ANKARA’S DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMAINS A SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY BETWEEN TURKEY AND U.S.
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2007 14:23 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In a sign of the growing isolation faced by
opponents of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the U.S. Commission
on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) – a governmental body
formed by Congress – has reported that Turkey’s continued refusal
to recognize the Armenian Genocide remains a source of controversy
in Turkey’s relations with the United States. The Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) reports, the Commission communicated its
views on this subject as part of the annual report it submitted last
week to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on religious freedom
around the world.
"We are gratified both by the Commission’s clear recognition of
the Armenian Genocide as well as by the fact that its members have
addressed the ongoing costs associated with Turkey’s denial of
this crime against humanity. We also appreciate the Commission’s
documentation of the Hrant Dink assassination and the other forms of
violence and official intimidation inflicted by the Turkish government
against Armenians and other Christian communities," ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian said.
The report also devoted considerable attention to the brutal murder
of Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink who was killed in Istanbul after
being prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for
speaking openly about the Armenian Genocide.