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TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S STATEMENTS CREATE OUTRAGE
Greek News, New York
Feb 19 2007
Posted on Monday, February 19 @ 11:53:19 EST by greek_news
Washington, D.C.- Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) expressed outrage at
recent warnings by the Turkish government that it will take actions
threatening the security of US troops in Iraq should Congress even
consider the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
In a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos
(D-CA), Reps. Pallone and Knollenberg noted that, "it is our
understanding that senior Turkish government officials have warned
that, in response to Congress even considering this resolution,
they will close supply pipelines for our forces serving in Iraq. This
shameless threat to interfere in US military operations is absolutely
unacceptable and deeply offensive." The Representatives went on to
express dismay at the response of several Administration officials who,
caving in to the Turkish government's threats, have urged Members of
Congress to oppose even debate on this human rights measure.
"Sadly, the Turkish government is able to maintain its denial - against
all evidence and the tide of international opinion - in large part due
to the State Department's efforts to silence those who speak with moral
clarity about the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "It is a testament to the hypocrisy of the Administration's
position that, on the one hand, its senior officials remained almost
entirely silent on Article 301 prior to Hrant Dink's murder, while on
the other hand loudly and repeatedly attacking even the consideration
by the US Congress of the Armenian Genocide Resolution."
The letter to Chairman Lantos comes on the heels of a three-day
Washington, visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who
had announced that his government's opposition to the Armenian
Genocide resolution was a top priority in discussions with senior US
officials. "In this case, approval of this bill [Armenian Genocide
resolution - H.Res.106] against Turkey would ruin everything.
"I told my counterpart that this step will have a great influence
on our relations," said Gul during a press conference immediately
following his meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Similar statements threatening a cut-off of economic ties following
the French adoption of a law recognizing the Armenian Genocide in
January, 2001, proved empty, with trade between France and Turkey
growing by over 131 percent between 2001 to 2005. Meanwhile in the US,
despite US Administration and Congressional leadership opposition to
Armenian Genocide legislation from 2001-2006, Ankara still blocked
a northern front into Iraq, a move that the Defense Department has
said added significantly to the problems currently facing our forces
in the region today.
Gul is reported to have met with Vice President Cheney, National
Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Secretary Rice and several Members
of Congress this week, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
(D-MD), Chairman Lantos, Turkish Caucus Co-Chair Robert Wexler (D-FL),
and former Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO).
The visit of a high level delegation of Turkish parliament members
scheduled for this week to lobby against Armenian Genocide legislation
has reportedly been postponed indefinitely.
The Armenian Genocide resolution - H.Res.106 - was introduced on
January 30 by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) along with Representatives George
Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone, Joe Knollenberg, Brad Sherman (D-CA)
and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) and currently has 170 cosponsors. The
resolution would urge the President to properly characterize the
Armenian Genocide as 'genocide' and reaffirm the US historic record
on the topic. ANCA regional and local chapters have been working with
activists across the US in support of securing a speedy committee
and full House approval of the measure. A similar resolution will be
introduced in the Senate in the upcoming weeks.
http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php ?name=News&file=article&sid=6334
Greek News, New York
Feb 19 2007
Posted on Monday, February 19 @ 11:53:19 EST by greek_news
Washington, D.C.- Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) expressed outrage at
recent warnings by the Turkish government that it will take actions
threatening the security of US troops in Iraq should Congress even
consider the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
In a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos
(D-CA), Reps. Pallone and Knollenberg noted that, "it is our
understanding that senior Turkish government officials have warned
that, in response to Congress even considering this resolution,
they will close supply pipelines for our forces serving in Iraq. This
shameless threat to interfere in US military operations is absolutely
unacceptable and deeply offensive." The Representatives went on to
express dismay at the response of several Administration officials who,
caving in to the Turkish government's threats, have urged Members of
Congress to oppose even debate on this human rights measure.
"Sadly, the Turkish government is able to maintain its denial - against
all evidence and the tide of international opinion - in large part due
to the State Department's efforts to silence those who speak with moral
clarity about the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "It is a testament to the hypocrisy of the Administration's
position that, on the one hand, its senior officials remained almost
entirely silent on Article 301 prior to Hrant Dink's murder, while on
the other hand loudly and repeatedly attacking even the consideration
by the US Congress of the Armenian Genocide Resolution."
The letter to Chairman Lantos comes on the heels of a three-day
Washington, visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who
had announced that his government's opposition to the Armenian
Genocide resolution was a top priority in discussions with senior US
officials. "In this case, approval of this bill [Armenian Genocide
resolution - H.Res.106] against Turkey would ruin everything.
"I told my counterpart that this step will have a great influence
on our relations," said Gul during a press conference immediately
following his meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Similar statements threatening a cut-off of economic ties following
the French adoption of a law recognizing the Armenian Genocide in
January, 2001, proved empty, with trade between France and Turkey
growing by over 131 percent between 2001 to 2005. Meanwhile in the US,
despite US Administration and Congressional leadership opposition to
Armenian Genocide legislation from 2001-2006, Ankara still blocked
a northern front into Iraq, a move that the Defense Department has
said added significantly to the problems currently facing our forces
in the region today.
Gul is reported to have met with Vice President Cheney, National
Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Secretary Rice and several Members
of Congress this week, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
(D-MD), Chairman Lantos, Turkish Caucus Co-Chair Robert Wexler (D-FL),
and former Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO).
The visit of a high level delegation of Turkish parliament members
scheduled for this week to lobby against Armenian Genocide legislation
has reportedly been postponed indefinitely.
The Armenian Genocide resolution - H.Res.106 - was introduced on
January 30 by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) along with Representatives George
Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone, Joe Knollenberg, Brad Sherman (D-CA)
and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) and currently has 170 cosponsors. The
resolution would urge the President to properly characterize the
Armenian Genocide as 'genocide' and reaffirm the US historic record
on the topic. ANCA regional and local chapters have been working with
activists across the US in support of securing a speedy committee
and full House approval of the measure. A similar resolution will be
introduced in the Senate in the upcoming weeks.
http://www.greeknewsonline.com/modules.php ?name=News&file=article&sid=6334