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US JEWISH GROUP STICKS TO 'ARMENIAN GENOCIDE' RECOGNITION
arminfo
2007-08-30 18:09:00
The U.S. Jewish group Anti-Defamation League has confirmed its
commitment to the recognition of World War I-era Armenian killings
in the Ottoman Empire as genocide, shortly after its top official
sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing his
organization's "deep sorrow" for causing pain to Turkey's leaders
and people.
As Turkish Daily News from Washington says, in a controversial
shift in position last Tuesday, the ADL's National Director Abraham
Foxman announced that his group had come to the understanding that
the Armenian killings "indeed were tantamount to genocide." "We will
not hesitate to apply the term genocide in the future,' says Foxman.
But he added the ADL remained opposed to efforts to pass genocide
resolutions in the U.S. Congress, saying such moves would be
counterproductive. "While we continue to firmly believe that a
congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive
diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and
Armenians, we will not hesitate to apply the term genocide in the
future," Foxman said.
Speaking about the reasons of the ADL's position concerning the events
in 1915, Foxman noted "We had a dilemma. As an organization committed
to educating people on the dangers not only of anti-Semitism but of
hatred of all kinds, we could not ignore the terrible tragedy that
befell Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire". He added: "We
think the Turkish government should address the moral implications of
its history with the Armenians, particularly because Turkey occupies
the critical spot in the great struggle of our time, the effort to see
a moderate Islamic model triumph over Islamic extremism". Moreover,
speaking about the Turkish Government's threats, Foxman noted "As
long as the ADL is an organization committed first to the safety and
security of the Jewish people, we cannot in good conscience ignore
the well being of 20,000 Jews in Turkey. We will, however, continue
to push the Turkish government in the right direction".
To note, the ADL's move was a huge disappointment for the Turkish
government and caused public anger. The Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan turned to the Israeli President Shimon Perez ith
warnings and threats concerning the Jewish Diaspora in Istanbul. But
the latter, sharing the feelings of the Turkish politician, said that
the Israeli Government cannot directly influence the decisions of a
Jewish organization in another country.
arminfo
2007-08-30 18:09:00
The U.S. Jewish group Anti-Defamation League has confirmed its
commitment to the recognition of World War I-era Armenian killings
in the Ottoman Empire as genocide, shortly after its top official
sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing his
organization's "deep sorrow" for causing pain to Turkey's leaders
and people.
As Turkish Daily News from Washington says, in a controversial
shift in position last Tuesday, the ADL's National Director Abraham
Foxman announced that his group had come to the understanding that
the Armenian killings "indeed were tantamount to genocide." "We will
not hesitate to apply the term genocide in the future,' says Foxman.
But he added the ADL remained opposed to efforts to pass genocide
resolutions in the U.S. Congress, saying such moves would be
counterproductive. "While we continue to firmly believe that a
congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive
diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and
Armenians, we will not hesitate to apply the term genocide in the
future," Foxman said.
Speaking about the reasons of the ADL's position concerning the events
in 1915, Foxman noted "We had a dilemma. As an organization committed
to educating people on the dangers not only of anti-Semitism but of
hatred of all kinds, we could not ignore the terrible tragedy that
befell Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire". He added: "We
think the Turkish government should address the moral implications of
its history with the Armenians, particularly because Turkey occupies
the critical spot in the great struggle of our time, the effort to see
a moderate Islamic model triumph over Islamic extremism". Moreover,
speaking about the Turkish Government's threats, Foxman noted "As
long as the ADL is an organization committed first to the safety and
security of the Jewish people, we cannot in good conscience ignore
the well being of 20,000 Jews in Turkey. We will, however, continue
to push the Turkish government in the right direction".
To note, the ADL's move was a huge disappointment for the Turkish
government and caused public anger. The Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan turned to the Israeli President Shimon Perez ith
warnings and threats concerning the Jewish Diaspora in Istanbul. But
the latter, sharing the feelings of the Turkish politician, said that
the Israeli Government cannot directly influence the decisions of a
Jewish organization in another country.