Source: Zaman Gazetesi –
;alt=&t rh=20041017&hn=13067
NATIONAL 10.17.2004 Sunday
Kerry Campaign Yields to Armenian Lobby
News of a statement by US Presidential Democratic candidate John Kerry, I
did not say I will accept the Armenian genocide law draft, published in
Zaman last week caused indignation to rise among some Armenian groups.
Kerry’s campaign took a step backwards on the issue of genocide because of
reactions and pressure from the Armenian lobby, which will play a critical
role in the elections on November 2nd. The Asbarez, a newspaper linked to
the America National Committee of Armenians (ANCA), published a statement
attributed to Mark Kitchens, a spokesman for the Democrat candidate, which
confirmed that Kerry supported the Armenian theses. The statement made to
Asbarez said that Kerry has shown his support for US recognition of the
Armenian genocide by his statements during the campaign period and by his
work in the Senate.
Kitchens statement dated October 9th is not posted in the press release
section of John Kerry’s official election web-site,
Kerry’s election bureau has not responded to Zaman’s messages concerning
Kitchens statements. Zaman has also not received a demand for a correction.
In a statement made by Kerry to one of Zaman’s correspondents in Washington
at a party meeting on October 2nd, Kerry responded to claims that his party
would accept the Armenian genocide law draft brought forth by the Armenian
lobby. Kerry explained that he contributed to the efforts of Senator Robert
Dole in 1990, but said he did not make any campaign statement that he would
accept the draft. The special explanation of the Democrat candidate was
published in Zaman on October 8, 2004. It has also been discovered that
Kerry also denied claims that he would accept the draft in meetings he held
with Turkish supporters.
The presidents of several leading Turkish foundations in the US wrote
letters to Kerry expressing their disappointment following the statement by
Kitchens.
10.17.2004
Foreign News Service