Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Pallone Calls on Powell to Protest New Turk Law Denying Genocide

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Pallone Calls on Powell to Protest New Turk Law Denying Genocide

    Armenian National Committee of America
    888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
    Washington, DC 20006
    Tel: (202) 775-1918
    Fax: (202) 775-5648
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Internet: www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    October 6, 2004
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918

    REP. PALLONE CALLS ON SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROTEST TURKISH
    LAW CRIMINALIZING DISCUSSION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

    WASHINGTON, DC - Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank
    Pallone (D-NJ) this week called upon Secretary of State Colin
    Powell to formally protest Turkey's adoption of a new penal code
    that criminalizes even the discussion of the Armenian Genocide,
    reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

    Section 306 of new Turkish penal code provides for prison sentences
    of between three and ten years for remarks concerning the facts of
    the Armenian Genocide or the withdrawal of Turkish occupation
    forces from Cyprus. In his letter, Congressman Pallone noted that
    this action represents a "hardening [of Turkey's] anti-Armenian
    stance and undermines hopes for a reduction of tensions in the
    region."

    Commenting specifically regarding the Administration's opposition
    to the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193 and S.Res.164), Rep. Pallone
    said, "We have been told, recently and in the past, that the State
    Department and the Administration have fought so strenuously
    against this legislation, because its adoption would somehow harm
    progress in the region toward the normalization of ties between
    these two states. This line of reasoning is, in my view, deeply
    flawed. However, if the State Department were to seriously rely on
    this argument concerning improved Turkey-Armenia relations, it
    would stand to reason that the State Department should also
    publicly and privately condemn Turkey's patently hateful
    codification of its official campaign to deny the Armenian
    Genocide."

    "Armenian Americans, having endured years of attacks on efforts to
    recognize the Armenian Genocide, remain profoundly troubled by the
    hypocrisy of a State Department that never hesitates to openly
    protest - and strenuously work against - legislation before
    Congress commemorating this crime, yet seems perpetually unable to
    summon the will to utter even a single word of concern regarding
    Turkey's hateful and shameless campaign of genocide denial," said
    ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

    The full text of Congressman Pallone's letter is provided below.

    #####

    October 1, 2004

    Secretary Colin Powell
    U.S. Department of State
    2201 C St, NW
    Washington, DC 20520

    Dear Secretary Powell,

    I write to you today to bring your attention to a recent troubling
    development in Turkey. Just this past week, Turkey adopted a new
    penal code that represents a dramatic display of the Turkish
    government's campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide and further
    inhibit a resolution to the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus.
    This new criminal code not only hinders improved relations between
    the Republic of Armenia and Turkey, but it is also an imprudent
    step on the part of a nation that is desperately trying to
    establish an image of having a free and democratic society.

    Section 306 of this new criminal code would punish individual
    Turkish citizens or groups that confirm the fact of the Armenian
    Genocide in Ottoman Turkey or call for the end of the Turkish
    occupation of Northern Cyprus- with up to ten years in prison. Far
    from coming to terms with the Genocide or reaching out to Armenia-
    Turkey, in adopting Section 306 of its new penal code, is hardening
    its anti-Armenian stance and undermining hopes for a reduction of
    tensions in the region.

    I would like, for a moment, to discuss why I consider it important
    that the State Department not remain silent in the face of this
    extremely troubling restriction on freedom of expression mandated
    by a NATO ally. In the past, when the State Department has spoken
    out against an Armenian Genocide Resolution, it has argued that
    such legislation would not contribute to improved Turkish-Armenian
    relations. We have been told, recently and in the past, that the
    State Department and the Administration have fought so strenuously
    against this legislation, because its adoption would somehow harm
    progress in the region toward the normalization of ties between
    these two states.

    This line of reasoning is, in my view, deeply flawed. However, if
    the State Department were to seriously rely on this argument
    concerning improved Turkey-Armenia relations, it would stand to
    reason that the State Department should also publicly and privately
    condemn Turkey's patently hateful codification of its official
    campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide, the most recent attempt
    being in the form of a repressive and unjustified new criminal
    code.

    Section 306 of the new criminal code does nothing to remove
    barriers to bilateral cooperation and lower the level of distrust
    and tension in this critically important region. I urge you and
    the State Department to condemn this oppressive provision in the
    criminal code and do everything that is in your power to ensure
    that the government of Turkey, our NATO ally- cease to inhibit the
    rights of its citizens; remove its troops from Northern Cyprus;
    come to terms with its own history; and finally start living up to
    the expectations that the United States has of free and democratic
    nations.

    Sincerely,

    [signed]
    FRANK PALLONE, JR.
    Member of Congress
Working...
X