Congressman Cicilline calls for Christian property protection in Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - At the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Administration's Budget for Fiscal Year 2013, Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) raised issues of importance to the Armenian-American community, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

During a series of questions posed to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was testifying before the Committee, Congressman Cicilline made reference to legislation adopted last year regarding the protection of church properties in Turkey as well as efforts to end religious discrimination. As his allotted time was about to expire, Congressman Cicilline indicated that he would be submitting questions on this matter for the Secretary to answer for the record.

Last year, Congressman Cicilline joined House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) in offering an amendment to the State Department Reauthorization Bill, which called upon Turkey to return confiscated church properties and to safeguard its Christian heritage. The amendment mirrored H.Res. 306, which was introduced by Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), and was overwhelmingly approved by the Committee by a vote of 43-1. The amendment language later became the text for H.Res. 306 and was unanimously adopted by the full House of Representatives.

Also this week, Congressman Cicilline commemorated the 24th anniversary of the Sumgait pogrom against peaceful Armenians living in Azerbaijan. Rep. Cicilline told his colleagues that we must remember "the victims of these senseless atrocities" and to never forget "our responsibility to one another as members of the human race and the importance of standing up to abuse or discrimination wherever it occurs."