Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email.anca@anca.org
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
March 4, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WELCOMES ICC ARREST WARRANT FOR SUDANESE PRESIDENT AL-BASHIR

— Turkey Appears Set to Use U.N. Security Council Seat to Delay Arrest

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to
issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for
crimes against humanity and war crimes, while at the same time
warning about Turkey’s likely efforts to obstruct efforts to bring
him to justice.

"The ICC decision to issue a warrant for Sudan’s Omar Hassan al-
Bashir sends a clear message to genocide perpetrators and deniers
that crimes against humanity will be prosecuted and punished," said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to swift
action to bring him to justice and call upon the international
community to forcefully stand up against those countries, such as
Turkey, that appear set to obstruct this landmark legal effort to
end the cycle of genocide."

Last week, the ANCA circulated three policy memos to Capitol Hill
offices, outlining for legislators how the Turkey-Sudan "axis of
genocide" relationship is materially undermining international
efforts to isolate Khartoum and end its genocide against the people
Darfur.

The ICC issued its arrest warrant today, citing five charges of
crimes against humanity and two of war crimes including murder,
extermination, torture and rape. ICC Chief Presecutor Luis Moreno-
Ocampo noted, "The reality now is that Omar al-Bashir is attacking
his own citizens who he is supposed to protect as leader of the
country. The solution for Sudan has to start with arresting Omar
al-Bashir."

Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper was quick to report that "Diplomatic
sources said Turkey is likely to push for a delay in the
implementation of the arrest warrant in the Security Council." Just
days earlier, the ruling AK Party sympathetic Today’s Zaman
newspaper noted that Turkey was weighing its options regarding
Sudan, given recent African support for Turkey’s elections as a
temporary member of the U.N. Security Council. In return for
support in winning this seat, Turkish President Abdullah Gul vowed
to be the "voice of Africa" in the international body.

Meanwhile, U.S. reaction to the ICC arrest warrant for President
al-Bashir was largely supportive, with Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton stating that "Governments and individuals who either
conduct or condone atrocities of any kind, as we have seen year
after year in Sudan, have to be held accountable."

Across the United States, Darfuri human rights groups this week
planned rallies welcoming the ICC decision. Speaking at an event
in New York City earlier today organized by the Darfur
Rehabilitation Project, ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director
Karine Birazian pointed to counterprotesters, stating, "Look across
the street – those are the faces of genocide denial. Just as we
cannot allow Turkish government denial to impede international
Armenian Genocide recognition, we must not allow al-Bashir and his
cronies to stop us from taking decisive action to end the
atrocities in Darfur."

Birazian continued, noting the importance of vigilance in the face
of genocide denial. "Here in America, we have the choice to speak
out against genocide. The people of Darfur can be raped or killed
for simply collecting firewood – much less speaking out to stop the
violence. In Turkey, you can be prosecuted, jailed, or – in the
case of Hrant Dink – killed for speaking the truth about the
Armenian Genocide. That makes our role all the more imperative – to
speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves."

The New York Darfuri rally ended in violence, as genocide deniers
attacked participants, ending in arrests by New York City police.

#####

Photo Caption: Darfur Rehabilitation Project founder Yahya Osman
with ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director Karine Birazian.