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October 11, 2007 Thursday 1:19 AM EST
REP. COSTA PRESS AVAILABILITY THURSDAY, OCT. 11TH
Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif. (20th CD), issued the following news
release:
On Thursday October 11th, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) will be
available to the press to discuss recent Congressional action House
Resolution 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution, which passed
through the House Foreign Affairs Committee today by a vote of 27 to
21. Costa will also discuss the Farm Bill.
Below is the statement given by Costa in today's hearing.
WHO: Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno
WHAT: Media Availability
WHEN: Thursday, October 11th, 2007, anytime after 6pm
WHERE: Petroleum Club
5060 California Ave # 12th Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93309
"Thank you Mr. Chairman Lantos for bringing such an important
resolution before the Foreign Affairs Committee for mark-up, and the
profiles in courage you as our Chairman and our Speaker are
demonstrating today that this measure should be heard in the House of
Representatives.
"The importance of Turkey as an ally to the United States, both as a
supporter of the War on Terrorism and our efforts in Afghanistan and
Iraq and obviously have been well stated should not be taken for
granted and I certainly don't. I do support this resolution. Much has
been said about the potential impact on our national security in the
current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I would heed my
colleagues who have that concern to note that in fact when Russia
recognized the Armenian genocide in 1995 their trade with Turkey
increased by 351 %. When Greece recognized the genocide - who have
had tensions over the past few decades with Turkey - in 1997, trade
increased by 266 %. And yes, the European Parliament passed last year
a set of economic conditions and social conditions prior to the entry
of Turkey into the European Union; one of those conditions was the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Nation states at the end of the
day, ultimately, notwithstanding their own internal politics, do what
is in their best interest. Because of the assistance and all the
important relationships that we have with Turkey, I believe that in
fact if we pass this resolution, Turkey will not like it, but they
certainly will do what is in their best interest and that will be to
continue to have a relationship with between our great nations.
"But for me, as I suspect it is for others on the Committee, this
resolution involves the issue - the simple issue of man's injustice
to mankind... as it has occurred in Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia, the
Holocaust, and in this instance, this resolution is about the
Armenian Genocide.
"In May 2006, I went on a Codel to Iraq, Turkey and Greece with my
colleague Mr. Pence. As we traveled through Turkey, we had a meeting
with President Abdulla G?l - who was then Foreign Minister - who is
President today. And I'd like to relay a story to the members of this
Committee. I talked about the positive relationship with Turkey and
America and our long standing relations. That modern day Turkey
stands for a successful, secular democracy, a responsible
nation-state on the world stage.
"But I also told him that all nations in the world have periods of
their history that they'd soon forget. I explained that slavery in
early America is one of our chapters that many would soon overlook...
And even our beloved Founding Fathers held slaves. Slavery created
turmoil in our nation for decades, and was one of the many causes the
Civil War. The issues of civil rights in America continued for 100
years following the Civil War, resulting in a Civil Rights Act passed
by Congress in the 1960s. And despite this monumental legislation, we
still have problems today in our country, but we acknowledge and we
confront them just as modern day Turkey should.
"The purpose of the resolution today is not to belittle the
accomplishments of Turkey; but rather to acknowledge an event that
occurred in the early 20th century... involving a plan to remove
people from their homes and lands, and sadly, evolved into one of the
first genocides in the modern world. Modern day Turkey was not
responsible for that genocide but they should acknowledge it and they
should move on. It is important we acknowledge this fact, in an
effort to heal the wounds and build new relations among Turkey,
Armenia, and the world communities.
"One can debate specific incidents, but growing up in Fresno,
California, the land of William Saroyan, I can tell you I heard
stories as a kid from grandparents of my friends - the Kezerian,
Koligian and Abramhian families about being forced to leave their
homes, the stories of the long marches, the massacres and murders
that occurred to women and children. Clearly, they believed there was
a systematic approach to eliminate the Armenian communities in places
that had been their homes and farms for centuries. My Armenian
friends believe that what happened between1915-1923 was a systematic
approach, and was among the first genocides of the 20th century, and
so do I.
"This resolution is not meant to reopen the wounds or degenerate the
importance of our relationship with the Turkish people or their
government... and an important ally. But my vote in favor of this
resolution is to accurately reflect history. It is important that we
support this measure, and move on. I urge an 'Aye' vote."
October 11, 2007 Thursday 1:19 AM EST
REP. COSTA PRESS AVAILABILITY THURSDAY, OCT. 11TH
Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif. (20th CD), issued the following news
release:
On Thursday October 11th, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) will be
available to the press to discuss recent Congressional action House
Resolution 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution, which passed
through the House Foreign Affairs Committee today by a vote of 27 to
21. Costa will also discuss the Farm Bill.
Below is the statement given by Costa in today's hearing.
WHO: Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno
WHAT: Media Availability
WHEN: Thursday, October 11th, 2007, anytime after 6pm
WHERE: Petroleum Club
5060 California Ave # 12th Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93309
"Thank you Mr. Chairman Lantos for bringing such an important
resolution before the Foreign Affairs Committee for mark-up, and the
profiles in courage you as our Chairman and our Speaker are
demonstrating today that this measure should be heard in the House of
Representatives.
"The importance of Turkey as an ally to the United States, both as a
supporter of the War on Terrorism and our efforts in Afghanistan and
Iraq and obviously have been well stated should not be taken for
granted and I certainly don't. I do support this resolution. Much has
been said about the potential impact on our national security in the
current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I would heed my
colleagues who have that concern to note that in fact when Russia
recognized the Armenian genocide in 1995 their trade with Turkey
increased by 351 %. When Greece recognized the genocide - who have
had tensions over the past few decades with Turkey - in 1997, trade
increased by 266 %. And yes, the European Parliament passed last year
a set of economic conditions and social conditions prior to the entry
of Turkey into the European Union; one of those conditions was the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Nation states at the end of the
day, ultimately, notwithstanding their own internal politics, do what
is in their best interest. Because of the assistance and all the
important relationships that we have with Turkey, I believe that in
fact if we pass this resolution, Turkey will not like it, but they
certainly will do what is in their best interest and that will be to
continue to have a relationship with between our great nations.
"But for me, as I suspect it is for others on the Committee, this
resolution involves the issue - the simple issue of man's injustice
to mankind... as it has occurred in Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia, the
Holocaust, and in this instance, this resolution is about the
Armenian Genocide.
"In May 2006, I went on a Codel to Iraq, Turkey and Greece with my
colleague Mr. Pence. As we traveled through Turkey, we had a meeting
with President Abdulla G?l - who was then Foreign Minister - who is
President today. And I'd like to relay a story to the members of this
Committee. I talked about the positive relationship with Turkey and
America and our long standing relations. That modern day Turkey
stands for a successful, secular democracy, a responsible
nation-state on the world stage.
"But I also told him that all nations in the world have periods of
their history that they'd soon forget. I explained that slavery in
early America is one of our chapters that many would soon overlook...
And even our beloved Founding Fathers held slaves. Slavery created
turmoil in our nation for decades, and was one of the many causes the
Civil War. The issues of civil rights in America continued for 100
years following the Civil War, resulting in a Civil Rights Act passed
by Congress in the 1960s. And despite this monumental legislation, we
still have problems today in our country, but we acknowledge and we
confront them just as modern day Turkey should.
"The purpose of the resolution today is not to belittle the
accomplishments of Turkey; but rather to acknowledge an event that
occurred in the early 20th century... involving a plan to remove
people from their homes and lands, and sadly, evolved into one of the
first genocides in the modern world. Modern day Turkey was not
responsible for that genocide but they should acknowledge it and they
should move on. It is important we acknowledge this fact, in an
effort to heal the wounds and build new relations among Turkey,
Armenia, and the world communities.
"One can debate specific incidents, but growing up in Fresno,
California, the land of William Saroyan, I can tell you I heard
stories as a kid from grandparents of my friends - the Kezerian,
Koligian and Abramhian families about being forced to leave their
homes, the stories of the long marches, the massacres and murders
that occurred to women and children. Clearly, they believed there was
a systematic approach to eliminate the Armenian communities in places
that had been their homes and farms for centuries. My Armenian
friends believe that what happened between1915-1923 was a systematic
approach, and was among the first genocides of the 20th century, and
so do I.
"This resolution is not meant to reopen the wounds or degenerate the
importance of our relationship with the Turkish people or their
government... and an important ally. But my vote in favor of this
resolution is to accurately reflect history. It is important that we
support this measure, and move on. I urge an 'Aye' vote."