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CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE TO TURKEY: RETURN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?objectid=46AF7038-CDA7-11E0-87810003FF3452C2
August 23, 2011
Although restored in recent years, the Akhtamar church remains Turkish
state property. Melik Baghdasarian / Photolur
Related Articles Resolutions on Armenian church properties, Genocide
recognition introduced
Washington - On July 20, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
approved the Berman-Cicilline Amendment to H. R. 2583, the State
Department-Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012,
urging Turkey to end religious discrimination and return all Christian
churches to their "rightful owners."
The measure was welcomed by the Armenian Assembly of America and the
Armenian National Committee of America, as well as the Dioceses and
Prelacies of the Armenian Church in the United States. It was also
supported by Greek and Assyrian community organizations.
"This is a vote of justice against injustice," stated Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church who
was present during the committee vote. "I hope that this will be the
first of many steps towards preserving Armenian Christian heritage
in Turkey," said Archbishop Aykazian.
The amendment was based on H.Res. 306, which was introduced by
Congressmen Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Committee's ranking member Howard
Berman (D-Calif.) earlier this summer.
Unlike the resolution affirming U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide
introduced at about the same time, the "return of churches" resolution
received the backing of the Committee's Republican Party leadership,
including Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
As a result, the amendment was adopted by a vote of 43-1 with several
long-time Turkey backers and opponents of Genocide resolutions -
including Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) who in the past questioned the
veracity of genocide - voting for the measure. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.)
was the lone vote against the amendment.
Still, Turkish Ambassador to U.S. Namik Tan opposed the resolution,
calling it a "back-door "Armenian genocide" resolution," USASabah.com
reported. In his letter to members of Congress Tan noted that Turkey
has recently been sponsoring restorations of Armenian and Greek
religious sites.
There has been no reaction from the Armenian government to resolution's
adoption.
The State Department authorization bill will be next considered
by the full House of Representatives and then reconciled with the
Senate version.
The amendment formally proposed by Berman and Rep. David Cicilline
(D-R.I.) urges "the government of Turkey to honor its obligations
under international treaties and human rights law to -
1) "end all forms of religious discrimination;
2) "allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church
properties, without hindrance or restriction, to organize and
administer prayer services, religious education, clerical training,
appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings, social
services, including ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm,
and other religious activities;
3) "return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable
properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and
other artifacts; and
4) "allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of Christian
church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to preserve,
reconstruct, and repair, as they see fit, all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties within Turkey."
http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?objectid=46AF7038-CDA7-11E0-87810003FF3452C2
August 23, 2011
Although restored in recent years, the Akhtamar church remains Turkish
state property. Melik Baghdasarian / Photolur
Related Articles Resolutions on Armenian church properties, Genocide
recognition introduced
Washington - On July 20, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
approved the Berman-Cicilline Amendment to H. R. 2583, the State
Department-Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012,
urging Turkey to end religious discrimination and return all Christian
churches to their "rightful owners."
The measure was welcomed by the Armenian Assembly of America and the
Armenian National Committee of America, as well as the Dioceses and
Prelacies of the Armenian Church in the United States. It was also
supported by Greek and Assyrian community organizations.
"This is a vote of justice against injustice," stated Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church who
was present during the committee vote. "I hope that this will be the
first of many steps towards preserving Armenian Christian heritage
in Turkey," said Archbishop Aykazian.
The amendment was based on H.Res. 306, which was introduced by
Congressmen Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Committee's ranking member Howard
Berman (D-Calif.) earlier this summer.
Unlike the resolution affirming U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide
introduced at about the same time, the "return of churches" resolution
received the backing of the Committee's Republican Party leadership,
including Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
As a result, the amendment was adopted by a vote of 43-1 with several
long-time Turkey backers and opponents of Genocide resolutions -
including Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) who in the past questioned the
veracity of genocide - voting for the measure. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.)
was the lone vote against the amendment.
Still, Turkish Ambassador to U.S. Namik Tan opposed the resolution,
calling it a "back-door "Armenian genocide" resolution," USASabah.com
reported. In his letter to members of Congress Tan noted that Turkey
has recently been sponsoring restorations of Armenian and Greek
religious sites.
There has been no reaction from the Armenian government to resolution's
adoption.
The State Department authorization bill will be next considered
by the full House of Representatives and then reconciled with the
Senate version.
The amendment formally proposed by Berman and Rep. David Cicilline
(D-R.I.) urges "the government of Turkey to honor its obligations
under international treaties and human rights law to -
1) "end all forms of religious discrimination;
2) "allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church
properties, without hindrance or restriction, to organize and
administer prayer services, religious education, clerical training,
appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings, social
services, including ministry to the needs of the poor and infirm,
and other religious activities;
3) "return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable
properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and
other artifacts; and
4) "allow the rightful Christian church and lay owners of Christian
church properties, without hindrance or restriction, to preserve,
reconstruct, and repair, as they see fit, all Christian churches and
other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments,
relics, holy sites, and other religious properties within Turkey."