On March 20, former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen shared his insights on the peace process in an interview with Petros Ghazarian on the RA Public Channel’s “Interview” program. The conversation yielded notable statements and confirmations.
At 5:05 into the interview, Bedros Ghazarian references Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s previous statement that “ethnic cleansing in Karabakh would be a red line for the West.” Ghazarian asks Rasmussen, “Do you admit you were wrong?” Rasmussen responds, acknowledging the European Union and international community failed to react as he had hoped, mainly when Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh, revealing his misconception of the international community’s response.
Genocides, mass killings, and deportations leave lasting scars on collective life, cultures, and psychological experiences/memories. The Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek massacres and genocides of the early 20th century serve as a poignant reminder of the international community’s historical “misconceptions” and troubling silence in the face of atrocities.
Recurring patterns of mass murders, deportations, and genocide have been met with inadequate responses, perpetuating a cycle of violence and impunity. Every Armenian individual must recognize their duty to safeguard their homeland, culture, and heritage. Rather than relying on external forces, structures, states, or organizations, Armenians must take ownership of their collective future, acknowledging the past while shaping a resilient and vibrant national identity.
Accordingly:
- *The Greek Genocide (1914-1923) *: The Ottoman Empire killed an estimated 350,000-750,000 Greeks. The international community failed to intervene.
- *The Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) *: The Ottoman Empire systematically murdered an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. The international community was aware of the atrocities but failed to intervene.
- *The Assyrian Genocide (1915-1920) *: The Ottoman Empire and Kurdish tribes killed an estimated 250,000-500,000 Assyrian Christians.
- *The Ukrainian Holodomor (1932-1933) *: The Soviet Union’s forced famine killed an estimated 3-5 million Ukrainians. The international community was slow to recognize the atrocity.
- *The Holocaust (1933-1945) *: Nazi Germany perpetrated the systematic murder of six million Jews. The Vatican was silent, and the world was slow to respond.
- *Biafrans in Nigeria (1967-1970) *: The Nigerian government committed atrocities against the Biafran population, including widespread killings and starvation. The international community was criticized for its slow response.
- *East Timorese in Indonesia (1975-1999) *: The Indonesian military committed atrocities against the East Timorese population, including widespread killings and forced displacement. The international community was criticized for its inadequate response.
- *The Rwandan Genocide (1994) *: An estimated 800,000 people, primarily from the Tutsi ethnic group, were killed in 100 days. The international community failed to intervene, despite warnings of the impending genocide.
- *The Cambodian Genocide (1975-1979) *: The Khmer Rouge regime killed an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people, out of a population of approximately 8 million, through executions, forced labor, and starvation.
- *Hazaras in Afghanistan (1990s-2000s) *: The Taliban and other extremist groups targeted the Hazara minority, committing atrocities and forcing many to flee. The international community largely ignored the issue.
- *The Bosnian Genocide (1992-1995) *: Bosnian Serb forces killed an estimated 8,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) men and boys in Srebrenica. The international community was criticized for its slow response to the conflict.
- *The Darfur Genocide (2003-2004) *: The Sudanese government and Janjaweed militia killed an estimated 300,000 people and displaced millions in the Darfur region.
- *Copts in Egypt (2011-2013) *: Coptic Christians faced persecution and violence, including church bombings and attacks on communities. The international community was criticized for its inadequate response.
- *Yazidis in Iraq (2014) *: ISIS militants targeted the Yazidi minority, killing thousands and enslaving many more. The international community was slow to respond, and many Yazidis were left to fend for themselves.
- *The Rohingya Genocide (2016-2017) *: Myanmar’s military and Buddhist extremists killed thousands of Rohingya Muslims and displaced hundreds of thousands, leading to a massive refugee crisis.
- *Alawites killings in Syria (2025) *: The latest killings of Alawites in Syria occurred in early March 2025, reportedly at the hands of the interim government forces.
Juliette Davtian is a PhD researcher at the Armenian State Pedagogical University in Social/Cultural Psychology.
