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

July 21, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

CONGRESSIONAL CONCERN MOUNTS OVER TURKEY’S REVERSAL ON PROPOSED
"ROADMAP"

— Congressional Letter Urging "Administration to separate the
issues of normalization and genocide recognition" has Growing
Support

WASHINGTON, DC – House Members concerned about Turkey’s
backtracking on a so-called "roadmap" to advance Armenia-Turkey
dialogue are set to urge President Obama to separate Armenian
Genocide recognition from normalization of ties between the two
countries, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA.)

In a letter to President Obama, initiated by Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) as well
as Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsors Adam Schiff (D-CA)
and George Radanovich (R-CA), Members of Congress question Turkey’s
commitment to talks normalizing relations with Armenia, as stated
in a "roadmap" agreement signed just two days prior to April 24th,
the international day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
Turkey has since added preconditions to continued discussions,
which have led most observers of the process to conclude the effort
to be stalled indefinitely.

"It would appear that Turkey, in an effort to block U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, agreed to a roadmap it did
not intend to uphold," notes the letter to the President.
"Therefore, we urge your Administration to separate the issues of
normalization and genocide recognition. We hope that renewed
efforts and focused resources from the Administration can be
utilized to nurture the Armenia-Turkey normalization process
without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe, and
continue to remain strongly supportive of your stated campaign
policy to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide."

Armenian American have been contacting their legislators to cosign
the Congressional letter, set to be sent to the President on July
24th. To send a free ANCA WebFax to your legislator, visit:
ertid=13767741&type=CO