The multi-platinum, Grammy award winning rock group, System of a Down, will be launching a campaign in Washington D.C. to urge Congress to pass legislation officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

The lead singer of System of a Down, Serj Tankian, spoke to us about the campaign for recognition, the recent PBS controversy surrounding the Armenian Genocide, and the continued denial of the genocide by both the U.S. and Turkish governments.

San Roman: I would like to begin with a personal question. How personal is the history of the Armenian Genocide to you and other System of a Down band mates? Did you or others lose family members and also family history to the genocide?

Tankian: The Armenian Genocide and the recognition cause of the genocide within the United States and Turkey itself is a personal cause for all of us in the band. We have all lost family members and all of our grandparents are survivors of the genocide. I don’t need to read any genocide books to know if the atrocities [occurred]. I have heard my grandfather’s stories. In fact, years ago I had an organization that basically came in and wrote down a brief history of survivors and what they went through. I was there and had my video camera on and it was a six hour ordeal. It was just incredible. So it’s something very personal for us. We’ve gotten involved in many political just causes; however, this one for us is personal.

San Roman: As such, would you say that this is the main cause for you and the band mates because it is so personal?

Tankian: I have a hard time putting that kind of description on anything. I can say that the Armenian Genocide and the injustice around the denial of it has opened my eyes to many other injustices; not just other genocides and holocausts, but also labor, environmental, and many other injustices around the world. One hypocrisy makes you see the others if you are attuned to it.

San Roman: Today, April 24th is the day of remembrance as on this day, ninety-one years ago, the genocide began. Tell our listeners about the three day Washington D.C. Campaign for recognition that you and System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan will be participating in. What is planned for the first day of action in D.C?

Tankian: Later on today, we are going to be joining a rally outside of the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C. to protest the Turkish Government’s denial campaign against the Armenian Genocide. Tomorrow we have a number of press opportunities to talk about why we are there and to support passing of the [genocide] resolutions within Congress. We are also meeting with Congressmen and some of their staffers to see if we can get to the meat of the issue and try to influence positively genocide resolution outcome. We also have a film that we are screening called “Screamers,” that I got the band involved with a number of years back directed by an award winning documentary filmmaker Carla Garapedian. It basically follows the band and its recognition campaign of the Armenian Genocide. We are going to screen that to certain members of Congress. We also have an observance on Capitol Hill on the 26th that we are partaking in. I think that will wrap it up.

San Roman: How soon will the film “Screamers” be available to the general public who might be interested in seeing it? I myself am very interested in seeing that documentary film.

Tankian: I’m loving the way it’s coming out. The final edits are still being done. I’m not exactly sure as to the release date but it looks like late summer or early fall.

San Roman: Speaking of documentaries, this year saw a controversy surrounding PBS and the airing of Andrew Goldberg’s documentary, “The Armenian Genocide.” Of Course, those who deny the genocide objected to the inclusion of the term in the film’s title. Others were offended by the companion panel discussion that included genocide deniers. In fact, many PBS affiliates declined to air it. What are your comments on the controversy? What does this tells us about the Armenian Genocide and what still needs to happen?

Tankian: Instead of directing the question directly having to do with Goldberg’s film, I’m going to get to the meat of the point. Although we are partaking in efforts to get the genocide recognized both in the U.S. and in Turkey, ultimately, I think, when someone comes into your house, commits a crime, kills your family and robs you, you don’t really wait for them to admit that they’ve done wrong before taking them to court. Ultimately, I think as important as admitting the genocide is, the real matter comes with bringing Turkey and the previous government that had committed all these acts to justice and [for] the modern government to stand up and represent its history and its people in some type of international tribunal or court. Ultimately, it becomes a game after ninety-one years. Turkey denies it. Many countries accept it. The Armenians are all trying to get it accepted, back and forth, when will that end? They could just play with this politically back and forth forever. The U.S. State Department uses the Armenian Genocide as a play card to get what it wants from Turkey or to threaten Turkey. It has become like a political game. For us to avoid that, we have to just say, “The genocide has occurred, the facts are done. Whether Turkey accepts or not, whether any nation accepts or not, most nations have it in their archives so it’s not even an issue, it’s time to bring Turkey to justice.” That’s the important thing.

San Roman: I would like to quote for you an excerpt of Turkish Ambassador, Nabi Sensoy’s comments on the PBS documentary. “The program, “The Armenian Genocide,” which aired on PBS on April 17th, provides a blatantly one-sided perspective of a tragic and unresolved period of world history. Its premise is rejected not only by my government, but also by many eminent scholars who have studied the period in question. Instead of acknowledging that the issue remains unresolved, the program reflects a self-serving political agenda by Armenian American activists who seek to silence legitimate debate on this issue and establish their spurious orthodoxy as the absolute truth.” What is your response to the comments of the Ambassador?

Tankian: The Turkish Government would like nothing better than to try the genocide itself. In other words, to try the archives and the truth of the genocide. All archives in most countries except those that may have revised their archives, and I’m not saying that Turkey has or hasn’t because I haven’t observed their archives, but all archives, Henry Morgethau’s stories, all papers around the world clearly, overwhelmingly, with no doubt, reflect the truth that the genocide has occurred. My grandfather’s story is all I need to hear of the truth of what has happened. However, there are many books from [authors] Samantha Power to Peter Balakian to Henry Morganthau’s Story that talks about the genocide. The Turkish Government would like nothing better than to try the existence of the genocide because then they could get away from really dealing with being tried for committing the genocide for their predecessors. That’s a trick that we must not fall into.

San Roman: To follow up, why do you think that there is this greater acceptance in denying the Armenian Genocide took place? It’s really hard to imagine similar scenarios, for instance, with the Jewish Holocaust, such as a panel discussion on PBS with deniers or even no recognition on behalf of the U.S. Government. Why is it still an issue after ninety-one years? The Armenian Genocide, for those who affirm the facts that are there, was the first genocide of the twentieth century. Why is there still a debate?

Tankian: That’s a really good question. I’m not sure I have the full answer to that. However, I think, one thing that has to do with the fact that by the time the Armenians got around to really getting represented, getting in the media and trying to resolve the issue, a long time had already passed. Another reason is because, after World War One, although the Turkish Military Tribunal condemned those that had committed the genocide with the Ittihad Government, its predecessor government to the modern Turkish Republic, it never really became a full crime against humanity on the books. There was no world court, or international criminal court that dealt with the issue. Unfortunately, the western nations that won the first World War against Turkey, Germany and its allies, started paying more attention to the Ottoman Empire’s reach which included, let me remind you, the Middle East, most of what is [today] Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. The Ottoman Empire occupied all those countries. They wanted to do business with the new government and they wanted to push this under the rug and not make it an issue. No one really cared at the time. President Wilson actually had an amazing vision for justice on the Armenian cause and the genocide. He had drawn up borders for the Armenian lands at the time. The League of Nations was supposed to deal with the issue. It kind of all got swept under the [rug]. It has a lot to do with politics. It also has a lot to do with oil politics as well which a modern issue for all of us that are dealing with Iraq and all these other cases. It stems from way back.

San Roman: I would like to now turn to the week’s events in Washington D.C. Both you and John will be in D.C. to urge members of Congress to allow a vote on legislation that would officially recognize the genocide. What have been the obstacles to this piece of legislation? What would it mean to the Armenian community as a whole should the legislation ultimately pass?

Tankian: In the year 2000, there was a similar resolution going through the House of Representatives, and [Speaker of the House] Dennis Hastert had made a plea to the community that if it came to him he would definitely bring it up to the House floor for a vote. The resolution did come to him and according to the numbers most Congressmen would have voted for it. It would have passed based on some surveys and based on a letter from President Clinton at the time; he withdrew bringing up the resolution to the House floor. It’s pretty much in Dennis Hastert’s hands again. There are two resolutions that have passed committee levels. Both major parties have voted for the passing of the resolution on the committee level. It’s in his hands again. There are a lot of articles and things that I have seen from Vanity Fair claiming that there’s corruption having to do with the Turkish Government and Dennis Hastert. I don’t know whether the allegations are true or not. There seems to be a lot of noise going on and maybe an ethics committee should check into it. I think the main opponents of this [recognition] are definitely the [Bush] Administration, NATO, the military-industrial complex, and large business; all the good guys to have on the other side of the team, on the other side of the fence basically! It’s a tough fight. I think getting the resolution through is important in bringing the justice having to do with the Armenian Genocide on the surface and getting people to know about it obviously so that hopefully things like this won’t happen again although we know that it does. There is a genocide occurring in Darfur that we have termed “genocide,” that we’re doing nothing about, of course, which doesn’t help. Ultimately, like I said, I think it’s important for the U.S. to recognize [Armenia] as a genocide. I think it’s important for Turkey to recognize it as a genocide. But, ultimately, the crime itself has to be brought to justice. It doesn’t matter if we’re calling Darfur a genocide if we’re not doing any intervention. It doesn’t matter if we’re not calling it [a genocide] if we’re not doing any intervention. Those are just words. I do place importance on the recognition of events in terms of justice but that’s the first step to bringing things to justice.

San Roman: How can people like me and others assist in getting this legislation passed? Is there someway that we can get actively involved in urging Congress to have this legislation passed so that something as simple as recognizing the Armenian Genocide can take place?

Tankian: Congress is our elected representatives in the legislature. The more they know that we know the truth and the more they know that we are not going to put up with them voting the other way because of different interests, the more they’ll have to listen to us. Now, history shows otherwise; that they broker deals but if they have an overwhelming amount of people calling in, faxing, that would make a difference. There’s a fax service on the Armenian National Committee of America’s website, www.anca.org, that people can get on and do faxes to their Congressmen and urge them to ask Dennis Hastert to bring up the vote for the Armenian Genocide resolution, and that would they would vote for it, etc. That would make a difference, definitely. It’s also about letting people know about the truth. Politically, what I have seen in this world is, ultimately, in a democracy when enough people get up there and say, “We’re not going to take your bullshit, whether it’s Congress or the President, or anyone,” they’ll look like hypocrites if they vote the other way if it’s that obvious. It’s important for citizens to know the truth because that’s where our power really lies.

San Roman: What do you think are the political motives behind not recognizing the Armenian Genocide on the U.S. Government’s behalf?

Tankian: Turkey has been a major NATO ally for years. They purchase a lot of military equipment from a lot of our major manufactures here. There are many lobbies that are supporting the Turkish angle because of business unfortunately. Also, they are one of the few Muslim states that really work with the State Department closely in intelligence services. There’s a lot against us, but the truth is on our side, so it’s time to fight again!

San Roman: Serj Tankian, I want to thank you for joining us and talking about this issue. Best of luck to you and John out there in D.C. with this week’s busy events.

Tankian: Thank you Gabriel. Thanks for having me on the show. Thank you again.