Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 15 2005
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Armenian Drafts in US Congress
Jan SOYKOK – Two drafts aiming at recognition of the Armenian
genocide allegation will be on the agenda of the US House of
Representatives on Thursday. American Turkish people launched a
message campaign over the draft expected to be presented to the
voting of the members after discussion in the International Relations
Committee.
Former National Security Adviser Ret. Gen. Brent Scowcroft called the
House Chair, Dennis Hastert, to “bring the drafts to the agenda.”
Scowcroft, also the chairman of the American Turkish Council, wrote a
letter to Hastert regarding that the drafts were against the interest
of the US as well, he warned that approval of the drafts would create
serious consequences.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian should response to the olive
branch offered by Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayip Erdogan, said
Scowcroft, as he added that historians should find answers to such
issues. Such drafts encourage those who try to keep Turkey away from
the West, he added. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had offered
to establish a common commission to discuss all historical disputes
between Turkish and Armenian peoples. However Armenians side strongly
rejected the offer. Erdogan had also invited the Armenian President
Kocharian to NATO’s Istanbul Summit. However the Armenian leader
again rejected to visit Turkey.
The House Chair, Hastert, has full authorization to bring the drafts
expected to be passed by International Relations Committee to the
general assembly.
Hastert previously prevented a similar draft from coming to the
agenda. However, the attitude that will be taken by the Bush
administration is also important at this point. The draft in question
is almost the same as the one presented five years ago.
With the intervention of the US President in term back then, Bill
Clinton, Hastert did not bring the draft to the general assembly at
the last moment.
Armenian lobby in the US argues that 1915 communal clashes and
Armenian killings should be recognized as genocide by the US, and
Turkey should be punished. Turkey has never accepted the accusations
although Turkey had not been established yet in 1915. Ankara argues
that there were communal clashes and war circumstances. More than
520.000 Turkish civilians were also massacred by the armed Armenian
groups during the First World War. About 5 million Muslim Ottoman
citizens were massacred in the Balkans, Caucasus and Anatolia during
the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan says the US Armenians just focus on their own
interests not on the Armenia’s national interests: `There are two
Armenian interests: One is the Diaspora’s, the other is Armenia’s
one. Both conflicts. The Diaspora tries to govern Armenia as well.
Armenia needs reconciliation. Armenia needs economic integration with
the region, including Turkey and Azerbaijan. However the Diaspora
needs conflicts and disputes. The Diaspora Armenian identity is fed
by the hostility against the Turkish people and Turkey. They created
their own history and now they believe it. The only obstacle before
the peace is the Diaspora Armenians I think’ Dr. Gulcan added
Dr. Sedat Laciner also says the Armenian lobby’s efforts are not
constructive: `If the Armenians undermine Turkish interests anywhere
how both sides could make a meaningful dialogue. By attacking Turkey
and Turkish people everywhere, the Armenian lobbies make dialogue
impossible. No one wants to speak with someone who attacks always.’
Laciner added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress