US lawmakers recognize killing of Armenians as genocide

[dzheremi]

The US House of Representatives adopted a resolution on Tuesday, officially recognizing the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917 as genocide.

Similar measures had been introduced in both chambers of the US Congress for decades, but never passed due to concerns of a backlash from a NATO ally.

The historic moment comes at a time of tensions between US politicians and Turkey over its military offensive into Syria and a broad assault on Kurdish-controlled areas, following a retreat of US troops from the area that was ordered by President Donald Trump.

Armenians have called for the international community to recognize the mass killings of their people as genocide, which 30 countries including Germany and France have done so far.


(read more from DW)

 

[dzheremi]

It is worth noting that the Armenian Apostolic Church canonized the martyrs of the Genocide as a group some four years ago. I remember at the time a lot of people hailing this (it is apparently the first time saints have been added officially to the Armenian calendar in quite some time, though exactly how long it had been before this since their last canonization I couldn't say), while others decried it as a 'political' move in some ways. As a non-Armenian, I stay out and simply try to remember them and the martyrs of the Syriac/Assyrian and Pontic Greek genocides that were happening around the same time. So many lives lost to the earth, but souls gained to heaven.

The canonization at the outdoor St. Tridat altar in Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia (from Armenian General Benevolent Union TV):

Intercede for us, O victorious martyrs, before the Lord Our God, that He may forgive us our sins.

 

[prodromos]

The US House of Representatives adopted a resolution on Tuesday, officially recognizing the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917 as genocide.

Similar measures had been introduced in both chambers of the US Congress for decades, but never passed due to concerns of a backlash from a NATO ally.

The historic moment comes at a time of tensions between US politicians and Turkey over its military offensive into Syria and a broad assault on Kurdish-controlled areas, following a retreat of US troops from the area that was ordered by President Donald Trump.

Armenians have called for the international community to recognize the mass killings of their people as genocide, which 30 countries including Germany and France have done so far.


(read more from DW)

About bleedin' time! Great news.