2021 started very unsuccessfully for Azerbaijani lobbyists in the United States. First, the Governor of Minnesota and the former Mayor of Boston refused to make earlier pro-Azerbaijani statements in connection with the events in Khojaly. The next stop was Portland, Maine.
“The Mayor initially came out and said she’s not receding. She would not cancel the announcement. Apologizes, she said it was a mistake, it shouldn’t have happened, the city didn’t follow proper protocol, she acknowledged the mistake. We continued the pressure,” said Gerard Kiladjian, Head of the Armenian Cultural Association of Maine, Portland.
The Armenians of Portland met with the Mayor by a Zoom meeting. Explaining that the history of Khojaly is based on a lie, they made it clear to the Mayor that Baku uses her for its own interests. Then there were other developments that helped the Armenian community more.
“After Boston and Minnesota receded, there was enough precedent to recede the proclamation, because, again there was a lot of inaccuracies in. The mayor agreed to the second meeting. Just prior to the meeting, we sent the mayor a strong letter from the Armenian community in Mein, strongly expressing our dissatisfaction.” Kiladjian said.
“I would like to emphasize that it was not me personally, but the municipality that intended to intervene in this long-standing issue of our community. I heard the problem and discussed it with many residents of Portland. I believe that it is in Portland's best interest to withdraw the declaration,” said Kate Snyder, Mayor of Portland, Maine.
“The Armenians of the city wanted a double meeting. The topic penetrated into the American press, and Kate Snyder finally gave in. This parade of cancellations, which our compatriots reached this year, does not happen often in the American reality at all. However this year it happened with the Azerbaijani lobby.
A journalist of the American newspaper spoke with the resident of the state Tarlan Ahmedov, on whose initiative the infamous declaration was initially adopted. The Azerbaijani said that he was heartbroken to learn about Snyder’s new decision. Besides the heartbroken Tarlan, the American journalist also called Anna Astvatsatryan-Turcotte, who lives in Maine, too.
“As a refugee, I felt targeted by this decision. I congratulate the Mayor for her wisdom and perseverance in taking the right step in a difficult situation,” said Anna Astvatsatryan-Turcotte, lawyer, member of the Westbrook town council.
Earlier this year, thanks to the Armenian community members, the anti-Armenian billboards, erected paying money, were taken down in several American settlements. Following the rules of the game, as is often the case, Turks also launched a protest campaign against a signboard calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide initiated by the Peace Art Union. Thanks to the efforts of community activist Daniel Varuzhan Hejinian, it was installed on one of the roads in Massachusetts.
“This year was different from the others. First, because we are hopeful that the President will recognize it. And secondly, because this year we received feedback from both deniers and supporters,” said Daniel Varuzhan Hejinian, Head of the Peace of Art Union.
Despite the outcry from Turkish deniers, Hejinian has no plans to back down.
“The Philadelphia Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee sponsored the erection of similar electronic billboards in Philadelphia. Besides, in April, additional electronic billboards will be installed in the state of Massachusetts,” Daniel Varuzhan Hejinian said.
Hejinian’s billboards, like the US lawmakers from both houses of the Congress, are urging Joe Biden to take the right step in two weeks. Ahead of April 24, various signals have created some positive expectations, hoping this time the US President’s speech will not be censored by Ankara.
