Cher calls on London and Washington to recognise Armenian genocide

The pop star, singer, actress, filmmaker, music producer, winner of Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe awards, called on the governments of the US And the UK to officially recognise the killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide. She said it, talking to journalists after the Los Angeles premiere of the film The Promise. The film by Terry George focuses on those tragic events.

The singer said the issue of the genocide is not raised by top officials in London and Washington because Armenia lies beyond the interests of western countries.

“We’re small. Armenia is landlocked. We have no oil. We have nothing to give them,” the singer commented on the situation and added she didn’t expect Donald Trump’s administration to recognise the genocide.

Cher earlier spoke about the tragic events at the beginning of the 20th century that Armenian people faced in the Ottoman Empire. Some years ago, she drew parallels between the killings of Armenians in 1915-1923 and the slaughter of Native Americans.

“It's true about Genocide! Turks deny it, but it happened! Like we killed the original Americans, the Turks 'murdered' Armenians,” the American singer of Armenian descent said.

Though politicians are not inclined to discuss the recognition of the genocide so far, the issue is raised by a range of the world’s celebrities. Among those who showed their support to the authors and actors of The Promise are Leonardo DiCaprio, Barbara Streisand, Elton John, Sylvester Stallone, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Don Cheadle. More and more celebrities join them ahead of the film’s world premiere on April 21.

The Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire took place in 1915-1923. It was the first genocide in the 20th century. Turkey and Azerbaijan deny it and show a negative reaction to criticism by western government and human rights groups on the issue. Activists hold campaigns to officially recognise the events of the early 20th century as genocide.