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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Aug 25 2007
Güleryüz: ADL does not speak for entire Jewish lobby in US
Assuming that the New York-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL) --
which has provoked deep disappointment in Turkey due to a change in
their approach to the Armenian issue -- represents the entire Jewish
community based in the United States would be misleading, a prominent
figure of the Turkish Jewish society warned on Friday.
"The Jewish lobby doesn't solely consist of the ADL. It [the Jewish
lobby] is a general definition consisting of a lot of organizations
and their views. Even if we imagine that one of these organizations
assumed a certain manner for a certain moment, it would not affect
the general atmosphere and the general stance," Naim Güleryüz, a
researcher and writer who is also vice-president of the
Quincentennial Foundation and project coordinator and curator of the
Jewish Museum of Turkey, said while speaking with the Anatolia news
agency.
Güleryüz noted that he was also saddened by the New York-based
Anti-Defamation League's recent statement in which it reversed its
longtime policy by calling the World War I killing of Anatolian
Armenians genocide. He, however, stressed that he was not surprised
at the statement, given that it might be a result of internal
balances and disagreements within the organization itself.
Bringing to mind the fact that the ADL statement came only two weeks
after the ADL fired a regional director for taking the same position,
Güleryüz said he considered the statement a counter-step to
compensate for the step taken two weeks ago. "I've said that it might
have happened because of this, but I wish it hadn't happened," he
stressed.
The 500th anniversary of the Turkish invitation to the Sephardim to
Turkish lands was marked in 1992. Turkish Jews felt it was both
fitting and proper to launch an extensive celebration in Turkey, the
United States and Europe. To this end, the Quincentennial Foundation
was established in 1989 by a group of 113 Turkish citizens, comprised
of both Jews and Muslims. Founded and headquartered in Ýstanbul, the
Quincentennial Foundation arranged a three-year (1990-1992) cultural
and academic program both in Turkey and abroad -- mainly in the US,
Canada and Mexico on the American continent; France, United Kingdom
and various other countries in Europe.
"Jewish history is full of sad events which are marked by
commemorations and memorial services. But now there was a major event
to celebrate. To celebrate both the 500th anniversary of the
welcoming of the Sephardic Jews to the Ottoman Empire and the five
centuries of continuous and peaceful life in Turkey," the foundation
says on its Web site. The Israeli state, which is very influential in
the US, attributes high importance to its relations with Turkey,
Güleryüz said, while noting that he didn't believe that two separate
resolutions pending in the US House of Representatives that call on
the US administration to recognize the alleged genocide would
eventually be adopted.
25.08.2007
Today's Zaman with wires Ankara
Aug 25 2007
Güleryüz: ADL does not speak for entire Jewish lobby in US
Assuming that the New York-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL) --
which has provoked deep disappointment in Turkey due to a change in
their approach to the Armenian issue -- represents the entire Jewish
community based in the United States would be misleading, a prominent
figure of the Turkish Jewish society warned on Friday.
"The Jewish lobby doesn't solely consist of the ADL. It [the Jewish
lobby] is a general definition consisting of a lot of organizations
and their views. Even if we imagine that one of these organizations
assumed a certain manner for a certain moment, it would not affect
the general atmosphere and the general stance," Naim Güleryüz, a
researcher and writer who is also vice-president of the
Quincentennial Foundation and project coordinator and curator of the
Jewish Museum of Turkey, said while speaking with the Anatolia news
agency.
Güleryüz noted that he was also saddened by the New York-based
Anti-Defamation League's recent statement in which it reversed its
longtime policy by calling the World War I killing of Anatolian
Armenians genocide. He, however, stressed that he was not surprised
at the statement, given that it might be a result of internal
balances and disagreements within the organization itself.
Bringing to mind the fact that the ADL statement came only two weeks
after the ADL fired a regional director for taking the same position,
Güleryüz said he considered the statement a counter-step to
compensate for the step taken two weeks ago. "I've said that it might
have happened because of this, but I wish it hadn't happened," he
stressed.
The 500th anniversary of the Turkish invitation to the Sephardim to
Turkish lands was marked in 1992. Turkish Jews felt it was both
fitting and proper to launch an extensive celebration in Turkey, the
United States and Europe. To this end, the Quincentennial Foundation
was established in 1989 by a group of 113 Turkish citizens, comprised
of both Jews and Muslims. Founded and headquartered in Ýstanbul, the
Quincentennial Foundation arranged a three-year (1990-1992) cultural
and academic program both in Turkey and abroad -- mainly in the US,
Canada and Mexico on the American continent; France, United Kingdom
and various other countries in Europe.
"Jewish history is full of sad events which are marked by
commemorations and memorial services. But now there was a major event
to celebrate. To celebrate both the 500th anniversary of the
welcoming of the Sephardic Jews to the Ottoman Empire and the five
centuries of continuous and peaceful life in Turkey," the foundation
says on its Web site. The Israeli state, which is very influential in
the US, attributes high importance to its relations with Turkey,
Güleryüz said, while noting that he didn't believe that two separate
resolutions pending in the US House of Representatives that call on
the US administration to recognize the alleged genocide would
eventually be adopted.
25.08.2007
Today's Zaman with wires Ankara