WORTHY COUNTERBALANCE TO TURKISH PROPAGANDA

ArmRadio.am
08.02.2007 15:34

"The influence of Turkish authorities, Turkish lobbyist organizations
on the US Administration has a worthy counterbalance: the American
Armenian community is a power strong enough to offset the Turkish
factor," Press Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) Elizabeth Chouljian told Armenpress.

In Chouljian’s words, these days Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul, who is in the US to "launch a campaign" against the adoption of
the Armenian Genocide bill, is presenting "the new phase of Turkish
threats." During the meetings Gul lays the emphasis on Turkish-American
military and economic relations and clearly states that in case of
adoption of the resolution these relations will be endangered.

Press Centers of Jewish organizations report that the Turkish Premier
is trying to convince them to prevent the vote on the bill. But
what stands behind the threats of Turkey in reality? "This country
undertook only "symbolic" steps against the countries that recognized
the Armenian Genocide. Despite the threats to France in 2001, the
commodity turnover between the two states increased with 22%, 131%
growth was registered during the two years to follow," Elizabeth
Chouljian noted.

According to Elizabeth Chouljian, Turkish threats are simply
words. "The truth is that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
will not harm US interests. Moreover, it will promote American
values, eliminating the instability in the region and reinstating the
principled position of the American nation against any expression of
genocide," those in ANCA are confident.

More than 170 Congressmen have already declared their support for the
bill, however, the Committee s confident their number will increase
in the coming days.

The bill will be included in the agenda of the Congress Foreign
Relations Committee in March.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress