PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 16, 2009
Contact: Michael A. Zachariades
Email: mzachariades@aaainc.org
Phone: (202) 393-3434

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY SPEAKS TO AMERICAN MEDIA ON THE PROTOCOLS

Washington, DC – As Armenia proceeded in signing two historic protocols
with Turkey, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) has been
intensely involved in communicating with the media, both in the U.S. and
abroad, about its position, concerns and readiness to support Armenia
and her people, as well as its expectations from Turkey.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the signing of the
protocols is a step toward normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey. In an interview with WSJ, Assembly Board Member Anthony
Barsamian said that "This will test the courage of Turkey and whether
they are sincere about the process. We expect the border to open without
any preconditions."

The New York Times (NYT) highlighted that the most influential,
non-partisan expatriate groups in the United States – "including the
Western and Eastern Dioceses of the Armenian Church, the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Knights of Vartan and the Armenian
Assembly of America" – support normalization of relations without
preconditions. Given Turkey’s conduct, including ongoing denial of the
Armenian Genocide, many are naturally skeptical, but believe that this
process represents an important step.

In referencing the joint statement issued on October 1, 2009, by these
groups, the NYT reported that "any easing of tension between Turkey and
Armenia was bound to be fragile" and that "many Armenians insist that
ties should not be normalized until Turkey acknowledges that the killing
of more than one million Armenians at the end of World War I constituted
genocide… [T]he [Turkish] government has supported prosecution of
Turks who have spoken out about the issue."

The Assembly has made it clear, through numerous statements, press
releases and letters to President Barack Obama and his administration,
that it supports the process of normalizing relations between Armenia
and Turkey without preconditions. The Assembly has also insisted that
the rapprochement process should not be confused or entangled with
ongoing efforts to ensure that the United States government reaffirms
the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide.

Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny told The Hill, a congressional
newspaper, that "We are still going to be working with members of
Congress to push forward with the affirmation. Nothing has changed in
that regard. It is still an important objective in its own right,"
adding that "It shouldn’t be that the affirmation of the Armenian
genocide be held hostage to the normalization of relations."

In an open letter released on October 9, supporting Armenia’s President
Serzh Sargsyan’s policy of normalizing relations without preconditions,
signatories Charles Aznavour-Paris; Artur Chilingarov-Moscow; Eduardo
Eurnekian-Buenos Aires; Hirair Hovnanian-Washington, DC; Jean
Jansem-Paris; Armen Jigarkhanian-Moscow; Vache Manoukian-London; Berge
Setrakian-New York City; Serge Tchuruk-Paris; Alain Terzian-Paris and
Ruben Vardanian-Moscow exclaimed that "this process does not mean to
forget the past and to question the fact and the importance of the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide." The letter also called on "all
our compatriots in Armenia and Diaspora to assist this process in all
possible ways."

On Saturday, October 10, 2009, representatives of Armenia and Turkey
signed the historic protocols amid a tense diplomatic situation. The
signing ceremony, in the presence of Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline
Calmy-Rey, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, French Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, EU
Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, Armenia’s Ambassador to Switzerland
Charles Aznavour and Turkey’s Ambassador to Switzerland Oguz Demiral,
Slovenia’s Foreign Minister, Chair of CoE Committee of Ministers Samuel
Zbogar, was delayed just an hour before it was due to start because of a
disagreement over the wording of Turkey’s post signing statement.

Less than 24 hours after the signing, Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan said that Turkey would not open the border with Armenia until
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is resolved. The Armenian Government has
repeatedly stated that Nagorno Karabakh is not part of the protocol
process and that the Armenian Genocide is not subject to debate.

This position is reinforced by the AGBU, Eastern and Western Dioceses of
the Armenian Church, Knights of Vartan and the Assembly. All five
institutions have made it clear that as this process unfolds there
should be no question that we will continue to stand firmly with the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic to ensure its freedoms and security, as well
as with all those working for universal affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

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NR#2009-072

Editor’s Note: Links to articles, joint statement, letter and open
letter attached.

Articles –

Wall Street Journal
42877259.html

New York Times
pe/11armenia.html?_r=1

The Hill
despite-armenia-turkey-norm
alization-lobbying-bat tle-over-genocide-resolution-to-go-on

Joint Statement –

Joint Letter –

9/Joint_letter_to_Preside
nt_Obama.pdf

Open Letter –

er