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
September 28, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR DODGES CONGRESSIONAL CALL ON PRESIDENT TO
HONOR PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— James Jones Cites Protocols, Ignores President’s Promise
WASHINGTON, DC – President Barack Obama’s National Security Advisor
James L. Jones, in a letter sent recently to a bipartisan group of
82 U.S. Representatives, failed to meaningfully respond to the
specific concerns raised by these legislators with the President
regarding Turkey’s ongoing efforts to block U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).
The letter from Jones, dated September 17, 2009, sidestepped
concerns regarding Turkey’s backtracking from the commitments it
has made as part of its discussions with Armenia, and, most
notably, Ankara’s use of this dialogue to serve its longstanding
interest in preventing Presidential commemoration and condemnation
of the Armenian Genocide. In his letter, Jones used the very
evasive and euphemistic terminology, in the place of an honest and
straightforward recognition of this genocidal crime, that President
Obama powerfully condemned as "inexcusable" while a U.S. Senator
and Presidential candidate.
On July 30th of this year, 82 members of the U.S. House shared
their concerns with President Obama about Turkey’s efforts to
manipulate the public perception of its dialogue with Armenia to
block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The legislators
stressed in their letter, that, in light of Turkey backtracking
from its commitments, it was especially important for the President
to honor his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
"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," explained the legislators in their July 2009
letter. "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."
The Congressional letter was initiated by Representatives Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), who co-chair the Armenian
Caucus, and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (D-CA), the
lead authors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.252.
Joining them as co-signers were Representatives: Gary Ackerman (D-
NY), Joe Baca (D-CA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Shelley Berkley (D-
NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bruce Braley, (D-
IA), John Campbell, (R-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-
MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-
IL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-
OR), Steve Driehaus (D-OH), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA),
Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Elton Gallegly (R-CA),
Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY),
Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL),
Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Leonard Lance (R-NJ),
James Langevin (D-RI) Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI),
Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) Daniel Lungren (R-
CA). Stephen Lynch (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey
(D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James
McGovern (D-MA) Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Candice Miller (R-MI), Walt
Minnick (D-ID), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-CA), Devin
Nunes (R-CA), John Olver (D-MA) Payne, Donald (D-NJ), Gary Peters
(D-MI), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Peter Roskam
(R-IL), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Edward Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-
IL) Paul Ryan (R-WI), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD)
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chris Smith (R-
NJ), Mark Souder (R-IN), Zack Space (D-OH), Jackie Speier (D-CA),
John Tierney (D-MA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Niki
Tsongas (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Walz (D-MN), Henry
Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Lynn
Woolsey (D-CA).
The full text of the letter from James Jones to President Obama
follows.
#####
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 17, 2009
Dear Representative________:
Thank you for your July 30 letter to the President regarding the
normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey following
their April 22nd announcement of an agreed framework and roadmap.
We agree that the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, which has
important benefits for both sides, should move forward without
preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe. Toward this end,
we are actively engaged at the highest levels to support full
restoration of relations between Turkey and Armenia. On August 31,
the U.S. warmly welcomed the joint statement made by Turkey and
Armenia, with Swiss participation, outlining further steps in the
normalization of their bilateral relations.
Thank you also for your restatement of your position on the
massacres of 1915, which the President has described as one of the
great atrocities of the 20th century. As he said in his
Remembrance Day message, his view of that history has not changed.
Our interest remains the achievement of a full, frank and just
acknowledgment of the facts. We continue to believe the best way
to advance that goal is for the Armenian and Turkish people to
address the facts of the past as part of their efforts to move
forward. We will continue to pursue these efforts vigorously in
the months ahead.
Sincerely,
[signed]
General James L. Jones, USMC, Ret.
National Security Advisor