United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s brief visit to Armenia has sparked extended debate and discussion. Some are satisfied that Clinton visited the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, however, there are still speculations: Why was it simply a private visit, why didn’t she enter the Genocide Museum, and finally, why didn’t she personally receive souvenirs presented by the director of the Genocide Museum-Institute?

Hayk Demoyan, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in Yerevan, says that the visit of the US Secretary of State to Armenia is “a historical event in itself.”


“Of course, we would like the visit to have another format, I mean, (an official) visit, within the framework of which both the visit to the museum and planting a fir-tree in the Memorial Alley would be included. However, even the private visit is extremely important and historical,” Demoyan told ArmeniaNow.

Nevertheless, it was not possible to pass souvenirs personally to Clinton even at the private visit.

According to Demoyan, a historical medal issued by the American Near East Relief Committee in early 1920s to award the organization’s employees for their work in Armenian and Middle Eastern orphanages was sent to Clinton even in the evening preceding her visit, because Clinton wanted to have a look at it. A photo, depicting Armenian orphans in the American orphanage in Alexandrapol (present-day Gyumri), where children stand to form a sentence: “America, we thank you,” was received on Clinton’s behalf by her bodyguards, as Demoyan says, “for security reasons.”

Controversial opinions on Clinton’s visit are voiced in Diaspora. According to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), it (visit) was “a missed opportunity” and “a step lacking a material movement,” whereas, the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) highly appreciates Clinton’s overture.

“Given the secrecy surrounding this visit, and the absence of any publicly released remarks – much less a full and formal statement recognizing the Armenian Genocide by the Secretary – it would seem at this point, sadly, that this visit, while holding certain special importance in its own right – does not represent material movement toward proper U.S. condemnation and commemoration of this crime. This visit truly was a missed opportunity for the Secretary and for America,” ANCA reported.

Nevertheless, AAA thinks that Clinton’s visit “provides new impetus to affirmation efforts.”

“This was an important symbolic act and is appreciated. It was not only consistent with her long-standing and public record, as well as America’s historical record acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, but also helps us in achieving universal recognition and justice," stated the Assembly's Chairman of the Board of Trustees Hirair Hovnanian.

Even though the US Secretary of State’s visit to Armenia was private, it roused a great response in Turkey, too.

Hurriyet Daily writes that the US Secretary of State’s visit to Tsitsernakaberd was “shocking.”

The daily writes that Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs of Erdogan-led Justice and Development Party (AKP), Mehmet Ceylan, said: “Hillary Clinton’s visit is unacceptable within the context of the suspended protocols. The visit is of grave concern.”

Deniz Bolukbasi, member of the oppositionist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said that Clinton’s visit to Armenia was the responding step toward “the failure of the Armenian-Turkish protocols caused by the Erdogan-led party.”