SENSOY: WE EXPECT JEWISH INSTITUTIONS IN US TO HELP TURKEY IN THE CONGRESS

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 7 2007

Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington Nabi Sensoy has made a call to all
Jewish institutions to stand against injustice targetting a friendly
country, namely Turkey, in the U.S. Congress.

Sensoy’s call to Jewish institutions in the U.S. was aimed at defeating
a resolution in the U.S. Congress, on the incidents of 1915.

In a statement to the Jewish Advocate newspaper, Sensoy indicated
that Jewish institutions should stand at an equal distance to all
sides and oppose a resolution in the U.S. Congress that would place
a friendly country, Turkey, in a difficult position.

Sensoy sent a written statement to the Jewish Advocate and stressed
that the declarations made by the Anti-Defamation League executives
on Aug. 21 have shocked Turks and has caused disappointment.

Abraham Foxman, the National Director of ADL, said earlier in a
statement that his organization had come to share the view that the
incidents of 1915 "were indeed tantamount to genocide," but added
that the organization maintained its opposition against bringing the
issue to U.S. Congressional floor for a resolution.

Sensoy, in his letter, mentioned that Armenia refused a proposal by
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to collaborate within
a joint committee to study the incidents of 1915 under the light of
historical archives.

"Despite being shocked and disappointed, we maintain our desire to keep
and deepen our ties and relations with the Jewish community in the
U.S., Israel and elsewhere. The Turkish Jews are Turkey’s cultural
richness that can not be taken away. The 500 years of friendship
between Turks and Jews are strong enough to leave behind this issue",
added Sensoy.