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Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY CALLS ON HOUSE INT'L RELATIONS SUBCOMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING TO
INCLUDE ARMENIAN CONCERNS
Request Made Following Unbalanced Hearing on U.S.-Turkey Relations
Washington, DC - In light of the unbalanced presentation at today's
congressional hearing on the state of U.S.-Turkey relations, the
Assembly called for additional hearings to take into account several
key Armenian-American concerns.
Assembly leaders said the hearing included presenters who expressed
only pro-Turkish views and that such an imbalance could not provide
for an honest assessment. The hearing was held by the House Europe
and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on International Relations under the
chairmanship of Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA), a member of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
"While we hoped today's hearing would provide a critical review of
needed changes in Turkish policy with respect to human rights,
treatment of its minority populations, denial of the Armenian Genocide
and its future aspirations to the European Union, we are deeply
concerned that these issues were overlooked," said Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "A pro-Turkish panel cannot provide a
critical and honest review on Ankara's relationship with Washington."
In separate letters to Gallegly and the Subcommittee's Ranking Member
Robert Wexler (D-FL), the Assembly outlined several fundamental issues
of concern, namely Turkey's failure to lift its twelve-year blockade
of Armenia and its continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
"Turkey cannot become the plural, democratic and European
Union-integrated state it aspires to be without opening the last
closed border of Europe, establishing full relations with Armenia
without preconditions and dealing with its genocidal Ottoman legacy,"
said Ardouny.
The EU agreed last December to open membership talks with Turkey and
has also requested that Ankara affirm the Armenian Genocide, normalize
relations with Armenia and improve treatment of the estimated 70,000
to 82,000 Armenians living within its borders as pre-conditions to
entry.
According to the Word Bank, lifting the Turkish and Azerbaijani
blockades could reduce Armenia's transport costs by 30 to 50 percent;
increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by over 30 percent and
double exports. These findings were included in the Economic Impact
of the Turkish/Armenian Border Closure and on Diplomatic Contacts with
Both Parties on This Issue report that was published two years ago by
the State Department.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
###
NR#2005-048
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.armenianassembly.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY CALLS ON HOUSE INT'L RELATIONS SUBCOMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING TO
INCLUDE ARMENIAN CONCERNS
Request Made Following Unbalanced Hearing on U.S.-Turkey Relations
Washington, DC - In light of the unbalanced presentation at today's
congressional hearing on the state of U.S.-Turkey relations, the
Assembly called for additional hearings to take into account several
key Armenian-American concerns.
Assembly leaders said the hearing included presenters who expressed
only pro-Turkish views and that such an imbalance could not provide
for an honest assessment. The hearing was held by the House Europe
and Emerging Threats Subcommittee on International Relations under the
chairmanship of Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA), a member of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
"While we hoped today's hearing would provide a critical review of
needed changes in Turkish policy with respect to human rights,
treatment of its minority populations, denial of the Armenian Genocide
and its future aspirations to the European Union, we are deeply
concerned that these issues were overlooked," said Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "A pro-Turkish panel cannot provide a
critical and honest review on Ankara's relationship with Washington."
In separate letters to Gallegly and the Subcommittee's Ranking Member
Robert Wexler (D-FL), the Assembly outlined several fundamental issues
of concern, namely Turkey's failure to lift its twelve-year blockade
of Armenia and its continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
"Turkey cannot become the plural, democratic and European
Union-integrated state it aspires to be without opening the last
closed border of Europe, establishing full relations with Armenia
without preconditions and dealing with its genocidal Ottoman legacy,"
said Ardouny.
The EU agreed last December to open membership talks with Turkey and
has also requested that Ankara affirm the Armenian Genocide, normalize
relations with Armenia and improve treatment of the estimated 70,000
to 82,000 Armenians living within its borders as pre-conditions to
entry.
According to the Word Bank, lifting the Turkish and Azerbaijani
blockades could reduce Armenia's transport costs by 30 to 50 percent;
increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by over 30 percent and
double exports. These findings were included in the Economic Impact
of the Turkish/Armenian Border Closure and on Diplomatic Contacts with
Both Parties on This Issue report that was published two years ago by
the State Department.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
###
NR#2005-048
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress