Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email.anca@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
October 21, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
TURKEY HIRES FORMER BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TO SHORE UP RIFTS
WITH JEWISH AMERICAN GROUPS; FIGHT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
revealed today that the Turkish Government has hired former Bush
Administration official, Noam Neusner, to harness Jewish American
support for a Pro-Turkey agenda in Congress, with defeat of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution as his top priority.
"If Turkey had a credible case to make to the Jewish American
community – which has grown weary of Ankara’s pressure to deny the
Armenian Genocide – it wouldn’t need to be spending this kind of
money in a misguided attempt to manipulate Jewish American
opinion," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Sadly, it
seems that for $8,500 a month from a foreign government, Neusner
Communications is putting at risk the well-deserved reputation of
the Jewish American community as a powerful opponent of all
genocides and a defender of universal human rights."
This revelation came as part of a September 30, 2008, mandatory
U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) Foreign Agent Registration
Act filings by Neusner Communications, LLC, a Washington, DC public
relations firm that has been on the Turkish Government payroll
since September, 2007. The initial registration document submitted
by the firm cites "policy goals" including "U.S. Jewish efforts to
promote a pro-Turkey agenda in the U.S. Congress." Neusner
Communications LLC is tasked to ensure "regular emails and phone
calls to Jewish leaders highlighting Turkey’s relationship with
Israel" and facilitating the "creation of working relationships
between U.S.-based Jewish and Turkish community groups."
Neusner’s filings reveal that the first order of business for the
public relations firm was, in September and October of last year,
to contact top Jewish-American organizations regarding pending
Armenian Genocide legislation, H.Res.106. Beginning with a phone
conversation with AIPAC Director of National Affairs and
Development Jon Missner on September 17th, Neusner personally
contacted groups, including JINSA, the American Jewish Congress,
Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith, Conference of Presidents of
Major Jewish Organizations, and the Jewish Council for Public
Affairs some 23 times over the next four weeks regarding H.Res.106.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the Armenian Genocide
Resolution on October 11th by a vote of 27 to 21.
The U.S. DOJ filings note subsequent emails by Neusner with the
ADL’s Director of Government and National Affairs Jess Hordes
regarding "ADL action on HR 106," and ADL Director "Abe Foxman’s
visit to Turkey" in May, 2008. Neusner continued to hold meetings
with AIPAC’s Jon Missner and National Political Director Rob Bassin
regarding the Armenian Genocide Resolution, including one on
November 29th. Seven months later, Neusner held a follow up
meeting with Missner and AIPAC Director of Research and Information
Rafi Danziger to discuss "Turkish concerns about Armenian issue;
lack of support on the Hill from Jewish orgs." The meeting came
just one day after the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a two-
hour hearing on the South Caucasus region, with specific focus on
Turkey’s ongoing blockade of Armenia. In total, in the span of one
year, Neusner Communications contacted or met with Jewish American
groups at least 100 times – 32 times specifically to discuss
Armenian Genocide legislation or Armenian American concerns.
Neusner is well-known to Jewish American leaders, having served as
President Bush’s liaison to the U.S. Jewish community from 2002
through 2005, in addition to his capacity as Special Assistant to
the President for Economic Speechwriting. Neusner’s DOJ filings
indicate that he was hired by the "Embassy of the Republic of
Turkey through DiNovo Strategies and Fleishman Hilliard." DiNovo
Strategies partner Jay Footlik served as Clinton Administration
liaison to Jewish Americans and to European and Mediterranean
groups, including the Armenian American community.
According to the Foreign Agent Registration Act, a firm must
register within ten days of agreeing to become an agent and before
performing any activities for the foreign entity. It is unclear
why Neusner Communications’ filings were submitted over one-year
after it began lobbying for Turkey, a lapse that may represent a
violation of U.S. DOJ registration guidelines. FARA also mandates
that all communications from public relations firms must
conspicuously cite any connection to a foreign government. Copies
of email communications submitted by Neusner Communications to the
U.S. DOJ make no reference to his firm’s representation of the
Turkish Government.
Neusner Communications, Inc. is one of four public relations firms
currently representing the Government of Turkey, including DLA
Piper, Fleishman Hilliard, and the Gephardt Group, who together
receive over $3 million a year for their services. Neusner
Communications is currently paid $8,500 a month by the Embassy of
the Republic of Turkey. Leading the campaign to clean up Turkey’s
image in the United States are former House Minority Leader Dick
Gephardt and House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Former House
Appropriations Committee Chairman Bob Livingston ended his eight-
year, $13 million lobbying stint with Turkey earlier this year,
after which he picked up a lucrative $2.4 million contract with
Libya.
Neusner Communications filings are available on the ANCA website.
Neusner Communications FARA Registration:
Neusner_Registration_0908.pdf
Neusner Communications Supplemental Report – 09/07-02/08:
eusner_Supplemental_0308.pdf
Neusner Communications Supplemental Report – 03/08-09/08:
eusner_Supplemental_0908.pdf