Two Congressional Hearings, a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, and U.S. House Letters Warn against Rewarding Ankara’s Aggression

WASHINGTON – During the NATO summit this week in Ankara, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will lift sanctions on Turkey and consider readmitting Ankara into the F-35 fighter jet program, defying bipartisan opposition reflected in two Congressional hearings, a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, and two letters signed by dozens of U.S. Representatives.

“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off, OK?” Trump said at a press conference alongside Erdogan. Asked whether Turkey would receive F-35s, Trump called it “certainly something we will consider.”

“Members of Congress from across the aisle are sounding the alarm — through two hearings, a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, and U.S. House letters to House leadership — and yet President Trump went to Ankara and crossed every Congressional red-line,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Arming Ankara may score the President a few points with Erdogan, but at the cost of angering Congress and alienating voters heading into the mid-terms and the 2028 presidential election.”

Members of Congress Warned Against This
Since Trump’s June 24 announcement of the proposed $700 million jet engine sale to Turkey and his administration’s review of Turkey’s reintegration into the F-35 program, Members of Congress have moved on multiple fronts to block it.

Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced H.J.Res.200, a Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block the proposed sale of General Electric F110-GE-129E/F engines for Turkey’s KAAN fighter aircraft program. Titus told POLITICO’s National Security Daily that Erdogan’s government “has made repeated threats of military action against NATO allies and other partner nations,” and that selling the engines would “embolden it to pursue those threats.”

Titus also led a letter to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging leadership to be prepared to introduce a Joint Resolution of Disapproval under CAATSA Section 216(c)(3) — the same sanctions authority Trump said today he intends to lift — should the administration attempt to readmit Turkey to the F-35 program without a credible legal basis. The letter cited Turkey’s “aggressive posture toward Greece and Cyprus” and its “material support to Azerbaijan in its military campaigns against Armenia” as evidence Ankara has not behaved as a good-faith NATO partner.

On a separate, bipartisan track, Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) led a letter to President Trump opposing Turkey’s F-35 reintegration. The letter states that Turkey “has hardly been a reliable partner in the present day,” pointing to its military presence in occupied northern Cyprus and its aggressive posture toward Greece, and urges the administration to “maintain this prohibition today,” warning that reversing the F-35 ban “would send the wrong message to President Erdogan and to our allies and partners both in Europe and the Middle East.”

ANCA is working alongside Hellenic American organizations, including the International Coordinating Committee — Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), to oppose both the engine sale and Turkey’s F-35 reintegration.

Congressional Hearings Documented the Case for Accountability
Two Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearings, held June 3 and June 30, documented Erdogan’s political repression at home, Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, and its occupation of Cyprus ahead of the summit.

At the June 3 hearing, “Can Turkey Find Its Way Back to Freedom?,” Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chair Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said Turkey holds more than ten thousand political prisoners, including journalists, lawyers, elected officials, and civil society leaders. Michael Rubin of the Middle East Forum testified that Erdogan’s genocide denial and persecution of religious minorities, including Armenians and Greeks, follow the same pattern of impunity. “We saw this with both the Biden administration’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide and that of all fifty states and the District of Columbia,” Rubin testified. “Those recognitions happened and Turkey didn’t do a damn thing.”

At the June 30 hearing, “Human Rights in Occupied Cyprus,” Republic of Cyprus Ambassador Evangelos Savva testified that Turkey continues to block access to mass graves from the 1974 invasion, including the remains of at least five American citizens.

Savas Tsivicos of the International Coordinating Committee — Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA) testified that Turkish colonization of the occupied north has reduced Turkish Cypriots to a minority in their own community and stripped basic rights from Armenians, Maronites, and Latins alike. Tsivicos also warned that any F-35s or engines sold to Turkey “are not going to go against Russia” but would instead be used “against the three strategic allies of the United States: Israel, Greece, and Cyprus.” Rep. Titus told the commission directly that arming Erdogan would mean “perpetuating the horrific policies of a government that has flouted international law with respect to Cyprus.”

Armenian Americans can urge their Representatives to support H.J.Res.200 and to oppose any move to lift CAATSA sanctions or reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 program.

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The Charlotte and Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School announced that Peter Amloian has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of Directors, effective July 1. Amloian succeeds outgoing Board Chair Nerses Aposhian, who served as Board Chair for the past three years and as a member of the Board since 2019.

Amloian, who graduated from Merdinian in 2006, is a proud alumnus and a longtime member of the school community. After Merdinian, he attended Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics from UCLA. He has been an active CPA since 2016. He and his wife, Suzy, are the proud parents of Cara Amloian. He is also the proud grandson of the late Baron Bedros Amloian, Merdinian’s longtime physical education teacher in the school’s early days, whose legacy remains part of the school’s history.

Amloian joined the Board in 2022 and has served as Treasurer, helping steward the school’s fiscal health, strengthen operational oversight, and support important deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects.

Professionally, Amloian brings more than 12 years of experience in entertainment finance, business operations, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. He currently serves as Vice President of Business Operations at Downtown Music’s Artist & Label Services Division, where he oversees financial and operational infrastructure for over 10,000 independent artists and labels.

“Merdinian has played a meaningful role in my life and in the lives of so many families in our community,” said Amloian. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me and excited to work alongside our administration, teachers, board members, parents, alumni, and supporters as we continue building on the school’s strong foundation. For the last few years, the first day back to school and year-end graduation ceremonies have continued to be some of my favorite days of the year. Nerses has led with passion, energy, and an unwavering love for Merdinian, and I am committed to continuing that momentum with a focus on the long-term success of our students.”

“I could not be more excited to support Peter as the next Chair of the Board,” said outgoing Board Chair Nerses Aposhian, who was in the same graduating class as Amloian. “Peter and I have known each other for many years, going back to our days as classmates at Merdinian. More importantly, Peter is simply a great guy — thoughtful, disciplined, financially sharp, and deeply committed to the future of this school. Succession planning is healthy for any institution, and I have full confidence that Peter will lead with humility and purpose.”

“Mr. Aposhian has served Merdinian with tremendous dedication, heart, and a genuine love for our students, teachers, families, and mission, ” said Principal Arpi Avanesian. “During his time as Chair, he helped guide the school through important growth and remained deeply focused on strengthening Merdinian for the next generation. We are grateful for his leadership, partnership, and years of service. We are also excited to continue working with Amloian, whose financial discipline, thoughtful leadership, and deep love for Merdinian will help carry the school forward.”

Aposhian will remain involved with the school in different capacities and will work with Amloian, the Board, and school leadership to ensure a smooth transition. Additional Board leadership updates will be shared in the days ahead.

As Merdinian prepares to celebrate its 45th year, the school looks forward to continuing its mission of providing a Christ-centered Armenian education rooted in academic excellence, cultural identity, faith, service, and community.

Charlotte and Elise Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is a private Armenian Christian school located in Sherman Oaks, California, serving students from early childhood through eighth grade. Merdinian is dedicated to academic excellence, Christian faith, Armenian heritage, character development, and preparing students to lead lives of purpose and service.

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