AAA calls on ambassadorial nominee for Turkey to recognize Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has scheduled the nomination hearing of Bush's Ambassadorial Nominee for Turkey, James F. Jeffrey, for Wednesday, September 24, 2008, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) told PanARMENIAN.Net



"We are hopeful the nomination hearing is not a question and answer session, which in the past has resulted in equivocating on the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide and America's proud record of humanitarian intervention," said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "This represents a critical opportunity for the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to go further than Ambassador Yovanovitch and this time to squarely affirm the Armenian Genocide. The U.S. record of affirmation is clear as evidenced by the 1951 U.S. filing before the International Court of Justice. The Armenian Genocide is an historical fact and Mr. Jeffrey would be well served to follow in the tradition of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau," continued Ardouny. In addition to its campaign of denial and application of article 301 of its penal code, which punishes discussion of the Armenian Genocide, for more than a decade, Turkey, in coordination with Azerbaijan, has blockaded Armenia. The Turkish blockade not only costs Armenia hundreds of millions of dollars, but also undermines the stated U.S. policy goals of regional cooperation and economic integration in the South Caucasus Region.



While Turkey's President Gul did accept the bold invitation by Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan to visit Armenia on the occasion of a soccer game between the two countries earlier this month, more concrete steps are needed, including establishing working diplomatic relations and a process of normalization that removes blockades, opens borders, restores economic relations, and strives toward the peaceful resolution of differences and disputes in the region. In fact, the U.S. Administration has repeatedly called upon Turkey "to restore economic, political and cultural links with Armenia."