ANCA CALLS ON CONGRESS TO LOOK AT TURKEY’S TRUE INTENTION AND REAL-WORLD ACTIONS
Noyan Tapan
Se p 12, 2008
WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 12, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) today called the attention of
Members of Congress to statements and actions by Turkish leaders
following the September 6th "soccer- diplomacy" match in Yerevan
that directly undermine the prospects of moving toward an enduring
Armenia-Turkey peace based on truth and justice.
Attached to each "ANCA Memo to the Hill" was a copy of the two-page
September 4th ANCA letter circulated to Members of the House and
Senate outlining the Armenian American community’s hopes, concerns,
and reservations regarding Turkey’s approach to this matter.
Among its points, the ANCA Memo spotlighted Turkey’s post-soccer
match prosecution of noted Turkish writer Temel Demirer, who had
condemned the 2007 assassination of the Armenian-Turkish editor of
the Akos weekly Hrant Dink because of his statements recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. Demirer’s lawyer called to Turkey’s promises to
improve human rights "fairy tales."
The ANCA memo to Congressional offices reads: "In a troubling September
10th Associated Press article, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan
revealed Turkey’s expectation that Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s
acceptance of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s invitation to
Armenia to watch a soccer match will serve Turkey’s long-standing
policy to deny the Armenian Genocide."