FRANK PALLONE AND MARK KIRK SHARE THE CONCERN REGARDING HISTORICAL COMMISSION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2009 12:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the eve of the signing of the Turkey-Armenia
protocols, Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone and
Mark Kirk were joined by lead Armenian Genocide Resolution sponsors
Adam Schiff and George Radanovich in expressing concerns about a
provision in the agreements that the Turkish government is already
using to call into question the truth of the Armenian Genocide.
"As leaders of the Armenia Caucus in the House of Representatives,
we share the concern of the Armenian American community regarding
the possibility of creating a historical commission to review the
events of 1915 to 1923. This is a thoroughly discredited idea,"
noted the legislators in joint statement. "Turkey cannot be allowed
to re-invent this tragic part of its history as a price for normal
relations with Armenia. To do so means acquiescence in a charade that
demeans the memory of so many victims."
The statement went on to urge the Obama Administration to include the
Armenian American community in the Turkey-Armenia negotiation efforts.
"As Secretary of State Clinton and other senior officials work to
maintain stability in the region, we urge them to take advantage
of the knowledge and expertise of the Armenian American community,
which maintains strong ties to Armenia and is an invaluable source
of information and counsel," stated the legislators.
U.S. Department of Justice records show that Clinton, National
Security Advisor Jones, and other administration officials have spoken
repeatedly with Turkey’s paid foreign agents, former House Speaker
Dennis Hastert and former House Minority leader Dick Gephardt, but have
not agreed to meet with ANCA representatives despite repeated requests.
The Congressional Caucus leaders also cited the stark difference "in
economic, military, and diplomatic power between Turkey and Armenia,"
and urged the administration to "work to ensure that our diplomatic
efforts serve to end the Turkish blockade of Armenia, without Turkish
bullying of our Armenian ally into unwarranted concessions or a
whitewash of one of history’s true horrors.", reported Asbarez.com.