Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ASSISTANT SECRETARY GORDON WHITE-WASHES ERDOGAN’S THREAT TO DEPORT
ARMENIANS FROM TURKEY
— ANCA Calls on President Obama to Condemn Gordon Statements
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today expressed shock and disappointment at U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State Phil Gordon’s remarks seeking to cover up recent
threats by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to deport
Armenian citizens from Turkey.
"Prime Minister Erdogan’s menacing threat to deport Armenians
represents the most chilling evidence that Turkey, despite the best
efforts of its Washington allies to whitewash its record, remains
committed and to the same violent attitudes and intentions that led
to the Genocide of 1915," stated ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "Sec. Gordon, having already played a central role in
enforcing Turkey’s gag rule within the Administration and recently
in Congress, has now reached a new low, becoming a personal
apologist for hateful and violence-inciting threats by Erdogan. We
call upon President Obama to immediately condemn Secretary Gordon’s
comments and affirm for the record that the U.S. government in no
way condones renewed threats by Turkey against the Armenian
people."
Just weeks after the Swedish Parliament and the U.S. House Foreign
Affairs Committee adopted legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan told BBC reporters, that
"There are 170,000 Armenians in my country, of which 70,000 are my
citizens. We’re turning a blind eye to the other 100,000. However,
tomorrow, if it becomes necessary, I would say to those 100,000, go
back to your country. Why? Because they’re not my citizens; I’m not
obliged to keep them in my country."
Despite outrage expressed by Government officials and media around
the world and within Turkey, Assistant Secretary Phillip Gordon
tried to explain away Erdogan’s comments as a mere statement on
immigration policy. "In my opinion, Prime Minister Erdogan only
wanted to highlight that there are 100,000 Armenians living in
Turkey illegally. I don’t believe he threatened to deport them from
the country. Those are separate issues. Every country has an issue
with illegal immigrants and approaches it according to its laws,"
Gordon remarked. The comment was originally reported by CNN-Turk,
reprinted in the Armenian news site Tert.am, and verified by the
ANCA in a conversation with State Department officials.
As Senator and Presidential candidate, President Obama pledged to
recognize the Armenian Genocide, stating "America deserves a leader
who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds
forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President."
Despite campaign statements in support of Armenian Genocide
legislation, the Administration attempted and failed to block House
Foreign Affairs committee passage of H.Res.252, adopted by a vote
of 23-22 on March 4th. Comments from unnamed Administration
officials, reported widely in U.S. press, that a deal had been
struck between the White House and Congress to shelve the
resolution were disavowed by Gordon earlier this week.
Congressional Support for Armenian Genocide Resolution Continues to
Grow
Meanwhile, Congressional support for the Armenian Genocide
resolution continued to grow this week, with House Education
Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)
the latest to add their names to the 139 cosponsors of the
resolution. The Senate version of the legislation, led by Senators
Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 13
cosponsors.
The ANCA is continuing its "End Turkey’s Gag Rule" campaign, urging
elected officials in the U.S. and around the world to reject
Turkey’s attempts to silence international affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide. For more information, visit
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