excellent insight on careers and internship /
fellowship opportunities at the State Department and spoke of his
years serving our country in U.S. Embassies in Bulgaria and Syria.
The bottom line realization was that to change U.S. policy, there
need to be more voices of reason, committed to ending U.S.
complicity in Armenian Genocide denial – not to mention stopping
genocide overall – WITHIN the State Department, Capitol Hill, in
think tanks — wherever foreign policy is shaped. The need is out
there – and the opportunities are out there as well (Check out the
ANCA Capital Gateway Program). We just need to prioritize and take
advantage of them – or continue to be frustrated by Ambassadors
toeing a flawed company line.
The ANCA Leo Sarkisian Interns posing with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Maria Yovanovitch
#####
Photo Caption: U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch with
(from left to right): ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Garo
Manikian and Leo Sarkisian Interns Sosse Beugekian, Taleen
Mekhdjavakian, Tatev Oganyan, Savada Simounian-Khygani, Nareg
Aghjayan, Tamar Thomassian, and Hovanes Gasparian.
