TURKEY HIRES FORMER BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TO SHORE UP RIFTS WITH JEWISH AMERICAN GROUPS; FIGHT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Noyan Tapan
Oct 23, 2008
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. According to a
report provided by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA),
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.
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, 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 is well-known to Jewish American leaders, having served
as President Bush’s liaison to the U.S. Jewish community from 2002
through 2005.
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.