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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
June 16, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL VOICES SUPPORT
FOR TURKEY’S PROPOSED HISTORICAL COMMISSION

— Phil Gordon Confirms Commission
as Part of Armenia-Turkey Roadmap

WASHINGTON, DC ? Assistant Secretary of State Phil Gordon today
indicated that the Obama Administration supports the establishment
of an Armenia-Turkey historical commission, a controversial
proposal long advanced by the Turkish government to cast doubt on
the Armenian Genocide and undermine international progress toward
the universal recognition of this crime against humanity, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Gordon, during testimony earlier today before the Europe
Subcommittee of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, fielded a
question from the panel’s Chairman, Robert Wexler (D-FL) about how
the Department of State intends to "navigate the course of the
engagement between Turkey and Armenia so that Azerbaijan comes out
a winner." In his response to this inquiry by the Turkish Caucus
Co-Chairman, Gordon voiced support for the Armenia-Turkey
"roadmap," a document publicly welcomed by the State Department on
April 22nd, noting, in particular, a highly controversial, much
discussed, but never before officially disclosed element of this
agreement stipulating the establishment of a commission to examine
historical issues between the two nation. His comments read, in
part:

"You have two parallel but separate tracks [Armenia-Turkey dialogue
and the Nagorno Karabagh peace process] going on, a Turkey and
Armenia normalization reconciliation process that we do think is
quite potentially historic, where the two countries have agreed on
a framework for normalizing their relations that would include
opening the border, which has been closed for far to long, which
would establish diplomatic relations and would provide commissions
in key areas including history, and we encourage that process and
we support it."

The establishment of an Armenia-Turkey historical commission, a
measure Turkey has long sought to cast a doubt over the
overwhelming historical record of the Armenian Genocide, stands in
stark contrast the President Obama’s statements during his campaign
for the White House. On several occasions throughout 2008,
including only days before the November election, he stressed his
"firmly held conviction that the Armenian Genocide is not an
allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of
historical evidence. The facts are undeniable." The idea of a
historical commission has been widely rejected as a denialist
tactic, including by the International Association of Genocide
Scholars.

Video of Assistant Secretary Gordon’s testimony on Armenia-related
issues, including his response to Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ question on
Turkey’s Article 301 restriction on free speech, is available at:
ses.php?prid=1730