Tweet
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
September 4, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]
ANCA OUTLINES CONCERNS ABOUT GUL VISIT TO ARMENIA
"For this initiative to succeed, Turkey's leaders need to view this
as a true opportunity for enduring peace, not simply as a photo
opportunity to help alleviate the growing international pressure it
is under to recognize the Armenian Genocide."
- ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian
WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
today, expressed hopes and reservations regarding Turkey's
President Abdullah Gul's impending visit to Armenia, at the
invitation by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan, to watch the
September 6th Turkey vs. Armenia soccer match in Armenia's capital,
Yerevan.
"We are, as you can imagine, watching this matter with vigilance,
mindful of the risks that Armenia is taking for peace, hopeful that
Yerevan's diplomatic initiative will bear fruit, yet cautious
regarding the realistic prospects for progress given Ankara's
long-standing and deeply troubling track record of antagonism toward
Armenia," explained ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in a September 4th
letter to House and Senate Members.
Asserting that this visit cannot, by itself, substitute for real
progress in improved Armenia-Turkey relations, Hachikian remained
hopeful "that Armenia's pro-active diplomacy, if matched with real
movement by Turkey, can serve as a first, cautious step toward a
true reconciliation based on truth and justice."
To that end, Hachikian outlined some immediate and long-term steps
President Gul could take to demonstrate his sincerity in accepting
President Sarkisyan's invitation, including showing the
"willingness to walk the mile from Armenia's national soccer
stadium to the "Dzidzernagapert" Armenian Genocide Memorial, a
tradition long honored by foreign dignitaries visiting Yerevan."
In the days and weeks following President Gul's departure from
Armenia, Hachikian urged:
"* Lifting domestic restrictions on the study, discussion, and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and abandoning opposition to
international recognition and commemoration of this crime against
humanity - including by the White House and the U.S. Congress.
* Lifting its blockade of Armenia, allowing free Armenian access to
its traditional transportation routes, ending its opposition to the
incorporation of Armenia in regional and international initiatives
impacting the Southern Caucasus, and removing restrictions on
Armenian stewardship of cultural and religious heritage sites
within Turkey.
* Publicly and in practice adopting a truly neutral position as a
member of the OSCE Minsk Group charged with mediating a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, ending military
support for Azerbaijan's armed forces, and openly calling on all
parties to reject any non-peaceful resolution to this conflict.
* Lifting all restrictions on the collective rights of the Armenian
community in Turkey.
* Accepting Armenia's offer to negotiate the establishment of
normal diplomatic relations without any preconditions, and agreeing
to resolve all outstanding bilateral issues in a peaceful, non-
violent manner."
The complete text of the ANCA letter to Congress is provided below.
#####
TEXT OF ANCA CHAIRMAN KEN HACHIKIAN'S LETTER TO SENATE AND HOUSE
MEMBERS REGARDING TURKISH PRESIDENT ABDULLAH GUL'S IMPENDING VISIT
TO ARMENIA
Dear Senator/Representative _________________:
In light of the announcement this week by Turkish President
Abdullah Gul that he will accept Armenian President Serj
Sarkisyan's invitation to watch the September 6th Armenia-Turkey
World Cup qualifying match in Yerevan, we wanted to share with you
the Armenian American community's perspective on this new and
potentially significant development, and to reaffirm our
community's fundamental commitment to universal recognition and a
just resolution of the Armenian Genocide.
We are, as you can imagine, watching this matter with vigilance,
mindful of the risks that Armenia is taking for peace, hopeful that
Yerevan's diplomatic initiative will bear fruit, yet cautious
regarding the realistic prospects for progress given Ankara's
long-standing and deeply troubling track record of antagonism toward
Armenia.
As you know, since Armenia's independence in 1991, successive
Armenian governments and the worldwide Armenian Diaspora have -
despite the unresolved legacy of the Armenian Genocide and Ankara's
ongoing and deeply painful denial of this crime - consistently
sought sincere and sustainable progress toward improved Armenia-
Turkey relations. President Sarkisyan's invitation represents only
the most recent such outreach on Armenia's part, although by no
means the only one. Both of his predecessors visited Turkey in
their official capacities as president, although, sadly, neither of
their visits resulted in any moderation of Turkey's policies toward
Armenia.
Armenia's invitation represents a pro-active gesture by Armenia - a
small country populated in large part by the descendents of
Armenian Genocide survivors - to reach out to a large and heavily
armed neighbor that, as heir to the Ottoman Empire, denies this
horrific crime, blockades Armenia, and pursues a broad array of
anti-Armenian policies - both at home and abroad. President Gul
has accepted the Armenian President's invitation even as his
government has made it clear that they do not plan any changes in
these policies, which, it is worthwhile noting, include:
* Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide, continued
threats against other nations that consider recognizing this crime
against humanity, and continued allocations of tens of millions of
dollars annually for lobbyists, academic mercenaries, and outright
fabricators to attempt to rewrite this profoundly important chapter
in world history.
* Turkey's continued efforts to silence any recognition of the
Armenian Genocide within its own borders through Article 301 and
other provisions of its criminal code (e.g. Nobel Prize-winner
Orhan Pamuk), continued intimidation and unofficial acts of
violence (e.g. Hrant Dink), and the perpetuation of a deeply flawed
educational system that indoctrinates successive new generations of
Turkish students to believe that the Armenian Genocide is a lie and
that all Armenians are inherently enemies of Turkey.
* Turkey's continued attempts to economically weaken and isolate
Armenia through its illegal 14-year blockade; its attempts to
exclude Armenia from regional and international initiatives that
provide economic benefit to the Southern Caucasus; its continued
attacks on Armenia within the United Nations, the OSCE, and other
international venues; and, its ongoing military, economic, and
political support for Azerbaijan over the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict.
* Turkey's continued mistreatment of its remaining Armenian
population as second-class citizens, continued enforcement of
unfair and burdensome restrictions on the Armenian Church, and the
continuation of policies intended to drive out the remaining
Christian minorities within its borders.
We are, given this record and Turkey's past efforts to manipulate
public opinion, profoundly concerned that President Gul's visit
will be used by Ankara to advance its short-term "public relations"
interest in creating the image of movement, at the expense of the
broader and far more meaningful interest of the United States and
the international community in actual progress toward a durable
improvement in Armenia-Turkey ties. For this initiative to
succeed, Turkey's leaders need to view this as a true opportunity
for enduring peace, not simply as a photo opportunity to help
alleviate the growing international pressure it is under to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Recognizing that this visit cannot, by itself, substitute for real
progress in improved Armenia-Turkey relations, we do, however,
remain hopeful that Armenia's pro-active diplomacy, if matched with
real movement by Turkey, can serve as a first, cautious step toward
a true reconciliation based on truth and justice. At the same
time, we remain deeply concerned that if, as may very well be the
case, Turkey treats this visit as a superficial undertaking - yet
still garners undeserved credit internationally for an essentially
empty gesture - we may in fact witness a tragic setback to the
worthwhile cause of a real and enduring peace between Armenia and
Turkey.
In this spirit, we respectfully ask that you look beyond Ankara's
rhetoric concerning this visit, and focus instead on the substance
of the Turkish government's real-world policies toward Armenia.
The best - and most immediate - test of President Gul's sincerity
will be his willingness to walk the mile from Armenia's national
soccer stadium to the "Dzidzernagapert" Armenian Genocide Memorial,
a tradition long honored by foreign dignitaries visiting Yerevan.
In the days and weeks following his departure, we urge you to track
Turkey's movement toward:
* Lifting domestic restrictions on the study, discussion, and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and abandoning opposition to
international recognition and commemoration of this crime against
humanity including by the White House and the U.S. Congress.
* Lifting its blockade of Armenia, allowing free Armenian access to
its traditional transportation routes, ending its opposition to the
incorporation of Armenia in regional and international initiatives
impacting the Southern Caucasus, and removing restrictions on
Armenian stewardship of cultural and religious heritage sites
within Turkey.
* Publicly and in practice adopting a truly neutral position as a
member of the OSCE Minsk Group charged with mediating a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, ending military
support for Azerbaijan's armed forces, and openly calling on all
parties to reject any non-peaceful resolution to this conflict.
* Lifting all restrictions on the collective rights of the Armenian
community in Turkey.
* Accepting Armenia's offer to negotiate the establishment of
normal diplomatic relations without any preconditions, and agreeing
to resolve all outstanding bilateral issues in a peaceful, non-
violent manner.
Progress in each of these vitally important areas - not the level
of skill of Turkey's public relations firms in spinning this visit
- will represent the true benchmarks of progress toward improved
Armenia-Turkey relations.
Thank you for your consideration of the points we have raised in
this letter. We would, of course, welcome the opportunity to meet
with you to discuss this matter in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
September 4, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]
ANCA OUTLINES CONCERNS ABOUT GUL VISIT TO ARMENIA
"For this initiative to succeed, Turkey's leaders need to view this
as a true opportunity for enduring peace, not simply as a photo
opportunity to help alleviate the growing international pressure it
is under to recognize the Armenian Genocide."
- ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian
WASHINGTON, DC - The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
today, expressed hopes and reservations regarding Turkey's
President Abdullah Gul's impending visit to Armenia, at the
invitation by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan, to watch the
September 6th Turkey vs. Armenia soccer match in Armenia's capital,
Yerevan.
"We are, as you can imagine, watching this matter with vigilance,
mindful of the risks that Armenia is taking for peace, hopeful that
Yerevan's diplomatic initiative will bear fruit, yet cautious
regarding the realistic prospects for progress given Ankara's
long-standing and deeply troubling track record of antagonism toward
Armenia," explained ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in a September 4th
letter to House and Senate Members.
Asserting that this visit cannot, by itself, substitute for real
progress in improved Armenia-Turkey relations, Hachikian remained
hopeful "that Armenia's pro-active diplomacy, if matched with real
movement by Turkey, can serve as a first, cautious step toward a
true reconciliation based on truth and justice."
To that end, Hachikian outlined some immediate and long-term steps
President Gul could take to demonstrate his sincerity in accepting
President Sarkisyan's invitation, including showing the
"willingness to walk the mile from Armenia's national soccer
stadium to the "Dzidzernagapert" Armenian Genocide Memorial, a
tradition long honored by foreign dignitaries visiting Yerevan."
In the days and weeks following President Gul's departure from
Armenia, Hachikian urged:
"* Lifting domestic restrictions on the study, discussion, and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and abandoning opposition to
international recognition and commemoration of this crime against
humanity - including by the White House and the U.S. Congress.
* Lifting its blockade of Armenia, allowing free Armenian access to
its traditional transportation routes, ending its opposition to the
incorporation of Armenia in regional and international initiatives
impacting the Southern Caucasus, and removing restrictions on
Armenian stewardship of cultural and religious heritage sites
within Turkey.
* Publicly and in practice adopting a truly neutral position as a
member of the OSCE Minsk Group charged with mediating a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, ending military
support for Azerbaijan's armed forces, and openly calling on all
parties to reject any non-peaceful resolution to this conflict.
* Lifting all restrictions on the collective rights of the Armenian
community in Turkey.
* Accepting Armenia's offer to negotiate the establishment of
normal diplomatic relations without any preconditions, and agreeing
to resolve all outstanding bilateral issues in a peaceful, non-
violent manner."
The complete text of the ANCA letter to Congress is provided below.
#####
TEXT OF ANCA CHAIRMAN KEN HACHIKIAN'S LETTER TO SENATE AND HOUSE
MEMBERS REGARDING TURKISH PRESIDENT ABDULLAH GUL'S IMPENDING VISIT
TO ARMENIA
Dear Senator/Representative _________________:
In light of the announcement this week by Turkish President
Abdullah Gul that he will accept Armenian President Serj
Sarkisyan's invitation to watch the September 6th Armenia-Turkey
World Cup qualifying match in Yerevan, we wanted to share with you
the Armenian American community's perspective on this new and
potentially significant development, and to reaffirm our
community's fundamental commitment to universal recognition and a
just resolution of the Armenian Genocide.
We are, as you can imagine, watching this matter with vigilance,
mindful of the risks that Armenia is taking for peace, hopeful that
Yerevan's diplomatic initiative will bear fruit, yet cautious
regarding the realistic prospects for progress given Ankara's
long-standing and deeply troubling track record of antagonism toward
Armenia.
As you know, since Armenia's independence in 1991, successive
Armenian governments and the worldwide Armenian Diaspora have -
despite the unresolved legacy of the Armenian Genocide and Ankara's
ongoing and deeply painful denial of this crime - consistently
sought sincere and sustainable progress toward improved Armenia-
Turkey relations. President Sarkisyan's invitation represents only
the most recent such outreach on Armenia's part, although by no
means the only one. Both of his predecessors visited Turkey in
their official capacities as president, although, sadly, neither of
their visits resulted in any moderation of Turkey's policies toward
Armenia.
Armenia's invitation represents a pro-active gesture by Armenia - a
small country populated in large part by the descendents of
Armenian Genocide survivors - to reach out to a large and heavily
armed neighbor that, as heir to the Ottoman Empire, denies this
horrific crime, blockades Armenia, and pursues a broad array of
anti-Armenian policies - both at home and abroad. President Gul
has accepted the Armenian President's invitation even as his
government has made it clear that they do not plan any changes in
these policies, which, it is worthwhile noting, include:
* Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide, continued
threats against other nations that consider recognizing this crime
against humanity, and continued allocations of tens of millions of
dollars annually for lobbyists, academic mercenaries, and outright
fabricators to attempt to rewrite this profoundly important chapter
in world history.
* Turkey's continued efforts to silence any recognition of the
Armenian Genocide within its own borders through Article 301 and
other provisions of its criminal code (e.g. Nobel Prize-winner
Orhan Pamuk), continued intimidation and unofficial acts of
violence (e.g. Hrant Dink), and the perpetuation of a deeply flawed
educational system that indoctrinates successive new generations of
Turkish students to believe that the Armenian Genocide is a lie and
that all Armenians are inherently enemies of Turkey.
* Turkey's continued attempts to economically weaken and isolate
Armenia through its illegal 14-year blockade; its attempts to
exclude Armenia from regional and international initiatives that
provide economic benefit to the Southern Caucasus; its continued
attacks on Armenia within the United Nations, the OSCE, and other
international venues; and, its ongoing military, economic, and
political support for Azerbaijan over the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict.
* Turkey's continued mistreatment of its remaining Armenian
population as second-class citizens, continued enforcement of
unfair and burdensome restrictions on the Armenian Church, and the
continuation of policies intended to drive out the remaining
Christian minorities within its borders.
We are, given this record and Turkey's past efforts to manipulate
public opinion, profoundly concerned that President Gul's visit
will be used by Ankara to advance its short-term "public relations"
interest in creating the image of movement, at the expense of the
broader and far more meaningful interest of the United States and
the international community in actual progress toward a durable
improvement in Armenia-Turkey ties. For this initiative to
succeed, Turkey's leaders need to view this as a true opportunity
for enduring peace, not simply as a photo opportunity to help
alleviate the growing international pressure it is under to
recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Recognizing that this visit cannot, by itself, substitute for real
progress in improved Armenia-Turkey relations, we do, however,
remain hopeful that Armenia's pro-active diplomacy, if matched with
real movement by Turkey, can serve as a first, cautious step toward
a true reconciliation based on truth and justice. At the same
time, we remain deeply concerned that if, as may very well be the
case, Turkey treats this visit as a superficial undertaking - yet
still garners undeserved credit internationally for an essentially
empty gesture - we may in fact witness a tragic setback to the
worthwhile cause of a real and enduring peace between Armenia and
Turkey.
In this spirit, we respectfully ask that you look beyond Ankara's
rhetoric concerning this visit, and focus instead on the substance
of the Turkish government's real-world policies toward Armenia.
The best - and most immediate - test of President Gul's sincerity
will be his willingness to walk the mile from Armenia's national
soccer stadium to the "Dzidzernagapert" Armenian Genocide Memorial,
a tradition long honored by foreign dignitaries visiting Yerevan.
In the days and weeks following his departure, we urge you to track
Turkey's movement toward:
* Lifting domestic restrictions on the study, discussion, and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and abandoning opposition to
international recognition and commemoration of this crime against
humanity including by the White House and the U.S. Congress.
* Lifting its blockade of Armenia, allowing free Armenian access to
its traditional transportation routes, ending its opposition to the
incorporation of Armenia in regional and international initiatives
impacting the Southern Caucasus, and removing restrictions on
Armenian stewardship of cultural and religious heritage sites
within Turkey.
* Publicly and in practice adopting a truly neutral position as a
member of the OSCE Minsk Group charged with mediating a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, ending military
support for Azerbaijan's armed forces, and openly calling on all
parties to reject any non-peaceful resolution to this conflict.
* Lifting all restrictions on the collective rights of the Armenian
community in Turkey.
* Accepting Armenia's offer to negotiate the establishment of
normal diplomatic relations without any preconditions, and agreeing
to resolve all outstanding bilateral issues in a peaceful, non-
violent manner.
Progress in each of these vitally important areas - not the level
of skill of Turkey's public relations firms in spinning this visit
- will represent the true benchmarks of progress toward improved
Armenia-Turkey relations.
Thank you for your consideration of the points we have raised in
this letter. We would, of course, welcome the opportunity to meet
with you to discuss this matter in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman