Glendale’s former Mayor expects to see Armenians involved in the U.S. State Department and Congress

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenpress hosted Zareh Sinanyan - former Mayor of Glendale, member of the City Council. During the interview with Armenpress he mentioned that the Armenians living in the USA are politically more conscious now than they used to be. A number of issues were discussed during the interview with Armenpress, including the current problems of the Armenians of Glendale, accomplishments in sport, American-Armenians’ tireless struggle in regard to the issue of the Armenian Genocide and the Turkish side’s initiatives against it.

Armenians in Glendale as a powerful political force

Sinanyan is sure that Armenians of Glendale and the eastern coast of the USA in general should be regarded as a significant political force. He mentioned “160 thousand people took part in the march dedicated to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. I think that it is necessary to politicize these people, register as many people as possible for them to be able to vote. The USA is a state where a vote is really a great power. If we have those votes, we will have finances and if we have finances, we will be able to solve issues.” Sinanyan stressed that those issues are not limited to the problem of the Genocide, but encompass a larger spectrum, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the issues of the assistance to be provided to Armenia, etc.

Reconcilation with Turkey is impossible without the recognition of the Genocide and compensation

Sinanyan noted that Turks are now split into two camps – nationalists and the followers of the radical pro-Islamic movement. Regardless of certain discrepancies between them, they work collaboratively against Armenians when it comes to matters relating to Turkey.

He drew the attention to quite an interesting pattern: any time, when the Genocide recognition process accelerates, the Turks rush to take counter measures.“We have an aggressive, genocidal neighbor, who neither feels any guilt for what happened nor has a remorse and moreover, it blocks Armenia, which is a war step, according to the international law. Turkey supports our other neighbor, with which we are in de facto war situation. It is madness to think that we could find a common language with both of them. It will not happen until they confess that they had done something bad and express readiness to resolve the situation. If we think so, we will fight better against them”, - he stated.

Legal case of Sis – the first episode of the new front against Turkey

Touching upon the case filed by the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I against Turkey on the return of the territory of the Cilician Catholicosate, Sinanyan expressed certainty that this is the start of a new campaign of the Armenians against the official Ankara.“The Sis case is only the first of the thousands to be filed against Turkey. And the Turks realize that fact quite well”, - stated our interlocutor, adding that there will be a real flood of private lawsuits after the large cases.

Sinanyan stressed with pride that the Armenians in Glendale are the key to development.

The Armenian community of Glendale is more conscious than ever

Zareh states that in comparison with the previous years, much has changed among the Armenians of Glendale.“Now our community is more respected. If 10 years ago the political figures, pronouncing the term “genocide” for some 1 or 2 times, thought that they will get the votes of Armenians, now they understand that it is not enough”, - stated Sinanyan, proudly stressing that the local Armenians gradually get more power and strength. Sinanyan expressed hope that in the forthcoming years the Armenians might appear in the state structures, such as the US Department of State, the Congress, etc.

Glendale and Gyumri – sister cities

One of the most important reasons of the visit of Zareh Sinanyan to Armenia was the signing of documents on recognizing Glendale and Gyumri sister cities.

Araks Kasyan