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American Jewish Group To Lobby For Turkey's EU Membership

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  • American Jewish Group To Lobby For Turkey's EU Membership

    AZG Armenian Daily #019, 04/02/2005

    Turkey-EU

    AMERICAN JEWISH GROUP TO LOBBY FOR TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP

    For several years now, the Israeli government and a few American-Jewish
    groups have supported Turkey on various issues, some of which run
    counter to Armenian interests.

    In addition to denying the Armenian Genocide, lobbying the US Congress
    against a commemorative resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
    and backing Azerbaijan in the Karabakh conflict, these Jewish groups
    have now added a new irritant to the existing disagreements with
    Armenians.

    In a report issued last December, David A. Harris, the Executive
    Director of the American Jewish Committee, wrote that the European
    Union's decision to start membership talks with Turkey was "truly
    momentous." He stated that Turkey is counting on the AJC and American
    Jews to lobby for its interests.

    The enthusiastic and almost blind support by Israel and some American
    Jewish groups for Turkey's EU membership runs against Armenians'
    intent to force Turks to recognize the Armenian Genocide and open
    the border with Armenia, as the price of admission to the EU.

    In the following excepts from his lengthy report, Mr. Harris makes
    abundantly clear the close partnership between Israel, the AJC
    and Turkey:

    "...In the Turkish Jewish community, with which the American Jewish
    Committee has a very close affiliation, last week's news from Brussels
    will be enthusiastically received. The 22,000-member community has long
    taken the view that Turkey's future anchored in Western institutions
    is the best guarantee of national security, stability, and prosperity.

    "And, in Israel, the EU's announcement will also be welcomed. Israel
    has publicly declared its support for Turkey's accession...

    "In a recent American Jewish Committee visit to Turkey, the European
    Union was issue number one (and two and three) on the agenda of
    government officials, including the prime minister and foreign
    minister. The October EU Commission report had just been released,
    and the ensuing two months were seen as the last chance to persuade
    European leaders to do the 'right thing' at their fateful meeting in
    Brussels on December 16-17.

    "Turkish leaders view the AJC as important to the political
    equation. Not only have we been consistently regarded as a steady and
    reliable voice for the Turkish-American relationship, but also, because
    of AJC's wide-ranging contacts throughout Europe, the Turks have
    counted on our support when we meet with French, German, Greek, and
    other European leaders. Lacking a well-organized Diaspora community,
    they've looked to American Jews to fulfill that role....

    "In the 1990s, the [Turkish-Israeli] bilateral relationship took off
    in dramatic fashion, including defense cooperation, joint military
    exercises, counter-terrorism measures, intelligence-sharing, a free
    trade agreement, and tourism~E

    "Today, Israel regards its links with Turkey as vitally important
    and mutually beneficial....

    "And not least, Turkish Jewry, though diminished in size, largely
    due to aliyah [exodus], continues to prosper and enjoy a full
    communal life, including keeping alive the Judeo-Spanish language of
    Ladino. Anti-Semitism exists, but is not regarded as a major threat,
    according to communal leaders. What is a threat -- and not only to
    Jews -- is terrorism."

    By denying the Armenian Genocide, siding with Azerbaijan on the
    Karabakh conflict, and lobbying the US Congress against recognition
    of the Armenian Genocide, the Israeli government and some American
    Jewish groups have deeply offended all Armenians. Nevertheless,
    both Jews and Armenians must be mindful of the following key points.

    Armenians must not forget that there are many prominent American
    Jewish individuals and organizations as well as high-ranking Israeli
    officials and scholars who fully support the Armenians on the
    foregoing issues. In their frustration and anger, Armenians would be
    wrong to lash out at all Jews. For example, when some ill-mannered
    Yeshiva students insult Armenian clergymen in Jerusalem, Armenians
    should not react by accusing all Jews or all Israelis of being
    anti-Armenian. To be sure, several Israeli officials and Rabbis
    as well as Jewish-American-organizations have condemned the crude
    behavior of these Yeshiva students. Furthermore, many righteous Jews
    have not shied away from severely criticizing the Israeli government
    of its denial of the Armenian Genocide.

    Similarly, Israelis and Jewish Americans should not blame Armenians
    of being anti-Jewish, just because o prejudicial statements made by
    few Armenian individuals. Armenians and Jews would be unnecessarily
    antagonizing each other by indiscriminately condemning all members
    of both groups for the sins of the few. Political differences should
    not be pursued by exchanging insults, but through informed dialogue
    among Armenians and Jews of good faith.

    By Harut Sassounian; Publisher, The California Courier
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