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AAA: Senate Panel Approves John Bass as Next US Ambassador to Turkey

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  • AAA: Senate Panel Approves John Bass as Next US Ambassador to Turkey

    PRESS RELEASE
    July 31, 2014

    ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
    Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: (202) 393-3434
    Web: www.aaainc.org


    SENATE PANEL APPROVES JOHN BASS AS NEXT U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

    Nomination Awaits Confirmation by the Full Senate


    WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
    approved the nomination of John R. Bass to serve as the next U.S.
    Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly of
    America (Assembly). Under the Chairmanship of Senator Robert Menendez
    (D-NJ), Bass' nomination was approved by voice vote.

    Although questions regarding the Turkish government's 99-year campaign
    of genocide denial were not raised during his confirmation hearing,
    some media outlets mistakenly reported that Bass denied the Armenian
    Genocide at that hearing. While recognizing that several Turkish
    journalists and public organizations have taken steps to counter the
    Turkish government's denial of the Armenian Genocide, `more can be
    done, and we encourage both sides to pursue a full, frank, and just
    acknowledgement of the facts surrounding the tragic events on 1915,'
    Bass said in his opening remarks.

    Following his July 15th confirmation hearing, questions on various Armenian
    American issues were submitted for the record to the nominee by Chairman
    Menendez, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).

    Chairman Menendez began his questioning on the Armenian Genocide and the
    recent commemorations held on April 24 in Istanbul. `Will you make
    participating in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the genocide
    a priority for you and your staff? How do you personally characterize the
    events that took place between 1915-23 that resulted in the deportation of
    nearly 2,000,000 Armenians and the killing of as many as 1,500,000 men,
    women, and children?' Menendez asked.

    `The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
    million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
    days of the Ottoman Empire,' Bass replied. `If confirmed, I will continue
    to make attendance at such commemoration events a priority, particularly in
    light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of one of the worst atrocities of
    the 20th century,' Bass said.

    Chairman Menendez also drew the nominee's attention to the Turkish
    government's discriminatory policies regarding religious minorities. `Less
    than one hundred years ago, there was a vibrant and large Christian
    population in Turkey. Because of genocide and persecution, the population
    has been decimated and accounts for less than point 2 percent of the
    population today,' Menendez said. `How will you address issues of religious
    persecution against Christians and other religious minorities with Turkish
    authorities?' Menendez inquired.

    `Religious minority groups face continuing challenges in Turkey,' Bass
    said. `If confirmed, I will encourage the Turkish government to follow
    through on the return of religious minority properties and to take
    additional steps to promote religious freedom, such as allowing more
    religious communities to own property, register their places of worship,
    and train clergy,' Bass replied.

    Last month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed H.R. 4347, the
    Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act. Although a similar measure
    has not yet been introduced in the Senate, the continued destruction of
    historic Christian sites of Anatolia has not gone unnoticed in Washington.

    Senator Boxer also questioned nominee Bass on the Armenia-Turkey
    reconciliation efforts. `How does the failure of the Turkish government to
    openly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide impede efforts to normalize
    relations between Turkey and Armenia?' Boxer asked.

    `To achieve full reconciliation, Turkey must come to terms with its past,'
    Bass said bluntly. `The Administration will continue to encourage a full,
    frank and just acknowledgement of the facts,' Bass said, in an effort to
    support the normalization of relations that will result in the opening of
    the border.

    Senator Boxer also raised the issue of Turkey's 20-year land blockade on
    Armenia directly. `How will you work to end this illegal blockade?' she
    asked. `Facilitating Armenia's regional integration by opening its border
    with Turkey is a priority for the United States,' Bass said. =80=9CIf confirmed,
    this would be one of my key goals as Ambassador.'

    In his line of questioning, Senator Markey recalled the service of former
    U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, in whose footsteps
    Bass would serve. `Do you agree with the accounts of U.S. diplomats,
    including Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, who served as U.S. ambassador to the
    Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, regarding the attempted annihilation of
    the Armenian people?' Markey asked.


    `I am aware of the history of the tragic massacres and forced exile that
    occurred at the end of the Ottoman Empire, and with U.S. policy during that
    period. Ambassador Morgenthau's accounts, and the reporting of other U.S.
    diplomats, serve as important historical records of these tragic events
    from various perspectives. The individual stories of the tragedy are
    horrifying.'

    `The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
    million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
    days of the Ottoman Empire. If confirmed as Ambassador, my role would be to
    represent faithfully the President's policies, as it has been in all of my
    previous assignments,' Bass said.

    `We commend Chairman Menendez and Senators Boxer and Markey for their
    poignant and sharp questioning of nominee Bass on critical issues of
    concern to Armenian Americans,' stated Assembly Executive Director
    Bryan Ardouny. `The Assembly looks forward to the opportunity to
    discuss shared concerns directly with the next U.S. ambassador to
    Turkey,' Ardouny added.

    Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
    Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
    awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
    membership organization.

    ###

    NR: # 2014-041

    Available online: http://bit.ly/1nNNm4l

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