AAA calls on ambassadorial nominee for Turkey to recognize Armenian GenocideSeptember 23, 2008 - 17:04 AMT 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." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |