Hirair Hovnanian
- Homebuilder based in New Jersey.
Los Angeles Times
December 24, 2004 Friday
Home Edition
Armenians Decry Politics of Genocide
The Dec. 14 article "Turkey Drifts Further From U.S." portrays with depressing clarity how Turkish and American officials play the politics of genocide.
As a descendant of victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, I was not surprised but nevertheless appalled that Turkish officials would characterize the U.S.-led operation in Iraq as genocide.
These are the same Turkish officials who categorically reject repeated European Parliament calls for Turkey to come to terms with its genocidal past as a condition of its entry into the European Union.
As a proud U.S. citizen by choice, I again was deeply offended that American officials would express their legitimate anger at Turkey by threatening to "allow" Congress to pass a resolution reaffirming the Armenian Genocide. Remembrance of the Armenian and every other instance of genocide is an essential step in preventing the crime from recurring. The history of the Armenian Genocide is not a political weapon to be used by American politicians to send a message to their Turkish counterparts.
The House and Senate must send the correct message to American and Turkish officials who play the politics of genocide by passing a resolution affirming the Armenian Genocide.
Hirair Hovnanian
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Armenian Assembly of America, Washington
In early 1990s, Hrair Hovnanian embarked upon a Turkish project to revitalize the port of Trabizon, having as partner Mr. Alaton (a Turkish Jew).