ADL NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF WASHINGTON ABRAHAM H. FOXMAN: "IF TURKISH-ARMENIAN NORMALIZATION WILL ADVANCE THE NK PROCESS, WE WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME THAT ADDITIONAL BENEFIT"
APA
March 25 2010
Azerbaijan
Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. Washington correspondent’s interview
with Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of Anti-Defamation League
in Washington DC.
– How would you comment on the resolution of the House
of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee recognizing made-up
"genocide of Armenians" in Ottoman Turkey?
– Congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive
diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and
Armenians and may put at risk the important multilateral relationship
between Turkey and the United States.
– The Obama Administration has condemned its decision. Anyway how
this decision might harm Turkey-US relation? And how it will influence
the rapprochement process between Turkey and Armenia?
– Turkey and the U.S. have many common and vital interests that require
close cooperation and mutual trust. Passage of the resolution will not
change our shared strategic interests, but could impact the political
will in Turkey to pursue them as effectively as possible. We have
urged Turkey and Armenia to work towards reconciliation for a long
time. The resolution will hinder that process, and we oppose it.
However, opposing the resolution must not be confused with denying
history.
– Do you believe in ratification of Turkish-Armenian protocols
after that?
– We hope the bilateral process will come to a successful conclusion.
We encourage and support both countries in their efforts to achieve
that outcome.
– Do you expect any impact from this process to the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia, taking
into account that there is a direct link between Turkish-Armenian
normalization and the settlement of this conflict?
– Azerbaijan has a long history of tolerance and respect for the
Jewish people, and since independence has been a reliable friend and
partner for the U.S. and Israel. We appreciate the vital importance
of a satisfactory resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue for
Azerbaijan. If Turkish-Armenian normalization will advance the
Nagorno-Karabakh process, we would certainly welcome that additional
benefit.
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