TURKEY ESCALATES INTERNATIONAL WAVE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL
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| 14:31:18 | 16-06-2005 | Politics |
Activists from across the United States, throughout Europe, and around
the world are streaming to the Armenian National Committee of America’s
(ANCA) website to take part in an on-line response to Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recently unleashed international wave
of genocide denial.
In recent weeks, Erdogan has dramatically raised the stakes in his
government’s campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide, orchestrating
the purchase of major media advertisements, applying intense pressure
on foreign governments, and severely cracking down on dissidents
within Turkey who seek to speak openly about this crime against
humanity. Elements of this wave of denial include:
Blocking the first-ever Armenian Genocide conference in Turkey,
which was to have taken place in Istanbul this June.
Spending over $1,000,000 to have Time Magazine include DVDs denying
the Armenian Genocide in all of its editions throughout Europe,
and placing a major genocide denial ad in the Washington Post.
Pressing the U.S. government to withdraw the American Foreign Service
Association’s “Constructive Dissent” award to U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans for speaking the truth about the Genocide.
Pressuring President Bush, during their June 8th White House meeting,
to oppose the Armenian Genocide Resolution before Congress. This
legislation (H.Res.316) was introduced on June 14th by Congressmen
George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ).
Twisting arms at the State Department to continue to exclude any
mention of the Armenian Genocide in the Department’s official website’s
section on Armenian history.
Imposing an effective “gag-rule,” silencing any U.S. protests over
Turkey’s new Penal Code provision (Section 305) outlawing even the
discussion of the Genocide.
“The powerful response to our action alert reflects the seriousness
with which Armenians worldwide are responding to Erdogan’s escalation
of his attacks on the truth, on the memories of genocide victims,
and on the very security of Armenia,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive
Director of the ANCA.
“But he will fail – despite all the millions of dollars and vast
political capital he will expend. He’ll fail – because of the powerful
grassroots response he will face from Armenian Americans; because of
the moral indignation of the American people as they learn more about
how his government’s values stand in stark contrast to those held
by the vast majority of Americans; because he is finding himself
increasingly isolated internationally as he loses his partners
in denial, and – perhaps most importantly – because his years of
hateful lies and deception will collapse under their own weight,”
added Hamparian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress