ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
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PRESS RELEASE
September 26, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: [email protected]
RESPONDING TO BIDEN, AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE AFFIRMS U.S.
GENOCIDE-ERA DIPLOMATIC RECORD ON OTTOMAN TURKEY’S
ATTEMPTED EXTERMINATION OF THE ARMENIANS
WASHINGTON, DC -Ambassador to Turkey designate James Jeffrey, in
response to questions from Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Chairman and Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Biden (D-DE), affirmed
that official U.S. diplomatic reports by Ambassadors Morgenthau and
Elkus and other Armenian Genocide-era U.S. diplomats in the Ottoman
Empire did, in fact, describe the attempted extermination of the
Armenian population, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
"Although falling far short of a clear and proper recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Jeffrey, in his response to
Senator Biden’s questioning, moved U.S. policy in the right
direction by publicly agreeing – after long years of official
disregard, disrespect, and dismissal of Ambassador Henry
Morgenthau’s proud legacy – that our nation’s diplomatic
representatives to the Ottoman Empire did, in fact, document the
Ottoman government’s clear intent and systematic campaign to
destroy its Armenian population," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "We want to thank Chairman Biden for his thoughtful
inquiries that led to this reaffirmation of the American record,
and to, once again, express our appreciation to Senators Menendez
and Kerry for their incisive lines of questioning during the
Foreign Relations Committee’s confirmation hearing earlier this
week."
In questions submitted to the Amb. Jeffrey, Sen. Biden asked:
"Do you dispute that U.S. diplomats serving in the Ottoman Empire
during the Armenian Genocide documented a systematic, government-
sponsored campaign ‘with intent to destroy, in whole or in part’
the Armenian population?"
Ambassador-Designate Jeffrey provided the following response:
No. I have read many of the historical records from 1915-1916
related to U.S. diplomatic reporting on these events in Turkey, and
I do not dispute that Ambassador Morgenthau, Ambassador Elkus, and
other diplomats during that time period reported on what they
described as an attempt to exterminate the Armenian population.
The full text of Senator Biden’s four questions and Ambassador-
Designate Jeffrey’s responses are provided below.
#####
Questions for the Record Submitted to
Ambassador-Designate James Jeffrey by
Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
September 24, 2008
Question:
What concrete steps will you take to press Turkey to recognize the
Armenian Genocide?
Answer:
The United States has strongly encouraged Turkey to come to terms
with the dark spots in its history and believes that establishing
an honest dialogue within Turkey on these events would help
facilitate reconciliation, economic prosperity, peace, and
stability in the region and would help encourage a full
understanding of these terrible events. If confirmed, I will
strongly support this effort, and in particular will emphasize its
importance to bilateral relations.
Question:
Do you dispute that U.S. diplomats serving in the Ottoman Empire
during the Armenian Genocide documented a systematic, government-
sponsored campaign "with intent to destroy, in whole or in part"
the Armenian population?
Answer:
No. I have read many of the historical records from 1915-1916
related to U.S. diplomatic reporting on these events in Turkey, and
I do not dispute that Ambassador Morgenthau, Ambassador Elkus, and
other diplomats during that time period reported on what they
described as an attempt to exterminate the Armenian population.
Question:
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code is used by the Turkish
government to stifle the debate on the facts of the Armenian
Genocide. As the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey what specifically will
you do to press the Turks to repeal Article 301 and promote freedom
of speech in Turkey?
Answer:
The Administration is encouraged by recent amendments to Article
301, an article which had previously criminalized "insulting
Turkishness;" the amendments reduce the possibility for
imprisonment and require the Minister of Justice to determine
whether to accept a case for prosecution. While the amendments do
not go far enough to meet European and American standards for free
speech, the Minister’s new role should help reduce the number of
cases brought by overzealous prosecutors for political and
ideological motives.
If confirmed, I will continue to press the Turkish authorities to
further this progress by ending legal action against citizens for
expressing their views, whether under Article 301 or other laws
used to prosecute individuals for their speech, and to fulfill
Turkey’s OSCE and EU commitments.
Question:
What specific steps will you take to address Turkey’s ongoing
blockade of Armenia, different from what has been attempted before?
Answer:
If confirmed, I will continue U.S. efforts to support the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and the opening of
Turkey’s border with Armenia. I am encouraged by increasing
exchanges and commercial activity between Turkey and Armenia over
the past several years, including the historic visit by President
Gul to Yerevan at President Sargsian’s courageous invitation, and
will endeavor strongly to further such cooperation.
Improvements in travel between Turkey and Armenia over the last few
years bode well for further economic openings between the two
countries. Turkey lifted visa restrictions on Armenians in 2002.
Armenians receive 90-day visas upon arrival at any Turkish port of
entry. According to official Turkish estimates, more than 70,000
Armenian citizens live and work in Turkey without interference,
sending substantial remittances back to their home country.
Commercial flights operate twice weekly between Yerevan and
Istanbul; during summer months a weekly charter service operates
between Yerevan and Antalya. During the crisis in Georgia, Turkey
permitted all flights to and from Yerevan to transit Turkish
airspace. Trade between the two countries, mostly via Georgia, is
valued at about $60-$120 million annually. If confirmed, I will
seek to build on these opportunities as part of the normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations, including in close consultation with
our Ambassador to Armenia.