TURKEY’S ARMENIAN PATRIARCH DISCUSSES GENOCIDE BILL WITH US OFFICIALS
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Oct 19 2007
Erzurum, 19 October: Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan said
that he held meetings with officials of US Department of State on
Friday [19 October] regarding the Armenian resolution (on allegations
about 1915 incidents) which was approved at Foreign Affairs Committee
of US House of Representatives.
Mutafyan said that both Turkish-Armenian relations as well as the
relations between Turkish citizens of Armenian origin (living in
Turkey) and the majority can be harmed due to this bill.
Speaking to A.A [Anatolia Agency], Mutafyan said that they have always
expressed that they are against the draft.
Noting that he can also hold contact with officials of US Congress to
ensure the rejection of the draft, Mutafyan said that he expressed
the sensitivities (of Armenian community in Turkey) to all Democrat
and Republican officials so far.
Mutafyan also said the conditions of Turkish Armenians and diaspora
are not the same. He added that they are Turkish citizens of Armenian
descent and they have responsibilities towards Turkey.
When asked whether Armenian NGOs in the United States and Armenia put
any pressure on them as they are against the draft, Mutafyan said that
diaspora is making criticisms through press media and open letters,
adding that criticisms of diaspora are always directed on them.