ANCA unwilling to meet with Hillary Clinton

PanARMENIAN.Net - In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian voiced serious concern over State Secretary's decision to conduct consultations with American-Armenian organizations.



"I am writing to share our serious concern that your initial round of invitations to Armenian American organizations to meet with you this coming February 9th does not represent our traditional community leadership nor does it reflect the widely understood Armenian American opposition to the Turkey-Armenia Protocols," runs the letter.



According to ANCA Chairman, meeting at such sensitive moment cannot contribute to "open dialogue".



"The current arrangement, which, by all appearances, intentionally excludes so many of our traditional community and Church leaders on the basis of their views and values, would set an undemocratic and highly negative precedent. We would not be able to meaningfully participate under these narrow and exclusionary terms," Mr. Hachikian says in conclusion.



U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet with Armenian-American organizations (AAA, AGBU, Eastern and Western Prelacies of Armenian Apostolic Church, Knight of Vardan organization and ANCA) in February to consult on the protocols between Armenia and Turkey.



The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country's Organic Law.



ANCA refuses to participate in meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillarqy Clinton.