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09/15/2005
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1) House International Relations Committee Overwhelmingly Adopts Armenian
Genocide Legislation
2) Turkey Eyes German Elections Closely
3) President Kocharian, Ambassador Evans Review Process of Introducing
Constitutional Reforms
4) California-Armenia Trade Office Bill Passes State Assembly and Senate
1) House International Relations Committee Overwhelmingly Adopts Armenian
Genocide Legislation
-International Relations Committee Chairman and Ranking Democrat Lead Strong
Bipartisan Majority in Approving H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195
-Passage Comes Despite the Strident Opposition from Turkish Embassy, The
Livingston Group, and American Turkish Council
WASHINGTON, DC--Following almost three hours of remarks by a bipartisan group
of 24 Members of Congress, the House International Relations Committee, today,
voted in favor of two measures calling for proper US recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and urging Turkey to end its decades long denial of this
crime against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The votes clear yet another hurdle toward full House recognition of
the
Armenian Genocide.
`We are very gratified by the House International Relations Committee's broad
bipartisan support for today's action towards US recognition of the Armenian
Genocide,' stated ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. `The Armenian American
community
deeply appreciates the leadership of Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA),
Adam Schiff (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and the
support of all our friends on the panel. As we work to build on the
Committee's
favorable action, we look to Speaker Hastert to honor his pledge and to
schedule a full floor vote on Armenian Genocide legislation at the earliest
opportunity.'
Rep. Adam Schiff, a lead cosponsor of H.Res.316 and author of H.Con.Res.195
opened the Committee's discourse on both resolutions. Commenting on Turkey's
ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide, Rep. Schiff stated, `Ankara's
behavior
is as inexplicable as it is shameful. Turkey bears responsibility for its
decades of denial and for compounding the suffering of the Armenian people by
attempting to blame the victims for the crime.' Rep. Schiff also recognized
three Armenian Genocide survivors--Mrs. Rose Baboyan, Yeretzgeen Sirarpi
Khoyan
and Mrs. Lusazine Tatarian--whose presence at the hearing was arranged by the
ANC Washington DC chapter.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman Hyde responded to arguments that passage
of the Genocide resolutions could potentially harm US--Turkey relations. While
noting that, `I very much believe the [US-Turkey] relationship is of great
importance to us,' Rep. Hyde stated, `I don't believe that these resolutions
will harm that relationship. They merely recognize the fact that the
authorities of the Ottoman Empire deliberately slaughtered the majority of the
Armenian community in that Empire.' Rep. Hyde went on to note that `denial of
that fact cannot be justified on the basis of expediency or fear that speaking
the truth will do us harm.'
In all, twenty-four Members of the International Relations Committee spoke on
the measures, with twenty-one voicing support for Congressional recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and three speaking against. The speakers represented a
broad bi-partisan spectrum of the Committee, with 15 democrats and 9
Republicans voicing their positions on the issue. Both H.Res.316 and
H.Con.Res.195 were adopted by overwhelming margins of 40 to 7 and 35 to 11,
respectively. The complete vote tallies will be provided on the Armenian
National Committee of America website
Following passage of the measures, Representatives Radanovich, Schiff,
Pallone
and Knollenberg hailed the Committee's overwhelming approval of the
legislation. Rep. Radanovich noted, `The US National Archives is replete with
thousands of pages documenting the premeditated extermination of the Armenian
people. As the Armenian Genocide was being committed, the United States
launched an unprecedented diplomatic, political, and humanitarian struggle to
end the carnage and protect the survivors.' Rep. Radanovich continued, noting
that `I appreciate the bipartisan support for this resolution [H.Res.316],
which properly acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, reaffirms the proud and
groundbreaking chapter in US history to halt the Genocide, and renews our
commitment to preventing other occurrences of man's inhumanity to man.'
`This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,' stated Rep.
Schiff. `We are working to ensure our country recognizes this terrible tragedy
while some of the victims are still alive, including the three brave survivors
here today.'
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone stated `Today the House
International Relations Committee moved this Congress one step closer to
finally recognizing the atrocious acts inflicted by the Ottoman Turks on the
Armenian people. It is now up to Speaker Hastert to realize the importance of
this legislation, and finally allow a floor vote. I continue to believe
that if
the entire House has an opportunity to vote on recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, the truth will win out and American recognition will finally occur.'
Rep. Knollenberg echoed these remarks, noting that, `this legislation will
show the world that America is not going to forget this horrible crime. The
victims of the Genocide and their families deserve to have the crime
recognized
for the atrocity that it was. The committee's action today--and hopefully the
approval of the full House soon--will help make sure that this terrible
offense
is never forgotten.'
H.Res.316, which was introduced by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA),
Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone
(D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), calls upon the President to ensure US
foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding of the Armenian Genocide.
The
resolution includes thirty detailed findings from past US hearings,
resolutions
and Presidential statements, as well as references to statements by
international bodies and organizations. As of today, a bipartisan group of
over
140 Representatives have already pledged their support for the measure.
H.Con.Res.195, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff and cosponsored by over eighty
Representatives, was offered following direct negotiations with House
International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL). The Chairman
agreed to Committee-level consideration of Armenian Genocide legislation in
return for Rep. Schiff tabling a planned June 8 Armenian Genocide amendment to
the House Foreign Relations Authorization bill. The agreement addressed
serious
concerns on the part of the Administration and Congressional leaders that the
Schiff Amendment--which had strong prospects of passing--would overshadow the
White House meeting, held that same day, between President Bush and Turkish
Prime Minister Erdogan. This measure calls on Turkey to abandon its ongoing
campaign of Armenian Genocide denial and to work with Armenia to come to terms
with its tragic history.
TURKISH GOVERNMENT/STATE DEPARTMENT OPPOSITION MOUNTS IN DAYS LEADING UP TO
COMMITTEE VOTE
The Turkish Ambassador Faruk Logoglu and his lobbyists--including the
Livingston Group--actively made the rounds to members of the International
Relations Committee, seeking to block any action on US reaffirmation of the
Armenian Genocide. As part of this effort, the Livingston Group distributed a
four-page genocide-denial document to Congressional offices. During the mark
up, former Congressmen Livingston and Stephen Solarz and their team of
lobbyists, were actively seeking to defeat these measures.
Earlier this week, American Turkish Council Chairman, former National
Security
Advisor Brent Scowcroft warned Speaker Dennis Hastert that even the discussion
of the Armenian Genocide on the floor of the US House would be
`counter-productive to the interests of the United States.' In his
September 12
letter, Scowcroft, speaking on behalf of the corporate members of the ATC,
accused Congressional supporters of Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.316
and H.Con.Res.195) of trying to `pull Turkey away from the West.' He stressed
that: `The careless use of genocide language provides and excuse to do so,
delivering a direct blow to American interests in the region.'
The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) also urged Committee
members to oppose the measures, arguing that, `disputes over history, such as
the Ottoman Armenian Tragedy, should be resolved by open and rigorous
historical and legal scholarship, not political resolutions.' In an unusual
development, the ATAA urged their supporters to actually use the ANCA website
and its powerful WebFax capabilities to attempt the defeat of the measures.
The
ANCA blocked all efforts along these lines.
Both the ATC and ATAA have come under scrutiny in recent weeks as the result
of a 10-page story in Vanity Fair detailing FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmond's
reports that it's officials were involved in illegal efforts to defeat
Armenian
Genocide legislation in the fall of 2000. According to the article by
contributing editor David Rose, Edmonds claimed FBI wiretaps--including those
of the Turkish Embassy and Turkish groups such as the American Turkish Council
(ATC) and the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)--reveal that
the
Turkish government and its allies boasted of bribing members of Congress as
part of an alleged deal to stop consideration of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.
During the mark-up, lead opponent to the measure, Indiana Republican Dan
Burton, called attention to a September 15 letter to Committee Chairman Hyde,
expressing the State Department's opposition to the measures. The letter noted
that, `House floor debate on an Armenia resolution could damage US-Turkish
relations and could undermine progress by Ankara and Yerevan as they begin
quiet talks to address the issue and look to the future.'
2) Turkey Eyes German Elections Closely
'Nonsense' to let Turkey Join EU, says ex Chancellor
ISTANBUL (AKI/Guardian Ulimited)--The 'Turkish factor' is featuring
strongly in
the final decisive days of the German presidential election campaign, and in
Turkey itself the event is being closely followed by the country's media. The
early election called by incumbent Gerhard Schroeder--a staunch supporter of
Turkey's entry into the European Union--sees him challenged by Christian
Democrat leader Angela Merkel.
Over the past three weeks, Merkel has made it abundantly clear that she
opposes Turkish membership of the European Union. Her Christian Democrat (CDU)
party wants to offer Turkey a "privileged partnership" instead.
On Thursday morning, Merkel won support for her views from an unlikely
source:
Germany's former Social Democratic chancellor Helmut Schmidt. In an interview
with Die Zeit newspaper, Schmidt said that Merkel had got it right: it
would be
"unfug" (nonsense) if Turkey were allowed to join the EU, he said.
For most Turks, a Merkel victory would mean the loss of a strong ally in EU:
Social Democrat leader Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Merkel was well ahead in opinion polls but recent surveys show the September
18 vote will be a close race. Schroeder's comeback has excited the Turkish
press, which is giving extensive coverage to the run-up to the elections as if
the election were taking place in Turkey.
Many newspapers and television networks have sent their columnists and
correspondents to various German cities to test the pulse of the electorate.
Pro-EU liberal-left daily Radikal covers the latest developments with a
special
logo, writing 'Germany`s Choice.'
Though angered by his social welfare and unemployment reforms, pro-EU Turkish
columnists are also encouraging Turkish-German citizens to vote for Schroeder.
An estimated 600,000 of the 2.6 million Turks in Germany are German citizens
with right to vote.
Aydin Dogan, one of Turkey's biggest media moguls, hosted Schroeder at his
media group's offices in Frankfurt two days ago, a clear sign of Turkish media
support for the Chancellor and of Schroeder's desire to capture the Turkish
vote.
"It is very difficult to estimate who will win but one thing is certain. If
Merkel comes to power, very tough days will start for Turkey," predicted
columnist Seda Serdar in the conservative daily Zaman. She also underlined
that
although Merkel ignores Turkish votes, Schroeder needs them.
Murat Yetkin, from Radikal, stressed in his article that if Merkel becomes
the
next chancellor of the country, Germany will be a strong partner of the US,
but
will move away from Turkey.
3) President Kocharian, Ambassador Evans Review Process of Introducing
Constitutional Reforms
YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--Armenian President Robert Kocharian and US
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans met on Thursday to address the process of
introducing Armenia's Constitutional reforms.
In an August 26 statement, Ambassador Evans termed the revised
constitution "a
notable step forward," urging the government to take "the necessary steps... to
increase public awareness about this important process so that a well-informed
public can express its will in the referendum scheduled for November." If
adopted, the revised constitution would enter into force two years from the
referendum.
Armenia's opposition groups vehemently oppose President Kocharian's proposed
changes to Armenia's constitution that are backed by the international
community. At the Venice Commission's urging, the amendments are intended to
pass greater powers from the president to parliament and the prime minister.
Among other provisions, the reforms call on the National Assembly to appoint
the human rights ombudsman and members of the National Radio and TV
commission.
The president has also been removed from the Council of Justice, a body that
plays a key role in appointing judges.
During their meeting, the Ambassador and President also reviewed the pace
negotiations on settling the Mountainous Karabagh conflict.
Evans also thanked the Armenian government and people for their assistance to
the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
4) California-Armenia Trade Office Bill Passes State Assembly and Senate
-- Bill Awaits Governor Schwarzenegger's Signature
SACRAMENTO (ANCA-WR)--The International Trade and Investment Office: Yerevan
bill (SB 897), introduced by California State Senator Jack Scott (D-Pasadena)
in February of this year, recently passed in both the California State
Assembly
and Senate. The bill passed the chambers of the legislature with overwhelming
bi-partisan support, having gained a vote of 77-1 in the Assembly and 32-1 in
the Senate. The bill was enrolled and sent to the desk of Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger on September 8th for his signature.
"Once again through the leadership of Senator Scott and his tireless staff,
Californians and Armenians alike can move forward towards establishing closer
business and trade relations with one another which will benefit both peoples
equally," said Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR)
chair Steve Dadaian. "We look forward to Governor Schwarzenegger's approval of
this commonsense measure aimed to allow the State of California to properly
operate its trade office in Armenia."
For over five years, the ANCA-WR has worked to improve trade relations
between
California and Armenia. SB 897 aims to extend the sunset date for the creation
and operation of the California International Trade and Investment Office in
Yerevan, Armenia which was established by state statue in 2002. The current
sunset date for the trade office is set for January 1, 2006.
The bill, however, would extend this deadline to 2008. SB 897 was introduced
by Senator Scott, with principal coauthors Senators Chuck Poochigian
(R-Fresno)
and Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo), Assemblymembers Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) and
Dario Frommer (D-Glendale), as well as coauthors Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo
Alto), and Assemblymembers Greg Aghazarian (R-Stockton) and Carol Liu
(D-Pasadena). Last month, ANCA-WR Government Relations Director Armen
Carapetian delivered testimony in the Capitol to secure passage of SB 897 in
key committees and met with Assemblymembers and staff to galvanize support for
the measure.
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