ADL Reiterates Support For Efforts To Reconcile Turkey And Armenia
New York, NY, August 23, 2007 =85 The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today
reiterated its support for efforts to bring together Turkey and Armenia to
resolve differences over their shared history.
Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National
Director, issued the following statement:
We must encourage steps to create an atmosphere in which Armenia will
respond favorably to the several recent overtures of Turkey to convene a
joint commission to assist the parties in achieving a resolution of their
profound differences. We believe there are many renowned historians, human
rights activists and distinguished world leaders who are willing to lend
their knowledge, experience and judgment to this cause. We know that
earlier this year, Professor Elie Wiesel and more than 50 of his fellow
Nobel Laureates called for concrete steps to be taken by Turkey and Armenia
to find a way forward to reach the goal of reconciliation, and that, last
week, Professor Wiesel reaffirmed his support for efforts to create a body
in which both Turkish and Armenian experts can come together to work
cooperatively in re-examining the shared past of both peoples.
The force and passion of the debate today leaves us more convinced than ever
that this issue does not belong in a forum such as the United States
Congress.
The proper role of those of us who deeply believe the controversy must be
resolved is to promote and support Turkey and Armenia in efforts to bring
them together to begin the process of reconciliation. Although independent
scholars may have reached a consensus about the genocide, in an effort to
help accomplish the reconciliation there is room for further dispassionate
scholarly examination of the details of those dark and terrible days.
ADL and the American Jewish community should focus their attention on
supporting efforts to urge Turkey and Armenia to make this happen.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading
organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that
counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
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