AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE AFFIRMS US GENOCIDE-ERA DIPLOMATIC RECORD ON OTTOMAN TURKEY’S ATTEMPTED EXTERMINATION OF ARMENIANS
armradio.am
27.09.2008 11:55
Ambassador to Turkey designate James Jeffrey, in response to questions
from Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Vice-Presidential
candidate Joe Biden (D-DE), affirmed that official U.S. diplomatic
reports by Ambassadors Morgenthau and Elkus and other Armenian
Genocide-era U.S. diplomats in the Ottoman Empire did, in fact,
describe the attempted extermination of the Armenian population,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"Although falling far short of a clear and proper recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, Ambassador Jeffrey, in his response to Senator
Biden’s questioning, moved U.S. policy in the right direction by
publicly agreeing – after long years of official disregard, disrespect,
and dismissal of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s proud legacy – that our
nation’s diplomatic representatives to the Ottoman Empire did, in fact,
document the Ottoman government’s clear intent and systematic campaign
to destroy its Armenian population," said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "We want to thank Chairman Biden for his thoughtful
inquiries that led to this reaffirmation of the American record,
and to, once again, express our appreciation to Senators Menendez
and Kerry for their incisive lines of questioning during the Foreign
Relations Committee’s confirmation hearing earlier this week."
Question:
What concrete steps will you take to press Turkey to recognize the
Armenian Genocide?
Answer:
The United States has strongly encouraged Turkey to come to terms
with the dark spots in its history and believes that establishing an
honest dialogue within Turkey on these events would help facilitate
reconciliation, economic prosperity, peace, and stability in
the region and would help encourage a full understanding of these
terrible events. If confirmed, I will strongly support this effort,
and in particular will emphasize its importance to bilateral relations.
Question:
Do you dispute that U.S. diplomats serving in the Ottoman Empire
during the Armenian Genocide documented a systematic, government-
sponsored campaign "with intent to destroy, in whole or in part"
the Armenian population?
Answer:
No. I have read many of the historical records from 1915-1916 related
to U.S. diplomatic reporting on these events in Turkey, and I do
not dispute that Ambassador Morgenthau, Ambassador Elkus, and other
diplomats during that time period reported on what they described as
an attempt to exterminate the Armenian population.
Question:
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code is used by the Turkish government
to stifle the debate on the facts of the Armenian Genocide. As the U.S.
Ambassador to Turkey what specifically will you do to press the Turks
to repeal Article 301 and promote freedom of speech in Turkey?
Answer:
The Administration is encouraged by recent amendments to Article 301,
an article which had previously criminalized "insulting Turkishness;"
the amendments reduce the possibility for imprisonment and require
the Minister of Justice to determine whether to accept a case
for prosecution. While the amendments do not go far enough to meet
European and American standards for free speech, the Minister’s new
role should help reduce the number of cases brought by overzealous
prosecutors for political and ideological motives.
If confirmed, I will continue to press the Turkish authorities to
further this progress by ending legal action against citizens for
expressing their views, whether under Article 301 or other laws used
to prosecute individuals for their speech, and to fulfill Turkey’s
OSCE and EU commitments.
Question:
What specific steps will you take to address Turkey’s ongoing blockade
of Armenia, different from what has been attempted before?
Answer:
If confirmed, I will continue U.S. efforts to support the normalization
of Turkish-Armenian relations and the opening of Turkey’s border
with Armenia.
I am encouraged by increasing exchanges and commercial activity between
Turkey and Armenia over the past several years, including the historic
visit by President Gul to Yerevan at President Sargsian’s courageous
invitation, and will endeavor strongly to further such cooperation.
Improvements in travel between Turkey and Armenia over the last
few years bode well for further economic openings between the
two countries. Turkey lifted visa restrictions on Armenians in
2002. Armenians receive 90-day visas upon arrival at any Turkish
port of entry. According to official Turkish estimates, more than
70,000 Armenian citizens live and work in Turkey without interference,
sending substantial remittances back to their home country. Commercial
flights operate twice weekly between Yerevan and Istanbul; during
summer months a weekly charter service operates between Yerevan and
Antalya. During the crisis in Georgia, Turkey permitted all flights to
and from Yerevan to transit Turkish airspace. Trade between the two
countries, mostly via Georgia, is valued at about $60-$120 million
annually. If confirmed, I will seek to build on these opportunities
as part of the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, including
in close consultation with our Ambassador to Armenia.