H.RES. 398

[Guest]

Ankara Criticized for Failing To Defend Turkey Against Greek, Armenian Lobbies

Istanbul Sabah (Ankara edition)

13 Sep 2000

Subslug: Column by Sedat Sertoglu: "What Have You Done?"

 

Yes, what have you done? We ask the question to the American companies we employed at a very large cost to work to promote Turkey's interests through lobbying. Meanwhile, we should ask the Turkish Government why it has failed to ask them to explain their activities.

 

I can recall the names of many companies when if I force myself to remember:

The Daniel Edelman Company,

the Gray Company,

the Hill and Knowlton Company,

the International Advisers Firm,

the Capital Line Firm,

the Fleshman and Hillard Company,

the Patton and Boggs Firm,

and the Jay Kriegel and Bob Squire Company...

We paid large amounts of money to them to defend us against the Armenian and Greek lobbies.

 

Where do we stand at this point? We asked President Clinton to help us, just as we asked former President Carter to do so in the 1970s. In other words, we are back at our starting point. Ankara has again failed to ask, "what have we paid to these companies and what have we received in return?"

 

What have our lobbying companies achieved for the realization of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline during the past five years? The US Congress is still reluctant to approve any financial aid. How many congressmen have decided to support Turkey on the Cyprus problem?

 

The US House of Representatives has included the claims on the so-called Armenian genocide on its agenda. What have we done to obstruct that?

 

We pay $1.1 million to a lobbying company at the present time. It is headed by former Chairman of the US House of Representatives Livingstone, who had to resign because of his sexual activities. He then supported the election of his successor. What has he done in connection with the draft resolution on the claims related to the so-called Armenian genocide? Has he put pressure on his successor?

 

Let us now discuss the Turkish community. I can recall a young man who was elected as a Democratic Party congressman from New Jersey in 1994. He was born to a Turkish Cypriot father and an Italian mother.

 

His name was Yusuf. How much did Turkey contribute toward his election campaign? Ahmet Ertegun [not further identified], who has been praised so much, should be asked to explain. Why did Turkey fail to support Yusuf's election campaign? We talk a lot but no one is around when there is need for work to be done.

 

A very famous slogan was attributed to the Russians before the Soviet Union collapsed: "The politburo pretends to pay us and we pretend to work."

 

The Greek lobbies are able to get 3.5 million voters organized in the United States. The Armenian lobbies are able to secure the support of 1.5 million votes. Unfortunately, we are unable to get at the most 200,000 Turks organized in that country. We all praise each other but fail to achieve anything.

 

Meanwhile, it must be noted that the officials appointed to our Embassy are very few. We do not even have 12 diplomats in Washington, which is the capital of a country that is very important for Turkey.

 

Last week, one of the candidates who will run for the House of Representatives was asked: "Can you comment on your relations with the Turkish community in the United States?"

 

He said: "We invite the Turks. At the most, five of them respond to our invitations. We invite the Greeks and 500 of them respond."

 

Yes, the officials in Ankara can try to explain their achievements to my grandfather. What achievement can they talk about?

 

All the lobbies take the Jewish lobby as an example in the effort they make to get organized. Why have we failed to do that? Why are we like that? Why do we try to take the easy way out and waste time with words? Why are we interested only in our personal interests? Who can explain all that?

[Guest]

'Milliyet', ISTANBUL 15 Sep 2000

Foreign minister warns Armenia over deteriorating relations

 

Text of interview with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem by Yasemin Congar in Washington, date not given; "Armenians should avoid nonsensical behaviour", published by the Turkish newspaper 'Milliyet' (Ankara edition) on 15th September

 

[Reporter] Can you describe the Clinton Administration's effort of obstructing the draft resolution [on Armenian claims] satisfactory?

 

[Cem] The Clinton Administration is trying to make effective initiatives. President Clinton clearly explained that to President Sezer when they met. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright clearly explained that to me as well. The US Presidency and Administration are doing everything they can on the matter. We will see whether or not they will be successful.

 

[Q] You protested against Yerevan's initiatives to Albright... [paper's ellipsis]

 

[A] Armenia is gradually escalating the tension. We are aware of that. The unjust claims are made not only by the Armenians abroad but also by the Armenian government. Meanwhile, President [Robert ] Kocharyan accused Turkey at the UN for the first time.

 

[Q] Why have the Armenians launched their campaign against Turkey at such a time?

 

[A] They want to camouflage their weakness. Armenia has failed to behave like a state, regardless of the effort it made for that purpose in the past. The country's economy is disastrous. The Armenian administration and the Armenians abroad are trying to use their hostility towards Turkey as a means to establish unity. Of course, that is an indication of weakness. Turkey's relations with Armenia, which have almost diminished, will further weaken if the present situation is allowed to continue.

The Armenians must avoid nonsensical behaviour. They must withdraw from the lands they occupied in Azerbaijan. Turkey will establish favourable relations with Armenia if they do so. We acted with goodwill towards Armenia thus far. We refrained from reacting to its hostile behaviour in a similar way.

 

[Q] Sanctions cannot be imposed on Turkey even if the US House of Representatives decides to pass the draft resolution. So, why has Turkey taken it so seriously?

 

[A] We will continue to take it seriously. However, we must realize that nothing can happen to Turkey just because a decision is made by the US Congress or the Senate in France. The Turkish parliament might pass resolutions related to developments that concern a number of foreign countries. As far as their meaning is concerned, they will be equalresolutions.

 

[Q] Claims have been made that Turkey refuses to make a critical analysis of the developments that took place in its history...

 

[A] An act of genocide is committed against a community or people. Even the developments that took place when the Armenian people, who made up one of the communities in the Ottoman Empire, cooperated with the foreign occupation forces in the past cannot be described as an act of genocide. Had an act of genocide been committed in Anatolia, then similar atrocities would have been committed against the Armenian population in Istanbul. That did not happen. It must be noted that communities might treat each other unjustly under certain conditions. That might have been the case in thepast.

[Guest]

H.Res.398 Committee: Subcommittee Approves Armenian Genocide Bill

September 21 2000 at 6:16 PM

 

H.Res.398 Committee

Hres398@aol.com

 

Press Release

September 21, 2000

 

 

Armenian Genocide Resolution Approved by Key House Subcommittee

 

WASHINGTON, DC -- A key Congressional panel today adopted the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.398), rejecting intense pressure from the Turkish government, the U.S. State Department, and a team of high-priced lobbyists led by former Congressman Bob Livingston, reported the "H.Res.398 Committee," a community-wide coalition working dedicated to U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

 

The House International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, in a voice vote, adopted the measure following remarks in support of its adoption by

Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ),

Ranking Democrat Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA).

 

Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) spoke against the resolution's passage, while

Delegate Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) expressed reservations that the measure was not broad enough.

 

Supporters of the measure echoed statements and testimony in support of H.Res.398 made during last week's Subcomittee hearing.

 

Chairman Smith again stressed that while U.S. foreign policy must be "realistic and flexible," it should not be "complicit to a conspiracy of silence about genocide."

Representative McKinney, clearly angered by the anti-H.Res.398 lobby's campaign of "misinformation, disinformation or outright lies," issued a "warning" to lobbyists denying the Armenian Genocide: "They forever shattered their credibility, at least with this Representative."

 

Republicans

Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),

George Radanovich (R-CA),

James Rogan (R-CA) and

Ed Royce (R-CA) joined Chairman Smith in strong support of passage of H.Res.398, as did

Democratic Whip David Bonior (D-MI) and

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ).

 

Speaking prior to today's vote, Rep. Burton repeated a number of arguments traditionally used by the Turkish government, ranging from the denial that there was a genocide to raising concerns over its impact on U.S.-Turkey relations. He specifically warned that its passage would cause Turkey to block U.S. access to military bases in Turkey.

Rep. Brad Sherman responded by explaining, "let us remember that Germany played a critical role in our success in the Cold War and in our success in the Gulf War... [if] some future German Government wanted to deny what the German Government did in the 1930's and 1940's, we would say 'no' and that 'no' would be definite."

American Samoa Democrat Eni Faleomavaega, expressed concerns about the resolution, stating "I am totally for the concept that the genocide committed against the Armenians ought to be rectified in some way. But let's also talk about fairness about other events that transpired 50 years ago, a hundred years ago..."

Due to time considerations, H.Res.398 co-author George Radanovich (R-CA) and New York Democrat Joe Crowley were not able to speak during the hearing, but submitted their statements in support of the measure for the official record.

 

In addition to those who spoke at the mark-up, other members of the Subcommittee who attended were Reps.

Peter King (R-NY),

Matt Salmon (R-AZ),

Cass Ballenger (R-NC),

Greg Meeks (D-NY),

and William Delahunt (D-MA).

Congressmen Jim Rogan (R-CA) and

Ed Royce (R-CA) attended the mark-up in support of H.Res.398.

 

Following the voice vote, Rep. Burton asked the Chairman to note for the record his opposition to the resolution. The Armenian Genocide resolution is now cleared for further consideration by the full International Relations Committee as early as next week.

 

Today's vote followed last week's four and a half hour hearing on H.Res.398. The hearing included powerful testimony in support of this legislation from Members of Congress, including Democratic Whip and H.Res.398 co-author

David Bonior (D-MI) and

California Republican James Rogan.

 

Supporters pointed out at the hearing that H.Res.398 is a statement by the U.S. House on the American response to the Armenian Genocide, and not an attack on the Turkish government or Turkish people.

 

A second panel featured remarks by State Department representative Marc Grossman who indicated that the Administration's opposition to H.Res.398, rather than being based on the view that the Genocide never happened, is in reality due to the impact that the State Department believes its recognition would have on U.S relations with Turkey.

 

A third panel at the hearing included experts in the field of genocide studies,

Prof. Roger Smith from the College of William and Mary and

Prof. Robert Melson from Perdue University, who presented the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide.

Also on this panel were

Prof. Justin McCarthy, who argued that the Armenian Genocide is a myth, and

Gunduz Suphi Aktan, a former Turkish Foreign Ministry official.

Aktan's testimony warning of the negative effects of the passage of H.Res.398 on regional issues and U.S.- Turkish cooperation was described by Chairman Smith as a "threat," which makes him "suspicious of the [Turkish] Government's efforts to suppress this information."

 

H.Res.398 affirms the United States record on the Armenian Genocide and

1) Calls upon the President to ensure that U.S. diplomats dealing with human rights are educated about the Armenian Genocide, and

2) Urges the President to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as genocide in the President's annual April 24th address.

 

This important human rights legislation was introduced by

Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA) and

Minority Whip David Bonior (D-MI).

It has been cosponsored by over 140 Representatives.

Earlier this month,

Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, stated, during a meeting with

Rep. James Rogan (R-CA) and a group of Armenian American leaders, that it was his intent to bring H. Res. 398 to a vote on the House floor.

 

H.Res.398 has been actively supported by a coalition of Armenian American organizations including

the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian Catholics;

Armenian Assembly of America;

Armenian Bar Association;

Armenian Evangelical World Council;

Armenian General Benevolent Union;

Armenian Missionary Association of America;

Armenian National Committee of America;

Armenian Relief Society of North America;

Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America - East;

Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America - West;

Knights of Vartan;

Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America - East;

Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America - West.

[Guest]

. Schiff Urges Passage of HR 398 by House Sub-Committee

PASADENA--In a letter addressed to members of the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, Sen. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) Tuesday urged support for the United States Training on and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, House Resolution 398.

 

Pointing to decades long inaction by Congress, Sen. Schiff noted, "It is time for the United States to move forward with this resolution and honor the memories of the thousands of innocent victims of the first genocide of the 20th century."

 

Below is the full text of the letter sent to each member of the Sub-Committee, which is scheduled to vote on H.R. 398 on Thursday, September 21.

 

Dear Chairman Smith:

 

As the California State Senator from the 21st Senate District, I represent the largest Armenian community in the world outside of Armenia. I am writing you today to urge your support for the United States Training on and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, House Resolution 398.

 

I have been proud to co-author similar resolutions in the California State Senate, which have passed with broad bi-partisan support. Sadly, the United States Government has yet to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923, which resulted in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, the deaths of 1,500,000 men, women, and children, and the expulsion of 500,000 survivors from their homeland of over 2,000 years.

 

Speaker Dennis Hastert, in a meeting with community members here in southern California, promised a floor vote on House Resolution 398. It is about time. Congressmen Radanovich and Bonior have introduced this measure time and again to no avail. After over a decade of congressional inaction, it is time for the United States to move forward with this resolution and honor the memories of the thousands of innocent victims of the first genocide of the 20th century.

 

I urge your vote in support of House Resolution 398 so this measure can reach the floor for a full House vote before the end of this session.

 

Sincerely,

 

Adam B. Schiff

 

State Senator

 

California's 21st Senate District