Armenian Genocide Recognition Is Just the Beginning
No, I don't think so. Genocide recognition is not a win or lose situation.
After 75 years of diaspora advocacy, the U.S. Congress formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. But according to Barsamian, the real work is just beginning. Recognition is not a ‘win or lose situation,’ he argues. Instead, it marks the start of a longer effort to ensure the genocide is taught in schools, museums, and cultural institutions worldwide, and that it becomes as central to the international conversation as the Holocaust.
Barsamian emphasizes that both Congress and the President matter, but congressional affirmation carries the true power. When both chambers of Congress vote to recognize, that sends a signal to the world that the Armenian Genocide is no longer a diaspora issue alone-it belongs on the international stage alongside other major atrocities.
Beyond recognition itself, Barsamian raises critical questions about reparations, education, and prevention. He argues that countries recognizing the genocide should immediately begin integrating Armenian Genocide studies into their curricula, particularly in Holocaust museums and genocide prevention programs. True justice after genocide, he suggests, must include security guarantees for Armenia, economic support, and a commitment to ensure such atrocities never happen again.
Transcript
Asbed Bedrossian: Now, you mentioned the Armenian Genocide, and for 75 years, Armenian Americans worked tirelessly for U.S. recognition. Essentially, now that recognition is formally achieved. So are we done with genocide recognition in the US? What are our next steps?
Anthony Barsamian: No, I don't think so. I was a part of it. I would like to say I was probably one of the last laps in the race. By the way, nobody deserves to say that they did anything more than anyone else on the Armenian Genocide. It has been a 75-year effort as we were talking about. Many people, scholars, genocide scholars, Holocaust scholars, many people added to the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in America. And starting with Morgenthau, starting with Lemkin, right through to the people in the last 10 years, 20 years, I think people like to raise the flag and say we won. This is not a win or lose situation. So I was lucky enough at the very end to write a memo with Ambassador Nina Hachigian to the Biden White House. Now, I was lucky I knew President Biden before he became president, and I knew his heart was in the right place. If you remember, he turned to Samantha Power and to others at the 100th commemoration and said, I'm going to recognize this because very disappointing