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  • Turkish Acknowledgement Of Armenian Genocide Critical, Says Howard B

    TURKISH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CRITICAL, SAYS HOWARD BERMAN

    Tert.am
    29.07.10

    In his opening statement at Junly 28 House Foreign Affairs Committee
    hearing, Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) stated "it is critical that
    Turkey acknowledge the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire
    against the Armenian people ... I believe that Turks, once they
    come to terms with their past, will discover that they have relieved
    themselves and their children of an immense moral burden," reported
    the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

    "We commend Chairman Berman's ongoing leadership regarding the
    need to unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide," stated the
    Assembly's Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian. "As the House of
    Representatives looks to its August district work period, this hearing
    provides a timely review of important issues and lends new impetus on
    the need for Congress to adopt the Armenian Genocide resolution," added
    Koushakjian. Earlier this year, Chairman Berman was instrumental in
    the committee passage of H. Res. 252, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

    While deterioration of U.S.-Turkey relations served as a focal point in
    the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on "Turkey's New Foreign
    Policy Direction: Implications for U.S.-Turkish Relations," Committee
    Members also discussed the importance of the Armenian Genocide and
    other human rights issues.

    Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), in a series of questions,
    recalled the words of philosopher George Santayana, who stated "those
    who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Congressman
    Smith raised concerns about Turkey 's denial of the Armenian Genocide,
    the denial of the genocide in Darfur coupled with Turkish Prime
    Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's defense of Sudanese President Omar
    al-Bashir, who has been indicted on charges of genocide by the
    International Criminal Court (ICC). Based on a 2009 interview of
    Erdogan who stated, "No Muslim could perpetrate a genocide," Rep.
    Smith asked Ambassador Ross Wilson "what does this say about his
    judgment?"

    Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) pointed out the overwhelming evidence of
    the Armenian Genocide, and also raised the topic of Armenia-Turkey
    rapprochement and the Protocols signed between the two countries in
    2009. Congressman Costa asked about progress in "country to country
    relations." Dr. Michael Rubin, Resident Scholar at the American
    Enterprise Institute, indicated that progress had been made through
    "quiet diplomacy" while Dr. Ian Lesser, Senior Transatlantic Fellow at
    the German Marshall Fund, responded that it will take a "significant
    recommitment" of the political leadership in Turkey. Dr. Lesser
    also indicated that Armenia-Turkey rapprochement is important in
    "its own right" and without being "linked" to other issues such as
    Nagorno Karabakh.

    Congressman Bilirakis specifically raised concerns about the Armenian
    Patriarchate and Turkey 's treatment of ethnic minorities. When asked
    by Congressman Bilirakis when the panel expects Turkey to exercise
    religious tolerance and ensure minority rights, Dr. Rubin responded,
    "shortly before Saudi Arabia ."




    From: A. Papazian
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