Armenian Youth Federation
Washington Ani Chapter
4906 Flint Drive
Bethesda, MD 20816
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Serouj Aprahamian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
E-mail: [email protected]
AYF LEADS DEMONSTRATION AT TURKISH EMBASSY
— Protests Reception Honoring Group Noted
for Denial of Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC – More than fifty university students, public policy
professionals, and community activists joined with the Armenian
Youth Federation last Friday outside the gates of the Turkish
Embassy to protest a program honoring the Assembly of Turkish
American Associations (ATAA) – a group noted for its strident and
hateful denial of the Armenian Genocide.
The protest, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation Washington
“Ani” chapter, was held on the 25th anniversary of the Assembly of
Turkish American Associations (ATAA). Among the programs the ATAA
organized around its anniversary were this reception as well as a
three day-long conference, featuring presentations by paid
lobbyists for Turkey, including former Congressmen Bob Livingston.
In addition to condemning the Turkish government’s ongoing campaign
of Armenian Genocide denial, the demonstrators drew the public’s
attention to Turkey’s blockade of Armenia and human rights
violations against its own citizens.
The protestors gathered in front of the Embassy at 6:30 pm to
welcome those attending the reception with chants of “Shame on
Turkey,” “Turkey Guilty of Genocide,” and “No E.U. for Turkey.”
They remained in front of the Embassy for the duration of the
reception, casting a shadow upon all who entered the walled Embassy
compound. “We are here to show the Turkish Government and their
mouthpieces in the U.S. that we will never forget what was done to
the Armenian people from 1915-1923. We will continue our efforts
until the Armenian Genocide is properly recognized and justice is
served,” said Tsoghig Margossian, chairperson of the Washington
AYF.
As attendees were leaving the reception, several responded to the
protesters with frustration and derogatory epithets. The strangest
reaction came from the outgoing Chairman of the ATAA, Ercument
Kilic, who pulled his car up in front of the Embassy and broke out
into what seemed to be a form of folk dancing, only to be
immediately shoved back into his car by the presiding secret
service agent.
Among those making presentations during the day at the ATAA seminar
were Turkish Ambassador Faruk Logoglu, Congressional Turkish Caucus
Co-Chairs Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and State
Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman. The program also featured
an “ATAA members only” workshop on advocacy which included remarks
by former Congressman Bob Livingston, whose lobby organization, The
Livingston Group, is paid over $2 million a year to clean up
Turkey’s image in the United States.
To read, first-hand, the ATAA’s hateful message of Genocide denial,
visit:
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