Tweet
TURKEY'S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CAUSES CONTROVERSY IN TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH U.S.
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 4 2007
In a sign of the growing isolation faced by opponents of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, the U.S Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) - a governmental body formed by Congress - has
reported that Turkey's continued refusal to recognize the Armenian
Genocide remains a source of controversy in Turkey's relations with
the United States, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
The Commission communicated its views on this subject as a part of the
annual report it submitted last week to Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice on religious freedom around the world.
"We are gratified both by the Commission's clear recognition of
the Armenian Genocide as well as by the fact that its members have
addressed the ongoing costs associated with Turkey's denial of this
crime against humanity," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
"We also appreciate the Commission's documentation of the Hrant Dink
assassination and other forms of violence and official intimidation
inflicted by the Turkish government against Armenians and other
Christian communities", he added.
To note, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was
created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor
the status of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief
abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
related international instruments, and to give independent policy
recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the
Congress. It is a government entity created by Congress and funded
entirely by the federal government. Its staff members are government
employees. The White House and Congressional leadership appoint the
Commissioners.
The specific text dealing with Turkey's denials reads as follows:
"During the Commission's visit, the issue of the Armenian genocide
was not raised by any interlocutors, but the continued refusal of the
Turkish government to recognize the event continues to be a source
of controversy in Turkey's relations with other western countries,
including the United States."
The report also devoted considerable attention to the brutal murder
of Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink, who was killed in Istanbul after
being prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for
speaking openly about the Armenian Genocide.
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 4 2007
In a sign of the growing isolation faced by opponents of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution, the U.S Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) - a governmental body formed by Congress - has
reported that Turkey's continued refusal to recognize the Armenian
Genocide remains a source of controversy in Turkey's relations with
the United States, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
The Commission communicated its views on this subject as a part of the
annual report it submitted last week to Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice on religious freedom around the world.
"We are gratified both by the Commission's clear recognition of
the Armenian Genocide as well as by the fact that its members have
addressed the ongoing costs associated with Turkey's denial of this
crime against humanity," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
"We also appreciate the Commission's documentation of the Hrant Dink
assassination and other forms of violence and official intimidation
inflicted by the Turkish government against Armenians and other
Christian communities", he added.
To note, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was
created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor
the status of freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief
abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
related international instruments, and to give independent policy
recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the
Congress. It is a government entity created by Congress and funded
entirely by the federal government. Its staff members are government
employees. The White House and Congressional leadership appoint the
Commissioners.
The specific text dealing with Turkey's denials reads as follows:
"During the Commission's visit, the issue of the Armenian genocide
was not raised by any interlocutors, but the continued refusal of the
Turkish government to recognize the event continues to be a source
of controversy in Turkey's relations with other western countries,
including the United States."
The report also devoted considerable attention to the brutal murder
of Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink, who was killed in Istanbul after
being prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for
speaking openly about the Armenian Genocide.