By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
After ignoring the hundreds of protest letters and e-mails
it received from around the world regarding the denial of the
Armenian Genocide by the British Ambassador to Armenia, the
British government finally deigned to respond to one such
letter.
The Union of Armenians of Switzerland (UAS) sent a letter
to Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, on
March 30, 2004, expressing their "shock" at the statements made
by British Ambassador. The UAS castigated the British
government's "reluctance for political reasons to recognize the
Armenian genocide... out of economic miscalculation and
political expediency."
The UAS also stated that the British Ambassador "succeeded
in stirring up feelings deeply rooted in the psyche of Armenians
all over the world. Now one wonders how she can serve as an
ambassador in a country whose people feel hurt by her. The least
that should be done is for her to apologize. Or, a significant
diplomatic step could be taken to somehow appease the huge wave
of sentiments - a mixture of dismay, sorrow and anger - amongst
Armenians in Armenia and elsewhere in the world. A standstill
would not help settle the situation."
Sean Rooney, the desk officer responsible for Armenia and
Azerbaijan at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, in a letter
dated April 21, told the UAS that he was responding to "some
widely reported recent comments our Ambassador to Armenia,
Thorda Abbott-Watt, made to an Armenian journalist about the
events of 1915-16.... These comments have generated numerous
responses from Armenian individuals and organizations, both to
her and to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Your views, and
those of others who have been in touch with us on this matter,
have been noted."
Mr. Rooney, as expected, defended the denialist position of
Her Majesty's Government and Amb. Abbott-Watt. He wrote: "Our
Ambassador was responding to a question about HMG's position on
the terrible tragedy that befell the Armenian people during the
First World War. Quite rightly, and as we would expect, she
answered with a statement of that position which is well-known
and long established. We are aware that this issue is
particularly sensitive in Armenia, and it is a matter of regret
to our Ambassador if her answer caused offense. However, she
could not have done other than answer honestly the question that
was put to her and in doing so she was correctly representing
her Government's views, and has our support."
As I had previously stated and judging by the condescending
tone and content of Mr. Rooney's letter, Amb. Abbott-Watt is not
the real culprit in this controversy. She is merely repeating
the denialist position of the British government. Her misfortune
is that she has to face the Armenians on a daily basis after
causing such serious offense, while her bosses can issue such
shameless statements from the relative safety of the British
Isles.
By referring to the Armenian Genocide as "events of
1915-16" and "terrible tragedy," Mr. Rooney is repeating the
denialist statements of Turkish officials. We urge the readers
to write their complaints to: Mr. Sean Rooney, Eastern Dept.,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London SW1A
2AH, UK; Phone: 011-44-20-7008-3828; Fax: 011-44-20-7008-2164;
E-mail: [email protected].