Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARMENIAN AND GREEK AMERICANS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT OVER PRESIDENT
BUSH’S PRESSURE ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TO ACCEPT TURKEY
— ANCA and AHI Send Letter to the White House
Following the President’s Istanbul Speech
Praising Turkey’s Treatment of Minorities
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
and the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) expressed their profound
disappointment over recent remarks by President Bush praising
Turkey’s treatment of minorities and calling for that nation’s
acceptance in the European Union.
During his official visit to Istanbul, Turkey to participate in the
NATO summit, President Bush repeatedly called for the European
Union to support Turkey’s candidacy for membership, noting that,
“Turkey is a strong, secular democracy, a majority Muslim society,
and a close ally of free nations.” He went on to note that “with
150 years of democratic and social reform, stands as a model to
others, and as Europe’s bridge to the wider world.”
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian and AHI President Gene Rossides, in a
July 8th letter to the President, pointed out that, “the reality is
that Turkey is neither secular nor democratic and, if anything,
represents a negative role model for the states of the region.
Over the past one hundred and fifty years, successive Turkish
governments have been characterized by their violence toward their
own citizens, their disdain for democracy, and their aggression
against neighboring states . . . Significantly, during this period,
Turkey has dealt with its minority populations by committing
genocide against Armenians, massacring and driving Pontians and
other Greeks from its shores, denying the existence of its Kurdish
citizens, and restricting the rights of Christians to worship
freely.”
Responding to calls by President Bush for European leaders to
endorse Turkish membership in the European Union, Rossides and
Hachikian stated that “Turkey’s candidacy for this European
institution does not enjoy the backing of our nation’s citizens,
who recognize that the Turkish government falls far short of
meeting even the most basic standards of democracy and human rights
that we embrace as Americans. Nor does Turkey’s application have
the support of Europeans – including European Greeks and Armenians
– who clearly reject Turkey’s candidacy.”
ANCA and AHI concerns about continued U.S. calls for Turkish
membership in the European Union are shared by ANCA affiliates
across Europe, who have actively worked with activists in their
respective countries urging European leaders to bar Turkey’s
membership due to a range of issues, including significant human
rights violations and Turkey’s failure to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. In 1987, the European Parliament adopted a resolution
calling on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and to
establish political dialogue with representatives of the Armenian
people as a precondition for European Union membership.
In addition to the joint letter to President Bush, ANCA
representatives attended an American Hellenic Institute sponsored
forum on Capitol Hill this week regarding Turkey’s illegal
occupation of Cyprus. The event was titled “Cyprus: 30 Years Later
– An Assessment of the Annan Plan and Where Do We Go From Here.”
Guest speakers at the forum included noted author and television
commentator Christopher Hitchens, Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-
Chairman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) as well as Representatives Brad
Sherman (D-CA), and Rob Andrews (D-NJ). ANCA Government Affairs
Director Abraham Niziblian and Capital Gateway Program Director
Arsineh Khachikian led a delegation of ANCA “Leo Sarkisian”
Internship participants to the luncheon, which was attended by
several dozen Congressional staff members and a broad range of
Greek and Cypriot American activists.
The full text of the ANCA/AHI letter to the President follows.
#####
July 8, 2004
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to express the profound disappointment of our
nation’s Greek and Armenian American communities over your remarks
of June 29th forcefully advocating for Turkey’s membership in the
European Union.
Turkey’s candidacy for this European institution does not enjoy the
backing of our nation’s citizens, who recognize that the Turkish
government falls far short of meeting even the most basic standards
of democracy and human rights that we embrace as Americans. Nor
does Turkey’s application have the support of Europeans – including
European Greeks and Armenians – who clearly reject Turkey’s
candidacy. Beyond the specific problems with Turkey’s eligibility,
we also want to share with you our reservations about the propriety
of a U.S. President seeking to direct the internal decision-making
of our European allies regarding the conduct of their diplomacy and
multilateral affairs. Turkey’s membership is, ultimately, a
European decision.
In your remarks, you argued that, “Turkey is a strong, secular
democracy, a majority Muslim society, and a close ally of free
nations.” You added that Turkey “with 150 years of democratic and
social reform, stands as a model to others, and as Europe’s bridge
to the wider world.” The reality is that Turkey is neither secular
nor democratic and, if anything, represents a negative role model
for the states of the region. Over the past one hundred and fifty
years, successive Turkish governments have been characterized by
their violence toward their own citizens, their disdain for
democracy, and their aggression against neighboring states.
Turkey’s aggression against and occupation of 37% of Cyprus is now
in its 30th year.
Significantly, during this period, Turkey has dealt with its
minority populations by committing genocide against Armenians,
massacring and driving Pontians and other Greeks from its shores,
denying the existence of its Kurdish citizens, and restricting the
rights of Christians to worship freely. Last April, the Turkish
Education Minister Huseyin Celik issued a decree requiring that all
Turkey’ school children – Greeks and Armenians included – be taught
to deny the Armenian Genocide. As recently as this February, the
State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
documented that, “torture, beatings, and other abuses by security
forces remained widespread” in Turkey.
Extending uncritical support to an unrepentant and unreformed
Turkish government only encourages and enables Turkey’s continued
refusal to respect international norms for responsible membership
in the family of nations. Rather than turning a blind eye to
Turkey’s serious failings, U.S. interests and American values would
be better served by bringing to bear the full pressure of our
government to ensure that Turkey meets basic standards for domestic
and international behavior.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. As we have noted
to you in the past, we stand ready to meet with you to discuss
these and other matters of concern to our communities.
Sincerely,
Gene Rossides
President
American Hellenic Institute
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman
Armenian National Committee of America