DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE STARTS BECOMING PROBLEMATIC IN U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 08 2007

WASHINGTON, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom mentioned in its
report that Turkey’s consistent denial of the Armenian Genocide
started becoming problematic in the America-Turkey relations. Aram
Hambarian, the Washington Office Executive Director of the Armenian
National Committee of America expressed satisfaction that this state
commission clearly touched upon the Armenian Genocide and recognized
it. A. Hambarian also emphasized the fact that the commission will
analyse consequences of the Turkish denial.

The above-mentioned commission said in its annual report addressed to
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that though the Armenian
Genocide issue was not touched upon during the visit paid by
its members to Turkey, "but the consistent refusal of the Turkish
government to recognize the Armenian Genocide continues remaining a
source of argument in the relations of Western countries and especially
the United States with Turkey."

The commission also touched upon in its report Agos weekly editor
Hrant Dunk’s murder and ill-famed Article 301 of the Criminal Code
of Turkey which limits the freedom of expression.