IT IS TRULY SHAMEFUL THAT TURKEY COERCES PATRIARCH MUTAFYAN TO OPPOSE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

KarabakhOpen
19-09-2007 14:41:31

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America recently
sent a letter to all 535 Congressional offices regarding the upcoming
visit of Patriarch Mutafyan of Constantinople.

As ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter, the letter stresses that: "the Patriarch – like the leaders
of all religious minorities in Turkey – lives in constant fear of acts
of discrimination and retribution by a Turkish government that actively
persecutes those who speak freely on human rights and other "sensitive"
issues. As a virtual hostage, the Patriarch – whose life has been
threatened on many occasions – will, as has in the past, be forced
to follow the Turkish government’s line. It is truly shameful that
Turkey has resorted to using coercion – cynically taking advantage of
the concern of Patriach Mesrob for the safety of his flock – in a last
ditch bid to block the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution."

Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead author of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
commented on the growing pressure on Turkey’s remaining Armenians,
noting that, "In order to perpetuate its campaign of denial,
Turkey seeks to intimidate all Armenians worldwide, but especially
the Armenians in Turkey who must live with daily threats. It is a
criminal offense to merely speak about the Armenian Genocide, let alone
advocate for the passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution before the
Congress. The editor of the last Armenian-language newspaper in Turkey,
Hrant Dink, was assassinated for writing about the genocide this year,
and a popular video now being circulated in Turkey celebrates his
killers and threatens Armenians."
From: Baghdasarian