TURKEY HAS TO REVIEW ITS ATTITUDE
Harutyun Gevorgyan
Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Oct 9 2007
Armenia
Interview with Person in Charge for ARFD Bureau of Hay Dat and
Political Issues Kiro Manoyan
"Mr. Manoyan what is the situation in the US House of Representatives
on the eve of the discussion of Resolution # 106 on the Recognition
of Armenian Genocide?"
" At present the majority of the House of Representatives, 226 members,
support the Resolution that reconfirms the fact of the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. To discuss and to adopt it, the Resolution must
be submitted to the discussion of the Senate Plenary Session. Before
that US House of Foreign Affairs Committee must discuss and pass
Resolution # 106. This discussion will be held on October 10.
Both Turkey and the White House make efforts to kill the adoption of
the Resolution. Only during the recent years, Turkish President, Head
of the General Headquarter of the armed forces, the country's Prime
Minister and several MP delegates paid official visits to Washington.
Prime Minister Erdoghan had meetings with the Jewish organizations
in the USA. Some days back he had a telephone conversation with the
US President.
The passions around the Resolution reconfirming Armenian Genocide
still hit up and pressure on the House of Representatives and the
members is strengthening. The visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister
testifies to this. In Tel Aviv, Ali Babajan particularly mentioned
that, in case of the adoption of the resolution, Turkish government
wouldn't be able to restrain social rebellion. He even threatened
that it will have bad impact on the Jewish community in Turkey.
All this is mainly aimed at killing the adoption of Resolution #
106. The White House has also strengthened its pressure on the adoption
of the resolution. The letter of the eight ex US State Secretaries
is one of the manifestations of the before mentioned.
Meanwhile it is worth mentioning that by the leadership of the
American National Committee of Armenians, American-Armenian community
has started a tense activity. This activity is aimed at making the
Resolution subject to adoption, not only in the US House of Foreign
Affairs Committee, but also in the Plenary Session of the House of
Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy
Palosy is the principal, if not the only role-player in this issue.
Turkish threats are not always perceived in the right way in the USA.
Similar threats have been heard about the countries that have already
recognized Armenian Genocide and are going to. " "And what is the
attitude of the US Jewish organization towards Resolution # 106,
what impact can they have?"
"One of the advantages of the Resolution is that it has 226
co-authors. They are not only the majority of the House of
Representatives, but also representatives from different parties
- Republican and Democratic. Around fifty community and social
organizations support the adoption of the resolution, around ten
of which are Jewish organizations. For now 32 Senators are ready to
vote for the adoption of the Resolution, including the Presidential
candidate Hilary Clinton who has the highest 53% rating .
However part of the Jewish Community having a powerful lobbing
in the USA is for the adoption of Resolution # 106 another part is
against. On this occasion Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babajan insisted
that Israel makes pressure on the Jewish Community of America. Thus
the Jewish Community in America has appeared in a very unpleasant
situation, because Jewish Lobby in America has always tried to make
an impression that they have never depended on Tel Aviv or any other
capital city. Whereas at the moment official Ankara is trying to
insist on the contrary, trying to dictate to the Jewish Community
what they should do.
At the moment Jewish Community in America is discussing the issue,
" to what extent is it moral to support Turkey in the recognition
of Armenian Genocide, in case when they themselves have suffered
from genocide."
"Where the efforts of American Armenian organizations successful this
time, to what extent are our positions strong?"
"Especially during the recent years, Armenian Community, Armenian
Organizations in the USA, due to Hay Dat Committee displayed that they
are really united and they can't be overlooked by the US political
circles. This is the principal pledge of success.
The regular presidential and parliamentary elections are in store
for the USA and the relations with Armenian community will be
considered. This means besides making fair decision American political
circles have certain biases as well.
Had the adoption of the Resolution not been really important, Turkey
wouldn't be in such panic. These days, publications have appeared in
Turkish press, with appeals to take steps against Armenia.
I'm sure, if Turkey takes similar steps, against Armenia, Armenian
Community in Turkey and the USA, it will suffer damages rather than
benefit. Eventually Turkey will understand that it can't continue its
denial policy. In the near future Turkey will have to make amendments
in its hostile policy against Armenia.
In my view Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan's letter
addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Palosy
was rather informative. But Armenian diplomacy must become livelier,
repeat its official attitude on every occasion, and immediately refute
any misinformation, heard from Turkey.
Harutyun Gevorgyan
Hayots Ashkharh Daily
Oct 9 2007
Armenia
Interview with Person in Charge for ARFD Bureau of Hay Dat and
Political Issues Kiro Manoyan
"Mr. Manoyan what is the situation in the US House of Representatives
on the eve of the discussion of Resolution # 106 on the Recognition
of Armenian Genocide?"
" At present the majority of the House of Representatives, 226 members,
support the Resolution that reconfirms the fact of the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. To discuss and to adopt it, the Resolution must
be submitted to the discussion of the Senate Plenary Session. Before
that US House of Foreign Affairs Committee must discuss and pass
Resolution # 106. This discussion will be held on October 10.
Both Turkey and the White House make efforts to kill the adoption of
the Resolution. Only during the recent years, Turkish President, Head
of the General Headquarter of the armed forces, the country's Prime
Minister and several MP delegates paid official visits to Washington.
Prime Minister Erdoghan had meetings with the Jewish organizations
in the USA. Some days back he had a telephone conversation with the
US President.
The passions around the Resolution reconfirming Armenian Genocide
still hit up and pressure on the House of Representatives and the
members is strengthening. The visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister
testifies to this. In Tel Aviv, Ali Babajan particularly mentioned
that, in case of the adoption of the resolution, Turkish government
wouldn't be able to restrain social rebellion. He even threatened
that it will have bad impact on the Jewish community in Turkey.
All this is mainly aimed at killing the adoption of Resolution #
106. The White House has also strengthened its pressure on the adoption
of the resolution. The letter of the eight ex US State Secretaries
is one of the manifestations of the before mentioned.
Meanwhile it is worth mentioning that by the leadership of the
American National Committee of Armenians, American-Armenian community
has started a tense activity. This activity is aimed at making the
Resolution subject to adoption, not only in the US House of Foreign
Affairs Committee, but also in the Plenary Session of the House of
Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy
Palosy is the principal, if not the only role-player in this issue.
Turkish threats are not always perceived in the right way in the USA.
Similar threats have been heard about the countries that have already
recognized Armenian Genocide and are going to. " "And what is the
attitude of the US Jewish organization towards Resolution # 106,
what impact can they have?"
"One of the advantages of the Resolution is that it has 226
co-authors. They are not only the majority of the House of
Representatives, but also representatives from different parties
- Republican and Democratic. Around fifty community and social
organizations support the adoption of the resolution, around ten
of which are Jewish organizations. For now 32 Senators are ready to
vote for the adoption of the Resolution, including the Presidential
candidate Hilary Clinton who has the highest 53% rating .
However part of the Jewish Community having a powerful lobbing
in the USA is for the adoption of Resolution # 106 another part is
against. On this occasion Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babajan insisted
that Israel makes pressure on the Jewish Community of America. Thus
the Jewish Community in America has appeared in a very unpleasant
situation, because Jewish Lobby in America has always tried to make
an impression that they have never depended on Tel Aviv or any other
capital city. Whereas at the moment official Ankara is trying to
insist on the contrary, trying to dictate to the Jewish Community
what they should do.
At the moment Jewish Community in America is discussing the issue,
" to what extent is it moral to support Turkey in the recognition
of Armenian Genocide, in case when they themselves have suffered
from genocide."
"Where the efforts of American Armenian organizations successful this
time, to what extent are our positions strong?"
"Especially during the recent years, Armenian Community, Armenian
Organizations in the USA, due to Hay Dat Committee displayed that they
are really united and they can't be overlooked by the US political
circles. This is the principal pledge of success.
The regular presidential and parliamentary elections are in store
for the USA and the relations with Armenian community will be
considered. This means besides making fair decision American political
circles have certain biases as well.
Had the adoption of the Resolution not been really important, Turkey
wouldn't be in such panic. These days, publications have appeared in
Turkish press, with appeals to take steps against Armenia.
I'm sure, if Turkey takes similar steps, against Armenia, Armenian
Community in Turkey and the USA, it will suffer damages rather than
benefit. Eventually Turkey will understand that it can't continue its
denial policy. In the near future Turkey will have to make amendments
in its hostile policy against Armenia.
In my view Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan's letter
addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Palosy
was rather informative. But Armenian diplomacy must become livelier,
repeat its official attitude on every occasion, and immediately refute
any misinformation, heard from Turkey.
