Assembly underscores key issues in U.S.-Turkey-Armenia relations

July 15, 2010 - 11:57 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Obama Administration’s official nomination of Francis Joseph Ricciardione, Jr. to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey came at a time when Turkey's relationship with the United States and the West is in trouble as a consequence of a series of Turkish actions, including voting against America's position at the United Nations on a key national security issue with respect to Iran and nuclear nonproliferation, Turkey's embrace of the Sudanese regime, which stands charged of committing genocide in Darfur, as well as the "Flotilla Incident" off the Gaza Strip that has hemorrhaged Israel's relations with Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

"In the past, when Turkey's relations with the West have been rocky, there has been a tendency to accede to Turkish denial of the Armenian Genocide. The Assembly expects nominee Ricciardione will not do anything less but to urge Turkey to end its campaign of denial and come to terms with its genocidal legacy," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.

"We expect the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to press for an end of the nearly two-decade blockade of Armenia and to ensure that Turkey fulfill its international commitment to normalize relations with Armenia without preconditions," added Ardouny.

"The U.S. record of affirmation is clear as evidenced by the 1951 U.S. filing before the International Court of Justice," stated Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "Ambassador Ricciardione would be well served to follow in the tradition of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau and advance Turkish recognition of the consequences of the Armenian Genocide," continued Ardouny.

The Assembly also anticipates that the Senate will press nominee Ricciardione on Turkey's human rights record, religious freedom and treatment of minorities; specifically Article 301 of the Turkish Penal code which precipitated the assassination of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink. The continuing delays in the trial of Dink's accused assassin remains a serious cause for concern for the freedom of the press in Turkey and the safety of journalists in the country.

Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. currently serves as Deputy Ambassador and Charges d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt (2005-2008) and served concurrently as Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Palau from 2002 to 2005. Ambassador Ricciardone's Foreign Service assignments include two tours in Turkey, most recently (1995-1999) as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d'Affaires; and service in Cairo, Amman, and London.