U.S. Legislators Urge Turkey To Return Stolen Christian Property

U.S. LEGISLATORS URGE TURKEY TO RETURN STOLEN CHRISTIAN PROPERTY

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 15, 2011 – 10:23 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A bipartisan group of U.S. legislators are set to
introduce two resolutions in support of a truthful and just resolution
of the Armenian Genocide, including a new measure specifically pressing
Turkey to fully respect the rights of Christians to practice their
faith in freedom, including through the rightful return of confiscated
churches to Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, Arameans (Syriacs)
and other Christians communities, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

The Return of Churches resolution, spearheaded by senior House Foreign
Affairs Committee member Ed Royce (R-CA) and the panel’s Ranking
Democrat Howard Berman (D-CA), calls upon the government of Turkey
to honor its international obligations end all forms of religious
persecution and to protect the rights and religious freedoms of
Christians. The measure specifically calls upon Turkey to return
confiscated Christian church properties.

The Armenian Genocide Resolution, introduced by Congressmen Robert
Dold (R-IL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), calls upon the President to
recognize the Armenian Genocide and encourages the U.S. government to
apply the lessons of this tragedy to prevent future crimes against
humanity. This measure, identical to H.Res.252 during the previous
session of Congress, has been adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee
four times over the past eleven years, but has yet to reach the floor
for an up-or-down vote of the full U.S. House of Representatives.

“We want to thank Congressmen Royce, Berman, Dold, and Schiff for
their leadership in working toward a truthful and just resolution of
the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.

“Conditions in Turkey have deteriorated with violent hate crimes
increasingly linked to religion,” explained Rep. Royce. “My resolution
urges Turkey to protect its vulnerable religious minorities. They
should be able to freely practice, worship and study their faith
without fear of discrimination or violence. We expect Turkey to make
good on its obligation to provide this protection.”

Rep. Berman concurred, noting, “By expropriating church properties,
harassing worshippers, and refusing to grant full legal status to
some Christian groups, Turkey has failed to fulfill its obligation
as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
requires ‘freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.’ Turkey must
end its deeply disturbing practice of religious discrimination, cease
all restrictions on gatherings for religious prayer and education,
and return stolen church property.”

“The United States has a duty to remember those who have no voice,”
explained Rep. Dold upon introduction of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution. “Ninety-six years ago 1.5 million people were killed
simply because they were Armenian.”

“The facts of history are clear, well documented and non-negotiable
– 1.5 million Armenians were deliberately murdered in the first
genocide of the 20th century,” explained Rep. Schiff. “If we are
to prevent future atrocities, we must condemn genocide whenever and
wherever it occurs.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress