ASSISTANT SECRETARY GORDON WHITEWASHES ERDOGAN’S THREAT TO DEPORT ARMENIANS FROM TURKEY

Armenian Weekly
Sat, Mar 20 2010

WASHINGTON-On March 19, the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) 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 to the same violent attitudes and intentions that led to
the genocide of 1915," stated ANCA executive director Aram Hamparian.

"Secretary 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, 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, 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, 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 Obama Administration
attempted and failed to block House Foreign Affairs committee passage
of H.Res.252, adopted by a vote of 23-22 on March 4. Comments from
unnamed administration officials, reported widely in the 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 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-Calif.) and Rep. Gary Miller (R-Calif.) the latest
to add their names to the 139 co-sponsors of the resolution. The
Senate version of the legislation, led by Senators Bob Menendez
(D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.), currently has 13 co-sponsors.

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

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress