A.R. Posted April 12, 2002 Report Share Posted April 12, 2002 Armenian National Committee of America888 17th Street, NW, Suite 904Washington, DC, 20006Tel. (202) 775-1918Fax (202) 775-5648E-mail: anca@anca.orgInternet: <http://www.anca.org/>http://www.anca.org PRESS RELEASEContact: Elizabeth S. ChouldjianApril 11, 2002Tel: (202) 775-1918 ANCA CALLS ON AIPAC TO CLARIFY POSITION ONU.S. RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE -- New York Times, Jerusalem Post Report that American JewishLobby Worked Against 2000 Armenian Genocide Resolution WASHINGTON, DC - In the wake of published reports in the New York Times and Jerusalem Post that the Jewish American lobby worked against passage of the Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has formally called upon the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the leading Jewish American advocacy organization, to clarify its position on U.S. recognition and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The Jerusalem Post (Turkish PM Accuses Israel of "Genocide") reported on April 7th: "Jewish-American lobbies played a key role in stopping a Congressional bill foreseeing an Armenian genocide law." Two days later, the New York Times (With a Word, Israeli-Turkish Strain Surfaces) wrote: "American Jewish organizations have lobbied on Turkey's behalf against attempts by Armenian-Americans to have the killing of Armenians between 1915 and 1921 in Turkey declared a genocide." In an April 11th letter to AIPAC President Tim Wuliger, ANCA Chairman Kenneth Hachikian underscored the depth of concern within the Armenian American community concerning these reports. He offered the AIPAC leadership an opportunity to clarify to the Armenian American community their actions concerning the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the 106th Congress and to communicate their position on U.S. recognition and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Hachikian offered the ANCA's cooperation to AIPAC in working to improve Armenian-Jewish relations that have been strained in recent years by the opposition of many Jewish American community groups to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, as well as by statements by the Israeli Foreign Minister and other senior Israeli officials denying the Armenian Genocide. He also noted the April 10th shooting of Armenian sub-deacon Armin Sinanian, apparently by Israeli forces, during fighting in and around Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. For more information on AIPAC, visit:http://www.aipac.org The full text of the ANCA letter to AIPAC is provided below. ##### ================================================================Text of ANCA 4/11/02 letter to AIPAC================================================================ April 11, 2002 Timothy WuligerPresidentAmerican Israel Public Affairs Committee440 1st Street, NWWashington, DC 20001 Dear Mr. Wuliger: I am writing in regard to recent articles in the New York Times and the Jerusalem Post that report that the Jewish American lobbies played a key role in stopping the Congressional Armenian Genocide resolution in October of 2000. The Jerusalem Post ("Turkish PM Accuses Israel of 'Genocide,'" April 7, 2002) notes that: "American Jewish lobbies, known for their support of Turkey in the face of Armenian and Greek lobbies in Washington, are preparing to voice their concerns to Turkey. They reportedly delivered a message to the Turkish Embassy in Washington decrying Ecevit's statements. They added that the comments are particularly unseemly in consideration of their attempts to defend Turkey from Armenian claims of genocide, and in light of the Jewish genocide suffered at the hand of the Nazis. Last year, Jewish-American lobbies played a key role in stopping a Congressional bill foreseeing an Armenian genocide law, urging US authorities to allow arms sales for Turkey." The New York Times ("With a Word, Israeli-Turkish Strain Surfaces," April 9, 2002) writes that "The friendship [between Turkey and Israel] has multiplied Turkey's influence in Washington. The pro-Israeli lobby argued Turkey's case for increased international financial aid. American Jewish organizations have lobbied on Turkey's behalf against attempts by Armenian-Americans to have the killing of Armenians between 1915 and 1921 in Turkey declared a genocide." Armenian Americans are, of course, deeply troubled by these news accounts. We want, however, as a matter of fairness, to offer your organization, as the leading advocate for the Jewish American community, an opportunity to issue an unambiguous public denial that your organization was in any way involved in efforts against the adoption of an Armenian Genocide Resolution in the 106th Congress. We would also welcome an explanation of AIPAC's stand on the recognition and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. We believe that a clarification of your position on the Armenian Genocide Resolution is particularly important in light of recent developments that could, if not handled in a positive manner, damage Armenian-Jewish relations that have already been strained by the opposition of many Jewish American community groups to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Among these developments are the April 10th shooting of an Armenian sub-deacon during Israeli Defense Force action in Bethlehem, and the controversy this February surrounding the refusal of Rivka Kohen, the Israeli Ambassador to Armenia, to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The latter episode, as you may recall, was further compounded by an offensive statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry that Israel does not consider the "tragedy of the Armenians" to be a genocide. I look forward to your response and the opportunity to work with you to advance our shared interest in improving the state of Armenian-Jewish relations. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Sincerely, Kenneth V. HachikianChairman cc: Armenian American media and community organizations enclosures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.R. Posted April 12, 2002 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2002 YeeeeeeeeeeHAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWGreat Job Brother Kenneth V. Hachikian!! [ April 12, 2002, 04:11 AM: Message edited by: A.R. ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fadi Posted April 12, 2002 Report Share Posted April 12, 2002 Yes good job Kenneth V. Hachikian ? Was it the same good job, when I wrote to the Jewish-times, to answer Donn Feider article denying the Armenian genocide ? And that the director himself answered me by stating Feider have read the article ? And what have you done other then blasting the Jews... It changed something ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted April 12, 2002 Report Share Posted April 12, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Domino:And what have you done other then blasting the Jews... It changed something ?A very good point (as usual). There can be no comparision between the great work you have done for our cause (of Genocide recognition and expose deniers) and the HARM they continue to do - by making Armenians look silly and racist. Even Thorny Rose a Turk has done significantly more to expose the true shortfalls of her own people in terms of Genocide recognition and willful destruction of Armenian heritage sites in Turkey. While I don't ascribe to the view that MArie/Anoush & A.R. are actually Turkish agents per se - they certainly do the work for them - and more. I mean - if to them - basically all or nearly all Armenians they encounter are "traitors" - who would it seem are going against the grain here? They only act to make us look like brainless racists. That they are blind to this bespeaks that they really don't care - because it is just their hate of Jews that drives them - not any real allegience to Armenians. (of course in A.R.'s case we know that he just doesn't have the capacity to comprhend). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fadi Posted April 12, 2002 Report Share Posted April 12, 2002 Oups, I mean I wrote to the jewish world review... I'm still waiting his apologise that I asked(Don Feder)... Any idea's Thoth he didn't answered me ? Since I know he have read it, the director said he had... and said that I would recieve an answer... an answer that never came. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khodja Posted April 12, 2002 Report Share Posted April 12, 2002 Winston, You have hit the nail on it's head. These types really do a great job for the Turkish foreign ministry. They are essentially operating as Turkish agent provacateurs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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