Congressman Chris Smith’s US Helsinki Commission Hearing on “A Century of Denial: The Armenian Genocide and the Ongoing Quest for Justice”

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Washington, D.C.
May – June 2015

On Thursday, April 23, 2015, the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, held a hearing on “A Century of Denial: The Armenian Genocide and the Ongoing Quest for Justice” at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The hearing examined denialism by the Government of Turkey and the decades-long effort to seek accountability. The hearing also provided an opportunity to assess potential countercurrents in Turkish society that could move the Government of Turkey toward recognition, and explored what the United States and other countries can do to help bring about recognition and eventually, reconciliation.

Armenians are still fighting for recognition of the genocidal nature of the massacres that began in 1915 and resulted in the death of as many as 1.5 million people. Now, 100 years later, the government of Turkey continues to deny the genocide and actively punishes those who recognize it.

Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, one of the panelists at The Archon 2nd International Conference on Religious Freedom, held in Berlin 2013, and visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, was among one of the witnesses who testified (beginning at the 1:26:00 mark).

Other testimonies came from Dr. Taner Akçam, Professor of History, Robert Aram, Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair in Armenian Genocide Studies,  Clark University; Mr. Kenneth V. Hachikian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America; and Mr. Van Z. Krikorian, Co-Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of America.

Watch the broadcast coverage on U-Stream.com »

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