ARMENIAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP OPPOSES DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH FORCES IN LEBANON

"Far from being a credible peacemaker, Turkey
carries heavy liabilities that would only
complicate an already complex peacemaking mission
that the U.S. must pursue in Lebanon and the region.

— Armenian American leadership
letter to President Bush

WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical
churches in the United States were joined today by leading
grassroots Armenian American organizations in urging President Bush
to oppose the deployment of Turkish forces within Lebanon as part
of an international peacekeeping operation.

In a letter sent today to the White House, the community leaders
stressed that, "Turkey’s record of genocide, massacres, aggression
and torture is deeply inscribed in the collective memory of the
Lebanese, the Armenians, the Greeks, the Cypriots, the Kurds and
the Arab people everywhere. Far from being a credible peacemaker,
Turkey carries heavy liabilities that would only complicate an
already complex peacemaking mission that the U.S. must pursue in
Lebanon and the region."

The following Churches and community organizations participated in
this initiative:

Armenian Catholic Exarchy of the United States and Canada
Armenian Missionary Association of America
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Eastern U.S.
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Western U.S.
Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council
Armenian National Committee of America
Armenian Relief Society
Armenian Youth Federation
Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society
Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union
National Organization of Republican Armenians

The leadership of the Lebanese Armenian community unanimously and
forcefully opposes the introduction of Turkish troops onto Lebanese
soil. Earlier this month, the three Armenian political parties in
Lebanon, namely the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Social
Democratic Henchakian Party, and the Armenian Democratic Liberal
Party, issued a joint declaration expressing the collective
opposition of Lebanese Armenians to any Turkish participation in
peacekeeping operations. An appeal against the introduction of
Turkish forces was also released by Lebanon’s Armenian religious
leadership, comprising the Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic,
and Armenian Evangelical communities.

His Holiness, Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, earlier this week
wrote a letter to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United
Nations, expressing opposition to the deployment of Turkish forces
in Lebanon. In a powerfully worded letter he addressed Turkey’s
ongoing use of aggression and genocide, describing Turkish
participation in a peacekeeping mission as "morally unacceptable."

The opposition of the Greek American community to the inclusion of
Turkish forces in Lebanon’s peacekeeping operation was communicated
to the President last month in a letter from the American Hellenic
Institute.

The full text of the community-wide letter is provided below.

#####

August 30, 2006

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write to you today, as leaders of the Armenian American
community, to convey to you our deep concern regarding the
Administration’s insistent efforts to have Turkish armed forces
included in the international peacekeeping force that is currently
being organized for Lebanon.

While the final decision with regard to the presence and the
composition of the international peacekeeping force rests with the
Lebanese government, it is a well-known fact that the United States
has been the key player – as it should – in this matter by
providing vitally needed leadership to the present peacemaking
initiative. Needless to say, we commend the Administration for
leading the diplomatic efforts to achieve immediate and lasting
peace in Lebanon. It is in that light that we strongly urge you to
refrain from making Turkey part of this sensitive process. Turkey’s
record of genocide, massacres, aggression and torture is deeply
inscribed in the collective memory of the Lebanese, the Armenians,
the Greeks, the Cypriots, the Kurds and the Arab people everywhere.
Far from being a credible peacemaker, Turkey carries heavy
liabilities that would only complicate an already complex
peacemaking mission that the U.S. must pursue in Lebanon and the
region.

Mr. President, the introduction of Turkish military forces into
this region will serve only to undermine our nation’s interest in a
lasting and equitable peace. As such, we join with our friends in
the Greek American community in respectfully urging you to take all
appropriate measures to ensure that Turkish forces do not take part
in any peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.

Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.

Sincerely yours,

Armenian Catholic Exarchy of the United States and Canada
Armenian Missionary Association of America
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church – Eastern U.S.
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church – Western U.S.
Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council
Armenian National Committee of America
Armenian Relief Society
Armenian Youth Federation
Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society
Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union
National Organization of Republican Armenians