Chris Kaitson: “Today we recognizes the Pontian Genocide which was brutally executed by the Ottoman Turks”

“This year, we commemorate the 107-year Pontian Greek Genocide as part of the larger Greek and Christian Genocide where hundreds of thousands of Pontian Greeks were murdered. More than 1.5 million more were forced to seek refuge in Greece as their homes and property were confiscated, not to mention the destruction of Greek Orthodox churches in the area. Ottoman Turkey endeavored to destroy Hellenism – its history, culture, and language. They will never be able to do so because their identity and heritage is ingrained in Pontos.

“AHEPA commends the U.S. government’s rightful recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the overwhelming passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution by both chambers of the U.S. Congress in 2019. Those congressional resolutions have recognized a campaign of genocide against Greeks by citing the United States’ history of providing relief to ‘the survivors of the campaign of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians.’ Further, in 2007, the International Association of Genocide Scholars affirmed that the ‘Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire constituted a genocide,’ including Pontian and Anatolian Greeks.

“It is time the U.S. government recognizes the Greek Genocide that occurred from 1914 to 1923 as a matter of affirming a historical truth and upholding a commitment to human rights as well as a matter of education to prevent future atrocities from occurring,” the Supreme President stated,  “We will continue to work with our Armenian brothers and sisters to NEVER FORGET!”