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UK Shifts Policy on Armenian Genocide after Jurist Robertson’s Report

by Harut Sassounian
October 7, 2014
in Columns, Featured Story, Latest, My Turn, News, Top Stories
16
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'An Inconvenient Genocide' by Geoffrey Robertson Q.C.

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

Geoffrey Robertson, prominent British expert on international law, wrote a 40-page report in 2009, exposing the false and inaccurate statements on the Armenian Genocide by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Robertson’s investigative report, “Was there an Armenian Genocide?” was based on internal British documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, which revealed that the Foreign Office had denied the Armenian Genocide and misled the British Parliament on this matter in order to curry favor with Turkey.

Mr. Robertson had sent me an advance copy of his new 286-page book, “An Inconvenient Genocide: Who Now Remembers the Armenians?” to be published this month in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Anyone who reads this influential jurist’s meticulously researched book will have no doubt about the true facts of the Genocide and Armenians’ just claims for restitution.

The confidential FCO documents recently obtained by Robertson reveal that the British government has made a gradual shift in its position on the Armenian Genocide, going from denial to declining to state its position. The Foreign Office acknowledges that the change in governmental policy is a direct result of the powerful legal arguments advanced by Mr. Robertson in his 2009 report.

Until recently, Great Britain had tenaciously clung to its outright denialist position on the Armenian Genocide. A secret 1999 FCO memo, quoted by Robertson, admitted that the British government “is open to criticism in terms of the ethical dimension. But given the importance of our relations (political, strategic, and commercial) with Turkey, and that recognizing the genocide would provide no practical benefit to the UK or the few survivors of the killings still alive today, nor would it help a rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey, the current line is the only feasible option.”

However, shortly after the publication of Robertson’s 2009 report, British officials quietly shifted their position from denial to avoidance of taking a stand on the genocide issue. In a 2010 internal memo, FCO stated: “Following Mr. Robertson’s report and the publicity it attracted, we have updated our public line to make clear that HMG [Her Majesty’s Government] does not believe it is our place to make a judgment (historical or legal) on whether or not the Armenian massacres constituted genocide.” In another memo, FCO explained that it will no longer maintain that “the historical evidence was not sufficiently unequivocal to persuade us that these events should be categorized as genocide.” The memo went on to assert that “there is increasing agreement about the extent of the deaths and suffering experienced by the Armenian community” and that “jurisprudence in relation to genocide, and particularly the nature and type of evidence required to prove the relevant intent, has developed significantly in the wake of events in Rwanda and the Balkans in the 1990’s.” Yet, FCO still advised against an explicit recognition of the genocide because “the Armenian diaspora in the UK is relatively small (less than 20,000) and there is limited wider public interest.”

Nevertheless, in view of the upcoming Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the British government has decided to become a bit more accommodating on this issue. Last year, when the British Ambassador to Lebanon asked London for guidance on attending an April 24 commemoration in Beirut, the Foreign Office advised him to go ahead. FCO also recommended to its staff not to “give the impression that we deny what happened in 1915…we still consider them (the massacres and deportations) to be truly dreadful and in need of remembrance.”

To bring the genocide issue to a legal resolution, Mr. Robertson makes two suggestions: that the Armenian government submit it “to adjudication at the International Court of Justice [World Court] pursuant to Article IX of the Genocide Convention” or ask the UN Secretary General to establish an ad hoc court on the Armenian Genocide.

Geoffrey Robertson should be commended for authoring a most important book on the eve of the Armenian Genocide Centennial. The Armenian National Committee of UK has already purchased 1,000 copies for distribution to elected officials and members of the media in London. The book is available from Amazon.com. I feel honored that Mr. Robertson has made half a dozen references to my columns in his monumental work.

Mr. Robertson has appropriately dedicated his book to the cherished memory of Ben Whitaker, author of the 1985 UN Report which classified the Armenian mass killings as genocide.

Harut Sassounian

Harut Sassounian

Next Post

Sarkisian Criticizes CSTO Allies over Artsakh

Comments 16

  1. Rostom says:
    8 years ago

    Here is the link to the book on Amazon.

    http://www.amazon.com/Inconvenient-Genocide-Who-Remembers-Armenians/dp/1849547785/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412714673&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=ain+inconvenient+genocide

    Reply
  2. AT says:
    8 years ago

    Thank you Mr. Robertson. I ordered 2 copies of your book and will be forwarding the information to all my friends to do the same.

    Reply
  3. Tsoghig says:
    8 years ago

    Thank you for writing this article. 100 years and we’re still waiting on justice…Robertson’s report will no doubt help us achieve justice for the genocide. Buying book from Amazon now.

    Reply
  4. edward demian says:
    8 years ago

    One step at a time, one victory after another.

    Reply
  5. Vindicated Man says:
    8 years ago

    Good move, but by refusing to state the obvious FCO is still far from being honest.

    Reply
  6. GeorgeMardig says:
    8 years ago

    He should be appointed as Honorary Armenian

    Reply
  7. Random Armenian says:
    8 years ago

    Even though the UK’s new policy and stance is still painful and insulting to hear, this is progress. Keep the research coming for such books to be written. These are the foundations on which to build recognition of the genocide and make it indisputable in the eyes of governments and educators.

    It takes time and effort but it works.

    Reply
  8. Nevzat says:
    8 years ago

    If you want recognition, restoration and reparations for the Armenian genocide cheer on Erdogan and the Turkish Islamic state. Time will come when turkey will get screwed by the west using the Armenian genocide. It is the west’s trump card. Turkey WILL be divided have no worries about that. After all, who would have thunk it in the mid 80’s that the Soviet Union would crumble? One would have been considered a whacko for uttering the impossible.

    Reply
  9. Jda says:
    8 years ago

    My Marashtze grandmother blamed the British for their lies

    Reply
    • KrikorHagop says:
      8 years ago

      My Marashtsi and Aintabtsi grandparents were eyewitnesses of the British dirty politics which they still do today all over the world.

      They called their politics “Ingiliz siyaseti”.

      Robertson’s book could be nothing more than a free advertisement for his booksale.
      I hope Harut is not getting a royalty from this book sale.

      Reply
  10. Satenik says:
    8 years ago

    Thank you for your relentkess effort Mr. Robertson.

    Reply
  11. Rugina the Armenian says:
    8 years ago

    The Armenian Genocide!!!

    Reply
  12. Souren says:
    8 years ago

    Winning Ottoman Empire 1918 HMG,France and all allies forgot their 7th ally Armenia for geopolitical
    advantages, General Thomson occupied Baku’s petrol and General Forrestier-Walker’s 40,000 troups
    occupied Georgia warning militarily General Antranik to occupy Nakhichevan Armenian province (today lost
    by Stalin’s grant to Azerbaijan 1922) ;foes+Allies together worked to dismember Armenia’s legitimate land
    384,000 sq.km to actual 29,800 sq.km. HMG gave safe haven to young Turks sentenced to death, in Malta
    by Turkish army high court 1919 .Armenian Genocide by people and land was successfully achieved
    in Lausanne.We highly appreciate Mr.Robertson’s correct rectifications about Armenian Genocide waiting
    to see courageous rectifications about Armenia’s land Genocide as well.

    Reply
  13. onnik kabakian says:
    8 years ago

    THANK YOU MR.JURIST ROBERTSON,GOD BLESS YOU

    Reply
  14. Watchful says:
    8 years ago

    Dear Mr. Sassounian,
    Thank you for bringing this key topic to our attention. In view of the fact that this is an expert on international law speaking, can you discuss in a future contribution to this publication how to proceed with regard to Mr. Robertson’s suggestions for bringing the genocide issue to a legal resolution?

    Reply

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