ACTIVISTS ASK CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE PLANNED WOODROW WILSON CENTER AWARD TO TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTER
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 20, 2010 – 13:47 AMT 08:47 GMT
Citizens from across the United States are asking their Members
of Congress to look into the controversial decision by the Woodrow
Wilson Center to award Armenian Genocide denier, Turkey’s Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, with their public service award, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Through an ANCA Action Alert, Armenian American and other anti-genocide
activists are expressing "profound anger and disappointment" over
the Woodrow Wilson Center’s plans to travel to Turkey to bestow the
award on Davutoglu, who had recently openly threatened the United
States against speaking honestly about the Armenian Genocide.
"This award dishonors President Wilson’s vision of justice for the
Armenian nation," explains the letter to Senate and House members.
"Mr. Davutoglu represents a government that, in its aggressive
denial of the Armenian Genocide and ongoing obstruction of justice
for the Armenian nation, makes a mockery of the Wilson Center and
its founding commitment to fostering scholarship commemorating the
ideals and concerns of Woodrow Wilson."
The letter makes special mention that "Mr. Davutoglu leads a Foreign
Ministry that reflects and actively reinforces the anti-Armenian
hatreds and intolerances that fueled the Armenian Genocide in the
first place," noting that the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC hosted
a group of demonstrators who insulted and mocked Armenians gathered
on April 24th, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, to mark the murder
of 1.5 million men, women, and children, and the exile of a people
from their ancient homeland.
The Woodrow Wilson Center receives one-third of its annual funding
from Congress. Senators and Representatives are being encouraged to
"formally investigate this matter and to share [their] concerns on
this deeply troubling development directly with the leadership of
the Woodrow Wilson Center."