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Armenian Genocide Legislation Set For Committee-level Consideration

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  • Armenian Genocide Legislation Set For Committee-level Consideration

    ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION SET FOR COMMITTEE-LEVEL CONSIDERATION:
    COSPONSOR LIST FOR H.RES.316 REACHES 102

    WASHINGTON, JULY 21, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
    National Committee of America (ANCA) is working in Washington, DC and
    in communities around the nation to generate support for Armenian
    Genocide legislation that is slated to come before the House
    International Relations Committee. It appears likely at this time that
    the Armenian Genocide measures (H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195) currently
    before Congress will be considered and acted upon by the influential
    panel. "We welcome the willingness of Chairman Hyde and the
    International Relations Committee to formally consider and act upon
    Armenian Genocide legislation," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "We
    especially would like to express our gratitude to George Radanovich
    for leading the effort and building on his decade-long record of
    principled and energetic leadership on this issue, to voice our
    gratitude to the Co-Chairs of the Armenian Caucus - Joe Knollenberg
    and Frank Pallone - for generating a powerful, bipartisan
    constituency, and to share our special appreciation for Adam Schiff's
    vital role in ensuring Committee level action on Armenian Genocide
    legislation." "We look forward to working with our friends in focusing
    our collective energies on defeating Turkey's genocide denial machine,
    to ensuring favorable consideration of these measures by the
    International Relations Committee, and to securing final passage of
    legislation reaffirming the Armenian Genocide by the House of
    Representatives," added Hachikian. 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 U.S. foreign
    policy reflects appropriate understanding of the Armenian
    Genocide. The resolution includes thirty detailed findings from past
    U.S. hearings, resolutions and Presidential statements, as well as
    references to statements by international bodies and organizations. As
    of today, a bipartisan group of 98 Representatives have already agreed
    to cosponsor this measure. H.Con.Res.195, introduced by Rep. Adam
    Schiff, 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 8th
    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, which is in the
    process of being amended, reaffirms the Armenian Genocide within the
    broader context of regional relationships and addresses Turkey's
    efforts to join the European Union. According to Capitol Hill sources,
    the Turkish Ambassador and his lobbyists - including the Livingston
    Group - are actively making the rounds to members of the International
    Relations Committee, seeking to block any action on U.S. reaffirmation
    of the Armenian Genocide. As part of this effort, the Livingston Group
    has been distributing a four-page genocide-denial document to
    Congressional offices. A third, non-Genocide related resolution that
    may also be considered by the International Relations Committee deals
    with Turkey's illegal blockade of Armenia. This measure, H.R.3103,
    introduced by Rep. Schiff, calls on Turkey to "comply with the
    long-standing position of the United States that in order to restore
    economic, political, and cultural links with Armenia, Turkey should
    immediately lift its ongoing blockade with Armenia." In addition, it
    would require that, "Not later than 30 days after the date of the
    enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
    appropriate Congressional committees a report that outlines the steps
    taken and plans made by the United States to end Turkey's blockade of
    Armenia." The ANCA supports the adoption of this measure by the
    U.S. House at the earliest opportunity.

  • #2
    Armenian Genocide Legislation Scheduled for Committee Consideration

    Armenian Genocide Legislation Scheduled for Committee Consideration
    May be “Marked-Up” as Early as September 14

    WASHINGTON, DC--Armenian Genocide legislation appears set to come before the influential House International Relations Committee as early as Wednesday, September 14th, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

    According to Congressional sources, Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) is prepared to “mark-up” both Armenian Genocide Resolutions (H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195). During this mark-up session, the fifty members of the panel will have an opportunity to consider changes and then to vote to either approve or disapprove each measure.

    “We want to thank Chairman Hyde for his leadership in ensuring that the members of his Committee have the opportunity to vote on Armenian Genocide legislation,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Along with our local chapters around the nation and coalition partners here in Washington, DC, we are working hard to support the efforts of our friends-- Congressmen George Radanovich, Adam Schiff, and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone-- in encouraging the Committee to act favorably on this legislation.

    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 one hundred and twelve Representatives have already agreed to cosponsor this 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, which is in the process of being amended, reaffirms the Armenian Genocide within the broader context of regional relationships and addresses Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union.

    The Turkish Ambassador and his lobbyists--including the Livingston Group--are actively making 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 has been distributing a four-page genocide-denial document to Congressional offices.
    "All truth passes through three stages:
    First, it is ridiculed;
    Second, it is violently opposed; and
    Third, it is accepted as self-evident."

    Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

    Comment


    • #3
      Atc Attacks Armenian Genocide Legislation

      Armenian National Committee of America
      888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
      Washington, DC 20006
      Tel: (202) 775-1918
      Fax: (202) 775-5648
      E-mail: [email protected]
      Internet: www.anca.org

      PRESS RELEASE
      September 12, 2005
      Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
      Tel: (202) 775-1918

      BRENT SCOWCROFT ATTACKS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION

      -- American Turkish Council Chairman Sharply
      Criticizes "Careless use of Genocide Language"
      in H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195

      WASHINGTON, DC - Only days before Armenian Genocide legislation is
      set to come before a key U.S. House panel, American Turkish Council
      (ATC) Chairman Brent Scowcroft has warned Speaker Dennis Hastert
      that even the discussion of the Armenian Genocide on the floor of
      the U.S. House would be "counter-productive to the interests of the
      United States, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
      (ANCA).

      In his September 12th 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."

      "We are outraged that Brent Scowcroft appears to have so
      compromised his own integrity in pursuit of personal business
      interests that he finds himself enlisted by the Turkish government
      in its desperate and patently immoral genocide denial effort," said
      ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We are particularly
      troubled by his baseless comment regarding the 'careless use of
      genocide language' - a hateful insult to the victims of this crime,
      a direct offense to the Congressional authors of this legislation,
      and a repudiation of the U.S. archives, the unanimous judgment of
      the International Association of Genocide Scholars, and the
      overwhelming evidence documenting this crime against humanity."

      The ATC has 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.

      In a related effort, the Assembly of Turkish American Associations
      has distributed an action alert against both Armenian Genocide
      resolutions - H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195. Among the factually
      unfounded and morally bankrupt points raised by the ATAA in the
      space of its one-page alert, are the following:

      * The ATAA warns its members: "Inaction on the part of the Turkish
      American Community will compromise U.S.-Turkish relations,
      encourage more acts of harassment, violence and terrorism against
      people of Turkish and Turkic descent, and could potentially lead to
      territorial and compensations claims against the Republic of
      Turkey."

      * The ATAA urges its members to tell members of Congress that
      H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195 "provide a one-sided, misinformed view
      of WWI Ottoman history and would deal a great blow to the Turkish
      American community, and furthermore inflict damage upon the
      partnership between Turkey and the United States."

      * The ATAA stresses that resolutions such as H.Res.316 and
      H.Con.Res.195 "impede dialogue and reconciliation between Armenia
      and Turkey, discouraging the Armenian side from engaging in
      scholarly examination of these complicated historical events."

      * The ATAA notes that, "As the Armenian American lobby acts up
      again, we have only two choices: we can be passive and allow these
      allegations to go on, or we can stand up and defend ourselves, our
      history, and the future of our children here in the United States."

      * The ATAA stresses that its efforts are not "anti-Armenian,"
      explaining that, "Armenians people are held hostage by the agenda
      of their country's ultra-nationalist government and extremists in
      the Armenian American, European and Middle Eastern communities."

      The full text of the Scowcroft letter is provided below:

      #####

      Text of ATC Chairman Brent Scowcroft's Letter to Speaker Hastert


      September 12, 2005

      The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
      Speaker of the House of Representatives
      The Capitol
      Washington, DC 20515

      Dear Mr. Speaker:

      As Chairman of the American-Turkish Council, I am gravely concerned
      about plans to debate in the House of Representatives H. Con. Res.
      195, a resolution "Commemorating the Armenian Genocide" and urging
      the Government of Turkey to acknowledge the culpability of Ottoman
      Turks for it, and H. Res. 316, a resolution recognizing claims of
      "genocide" of Armenians by Ottoman Turks. Together with ATC's
      members, I strongly urge opposition to these resolutions and
      suggest that floor deliberation of them would be counter-productive
      to the interest of the United States.

      Whatever people individually decide on the merits of these
      resolutions, it is important to note the real world consequences of
      their adoption. When the French Senate passed such a resolution,
      it cost France over $1 billion in cancelled contracts and lost
      business opportunities. Enactment of genocide language would
      jeopardize our ability to achieve strategic interest with Turkey
      and in the region. Furthermore, it is quite likely that the
      business interest of several of our American members would be
      jeopardized by passage of such prejudicial legislation.

      The American-Turkish Council strongly believes that the events
      about which H. Con Res. 195 and H. Res. 316 speak are matters for
      historians to decide-not politicians. Unfortunately, these
      resolutions express, as matters of law and fact, issues that remain
      widely disputed by scholars, historians, and legal experts.
      Accordingly, we strongly urge you to review the attached letter
      that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan sent Armenian President Robert
      Kocharian on April 10, 2005, seeking to normalize bilateral
      relations as well as address painful long-standing historical
      issues.

      Although Armenian President Kocharian rejected his offer, we are
      encouraged that Prime Minister Erdogan and his government, by
      reaching out to Armenia with an offer for an open dialogue on
      difficult issues involving Turks and Armenians, are taking an
      historic step. Turkish-Armenian rapprochement is in the best
      interests of both nations, and the ATC believes now is the time for
      reconciliation. We sincerely hope that President Kocharian and his
      government will take the opportunity to reciprocate the olive
      branch extended by Prime Minister Erdogan.

      Turkey's strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle
      East, the Caucasus, and the Balkans places it at the center of
      American's current and long term strategic interest. As Turkey
      stands on the threshold of accession talks with the European Union,
      the U.S. should be doing all it can to encourage positive momentum
      for Turkey. H. Con. Res. 195, while purporting to support Turkey's
      EU accession talks, and H. Res. 316, do exactly the opposite. The
      resolutions encourage those who would pull Turkey away from the
      West. The careless use of genocide language provides and excuse to
      do so, delivering a direct blow to American interests in the
      region.

      The ATC believes that legislators should not attempt to resolve
      historical issues by resolution. Historical commissions, fairly
      staffed, adequately supported, and afforded full access to the
      archives, are better suited to attempting the reconciliation that
      we all support.

      On behalf of the members of the American-Turkish Council, I
      strongly urge you to oppose floor deliberation and adoption of any
      language that would substitute political pronouncements for
      historical analysis of this highly sensitive issue.

      Sincerely,

      Brent Scowcroft
      Chairman of the Board
      "All truth passes through three stages:
      First, it is ridiculed;
      Second, it is violently opposed; and
      Third, it is accepted as self-evident."

      Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

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