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Major Armenian-American Organizations Call On President Obama To Hol

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  • Major Armenian-American Organizations Call On President Obama To Hol

    MAJOR ARMENIAN-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HOLD TURKEY ACCOUNTABLE

    armradio.am
    16.09.2009 13:05

    As Congress reconvened last week, the leaders of major
    Armenian-American organizations called upon President Barack Obama
    to hold Turkey accountable to its international obligations to lift
    the blockade of Armenia and establish diplomatic relations without
    preconditions.

    They also urged President Obama to unequivocally reaffirm the Armenian
    Genocide. The letter recalled what the late Senator Edward Kennedy
    often said, "in order to know what to do in the future, you must
    understand and remember the past."

    The signatories represented the following four organizations: Armenian
    General Benevolent Union; Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
    (Eastern); Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Western) and
    Armenian Assembly of America.

    The letter was prompted by the August 31 release of the protocols
    announced by the governments of Armenia and Turkey for the
    normalization of relations between the two neighboring countries. The
    letter reads:

    "We are writing to you regarding the August 31, 2009 announcement by
    the foreign ministries of Armenia, Turkey and Switzerland with respect
    to protocols to be signed within six weeks to establish diplomatic
    relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey
    and to open the border between the two countries.

    We support the normalization of r elations between Armenia and Turkey
    without preconditions. We appreciate your commitment in encouraging
    reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia and feel strongly that the
    United States has a major role to play in this regard. We also note
    that in addition to the United States, France and Russia and the
    European Union have welcomed this latest development.

    We look forward to a positive outcome, but are concerned in view of
    Turkey's prior failures to uphold its international obligations. We,
    therefore, call upon you and your Administration to hold the Turkish
    government accountable with respect to Turkey's commitments to lift
    the fifteen year-plus blockade it has imposed against Armenia and
    establish permanent diplomatic relations with the Republic of Armenia.

    In addition, assertions by Turkey, for example, that the Nagorno
    Karabakh peace talks proceed in parallel to Armenian-Turkish
    rapprochement are not acceptable. They add an unnecessary dimension
    to an already delicate process. In fact, linking two separate and
    distinct sets of negotiations creates a dangerous precedent that
    places both processes at risk.

    As the late Senator Edward Kennedy so often said, "in order to
    know what to do in the future, you must understand and remember the
    past." To that end, true reconciliation will occur only when Turkey
    comes to terms with its past. In that regard, we value your repeated
    statements on the importance of r ecognizing the Armenian Genocide and
    strongly urge you to directly and unequivocally affirm this terrible
    crime against humanity.

    In so doing, the United States will honor a proud chapter in
    U.S. history when America responded by helping to save the survivors
    of the first genocide of the twentieth century.

    If this normalization process is used as a smokescreen for not
    reaffirming the Armenian Genocide and the U.S. record, it will be a
    blow to the rapprochement process and the expectations of people of
    goodwill everywhere.

    We all know and appreciate full well that respect for moral principles
    and the pursuit of justice are essential for a peaceful world."
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