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OBAMA ARMENIANS' FAVORITE IN DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Today's Zaman
Feb 1 2008
Turkey
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has gained support
from an influential Armenian diaspora organization, the Washington
based-Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), days after he
pledged to officially recognize the controversial World War I-era
killings of Anatolian Armenians as genocide if he becomes president.
ANCA announced its support for Obama on Tuesday, praising him as "the
Democratic candidate best positioned to bring fundamental change to
how the United States addresses issues of special concern to Armenian
American voters."
A few days after Obama, rival Hillary Clinton had also announced
last month that she would officially recognize the alleged genocide
of Anatolian Armenians if she becomes president.
"Based on his strong record in office, his bold statements as a
candidate and our judgment as to the policies he will pursue as
president, we believe that, among a strong field of Democratic
candidates, Senator Obama will best reflect the views and values
of Armenian American voters," ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian was
quoted as saying a press conference held at the ANCA Western Region
headquarters. His quotes and the organization's support have been
aired on the ANCA's Web site.
The ANCA listed certain key elements of Obama's record that led to the
endorsement. One of those elements is Obama's "public criticism of the
Bush administration for firing former US Ambassador to Armenia John
Evans over his truthful remarks recognizing the Armenian Genocide."
The ANCA stressed that Obama "has publicly asserted that, 'An official
policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an
untenable policy.'"
Ankara has already chided both Obama and Clinton, warning them to
act in a responsible manner while electioneering.
"Politicians who run for the US presidency should act in a more
responsible manner in regard to both history and the future; they
should take pains not to offend a friendly and ally country and its
people via groundless statements; and they should keep in mind the
sensitivities of the Turkish-American relations within this framework,"
the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement released
over the weekend.
The Washington-based diaspora organization also noted that "unlike
other Democratic candidates, he [Obama] also pledged to 'promote
Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani
blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that is agreeable to all parties,
and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of
democracy and self determination.'"
Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered
in orchestrated killings during the last years of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey categorically rejects these claims, saying that 300,000
Armenians, along with at least as many Turks, died in civil strife
that emerged when the Armenians took up arms for independence in
eastern Anatolia and sided with the Russian troops who were invading
Ottoman territory.
Today's Zaman
Feb 1 2008
Turkey
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has gained support
from an influential Armenian diaspora organization, the Washington
based-Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), days after he
pledged to officially recognize the controversial World War I-era
killings of Anatolian Armenians as genocide if he becomes president.
ANCA announced its support for Obama on Tuesday, praising him as "the
Democratic candidate best positioned to bring fundamental change to
how the United States addresses issues of special concern to Armenian
American voters."
A few days after Obama, rival Hillary Clinton had also announced
last month that she would officially recognize the alleged genocide
of Anatolian Armenians if she becomes president.
"Based on his strong record in office, his bold statements as a
candidate and our judgment as to the policies he will pursue as
president, we believe that, among a strong field of Democratic
candidates, Senator Obama will best reflect the views and values
of Armenian American voters," ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian was
quoted as saying a press conference held at the ANCA Western Region
headquarters. His quotes and the organization's support have been
aired on the ANCA's Web site.
The ANCA listed certain key elements of Obama's record that led to the
endorsement. One of those elements is Obama's "public criticism of the
Bush administration for firing former US Ambassador to Armenia John
Evans over his truthful remarks recognizing the Armenian Genocide."
The ANCA stressed that Obama "has publicly asserted that, 'An official
policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an
untenable policy.'"
Ankara has already chided both Obama and Clinton, warning them to
act in a responsible manner while electioneering.
"Politicians who run for the US presidency should act in a more
responsible manner in regard to both history and the future; they
should take pains not to offend a friendly and ally country and its
people via groundless statements; and they should keep in mind the
sensitivities of the Turkish-American relations within this framework,"
the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement released
over the weekend.
The Washington-based diaspora organization also noted that "unlike
other Democratic candidates, he [Obama] also pledged to 'promote
Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani
blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that is agreeable to all parties,
and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of
democracy and self determination.'"
Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered
in orchestrated killings during the last years of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey categorically rejects these claims, saying that 300,000
Armenians, along with at least as many Turks, died in civil strife
that emerged when the Armenians took up arms for independence in
eastern Anatolia and sided with the Russian troops who were invading
Ottoman territory.