Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Turkey Interferes in Pasadena City Business

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Turkey Interferes in Pasadena City Business

    Turkey Interferes in Pasadena City Business

    asbarez
    Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

    Pasadena City Hall

    PASADENA - An official from the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles met
    with a Pasadena City official in an effort to thwart plans by city to
    erect an Armenian Genocide monument. The Armenian National Committee
    of America Pasadena chapter issued a statement Wednesday denouncing
    Turkey's brazen attempts to interfere in city government business.
    Below is the text of the announcement:

    During the month of August, the Republic of Turkey initiated a meeting
    with the City of Pasadena to probe for information about the newly
    formed and independent Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee
    (PAGMC). The meeting took place at Pasadena City Hall between the Vice
    Consul of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles and the City's
    management directors. Vice Consul Arif Celik's consultation was
    politically driven stating that the government he represents held a
    `difference of opinion' about the Armenian Genocide.

    The Armenian National Committee of America - Pasadena cannot let such
    statements go unchecked: the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact
    and will not be allowed to be subjected to `differences of opinions'
    or debate. The nation of Turkey should acknowledge the Armenian
    Genocide and not interfere with American politics, in American cities
    and proposed projects by American citizens and residents. Under the
    American Constitution, the citizens of states, cities, and towns
    acting through their elected officials, are empowered to conduct their
    civic affairs without the interference of foreign governments. The
    Turkish government, which is among the world's worst violators of
    freedom of expression, consistently seeks, and has frequently
    succeeded at the federal level, in imposing a gag rule on American
    calls for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. The
    initiation of a meeting by a foreign nation's officials with a local
    U.S. municipality is politically driven and, therefore, is deemed as
    an attempt to intervene in the affairs of our local American
    communities. Preserving heritage and memorializing ancestors who were
    killed by way of genocide is not subject to the political positions of
    foreign nations.

    Pasadena has been home to Armenian-Americans for several decades, many
    of whom are descendants of the Armenian Genocide. In the past, the
    City of Pasadena has conducted an official census count of its
    Armenian-American residents and has amended its Affirmative Action
    ordinance to uphold Armenian-Americans as a Protected Class. In 1991,
    the City of Pasadena established the city of Vanadzor, Armenia as its
    sister-city and raised the Armenian Tri-color flag over Pasadena City
    Hall on May 28 to commemorate Armenia's Day of Independence. For more
    than 30 years, the City of Pasadena has adopted resolutions and issued
    official proclamations to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.

    It is intrusive for the republic of turkey to hold a political
    Interest over how local communities stand against various crimes
    Against humanity such as the 1915 Armenian genocide. The vested
    Interest of a foreign national government in local u.s. community
    Issues is invasive, unacceptable, and is viewed as an encroachment on
    American rights and values.

    The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
    largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
    organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
    with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
    Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
    the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
    on a broad range of issues.

Working...
X