HOUSE MEMBERS CALL ON EU TO ENCOURAGE TURKEY REFORM AND RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006

WASHINGTON, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Assembly of America commended longtime Armenian issues supporter,
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), for urging the European Union
(EU) to press Turkey to meet its accession criteria, properly recognize
the Armenian Genocide and end its ongoing blockade against Armenia.

The congressional correspondence, addressed to European Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso and signed by nearly two dozen lawmakers,
states that Turkey’s progress towards establishing guarantees for
democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect and protection of
minorities remains wholly inadequate.

The bipartisan letter states in part: "Of particular concern is
Turkey’s lack of interest in considering improvements in areas that are
of paramount importance for the integrity and credibilty of Turkey’s
bid for membership.

Principal among such areas is the question of Turkey’s diplomatic
recognition of Armenia, and the removal of its blockade, as a
major impediment to regional security and development in the South
Caucasus. Equally critical is Turkey’s abilty to end its official
policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide, and come to terms with
its genocidal legacy."

"It’s time for Turkey to get serious about meeting its European Union
accession criteria," Maloney said. "I hope that the EU will make very
clear to Turkey during these talks that it must remove its blockade
against Armenia and end its official policy of denial of the Armenian
Genocide."

The United States has called upon Turkey to restore economic, political
and social ties with Armenia, while the European Parliament has
adopted a resolution urging Ankara to open its border with Armenia,
and recognize the genocide, as a precondition to membership to the EU.

The Armenian government, in principle, has never opposed any negotiated
outcome to Turkey’s accession talks with the EU.

Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian has been quoted as saying,
"Armenia has never been against Turkey’s accession to the European
Union. We only said that the process of accession and the demands
put forward by the European Union must be the same for all candidate
countries."

Kocharian has added that EU-candidates "should establish good relations
with all their neighbors and recognize the pages of their history no
matter how difficult they are."

"[Membership] will have a positive nature for us, since we will
have a more predictable neighbor and the border between Armenia and
Turkey will become our border with the European Union," according
to Kocharian.

"The Assembly thanks Congresswoman Maloney for spearheading this
initiative and looks forward to President Barroso’s response," said
Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. "As the accession
process moves forward, it is imperative that Turkey take the necessary
steps to strengthen civil society and democratic institutions, rather
than criminalizing free speech as seen with Orhan Pamuk."

Hovnanian added that it is past time for Turkey to significantly
improve its abysmal human and minority rights record and deal firmly
and squarely with its genocidal past.

The congressional letter was signed by Representatives Tammy Baldwin
(D-WI), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa
(D-CA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX), Raul Grijalva
(D-AZ), Sue W. Kelly (R-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Carolyn B. Maloney
(D-NY), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI), James
P. McGovern (D-MA), Michael R. McNulty (D-NY), Grace F. Napolitano
(D-CA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Donald M. Payne (D-NJ), Steven
R. Rothman (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), John E.
Sweeney (R-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Diane Watson (D-CA).