Financial Aid is Not Always the Answer Essay

The United States is known for getting involved in affairs that does not concern them all in the name of foreign policy. Nonetheless, its stance regarding its foreign policies have undoubtedly helped other nations especially those economically-challenged at the same time serving the US’ own interest. However, its policy in relation to Armenia and the so-called Armenian Genocide is nil to the least. As it is the United States’ aim to help Armenia, it has not yet officially recognized that the Armenian Genocide indeed occurred. Admittedly, democracy in Armenia is still a work in progress and it still has a long way to go especially now that elections are set this year. The United States despite its hesitation to fully acknowledge the atrocities committed by the Turks in 1915 and even until now against the Armenians, can nevertheless help in aiding Armenia and put a stop to the Armenian genocide. There is no easy way but to go head on. The first step would be to appoint and send an Ambassador that fully knows and understands the situation and plight of the Armenians. When John Evans, Ambassador to Armenia used the word â€Å"genocide† in public to describe the deaths of some 1. 2 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, this prompted a controversy that eventually cost Evans his job. Although none of the Ambassadors, other than Evans has affirmed and recognized the Armenian genocide during Senate confirmation hearings, it is imperative that the members of the diplomatic corps or nominees for the ambassador post must recognize and understand as well as refer to the Armenian genocide. Once this is done, other forms as well as policies of aiding will soon follow. Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that despite the aids sent by the United States, totaling to $75 million seemed to be not working at all. In fact, instead of going back to their national homeland, Armenians have left the country, including the 30 percent of its working population. The country is wrought with corruption and poverty and despite the immense aid provided from foreign sources, the country seems like it has just recovered from the genocide. Hence, in order to help the Armenians, change must start from within the country because admittedly even if foreign aid would still continue, it would still be useless considering that the money for aid sent is not used for the growth of the country. The United States has supported the Georgians and the Ukrainians in their quest for change in their respective countries. If it will support, even encourage the Armenians in its quest for a revolutionary and peaceful change, through its policies, perhaps it could help the Armenians who are still languishing in poverty and corruption. Therefore, the financial aid that it is providing for the Armenians is not the way to aid the Armenians and the victims of genocide. It is to help them shape their internal policies and shape the country into a clean and habitable homeland. The bottom line for this is: if we really want to help the Armenians and the victims of genocide, then it is imperative that we recognize what happened in 1915 as it is – genocide in the least. The Armenian Genocide undoubtedly has prompted the first large-scale international human rights movement in the United States and financial aid is not just enough, we have make sure that this does not happen again, not only in Armenia but in other countries as well to which the United States has vested interests.