Washington, DC - Earlier today, under the leadership of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs, Representatives Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), along with Congressmen Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), a bipartisan group of legislators
sent a letter to President Barack Obama
highlighting Turkey's failure to live up to its commitments regarding
normalizing of relations with Armenia without preconditions, reported the
Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
The letter read in part "We write to you [Mr. President] with our
concerns about Turkish backpedaling on the agreed upon roadmap to
normalize relations between Turkey
and Armenia ."
Recalling stated U.S. policy "that normalization should take place
without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe," the letter
pointed out Armenia's constructive approach and raised concerns about
Turkey's counterproductive actions: "While the Government of Armenia
remains committed to this roadmap and has long offered to establish ties
with Turkey without preconditions, Turkey's public statements and actions
since April 24th stand in sharp contrast to this agreement and undermine
U.S. policy that normalization take place without preconditions."
Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny commended this bipartisan
initiative stating that " Armenia
has repeatedly offered to normalize relations with
Turkey without preconditions only to be
rebuffed by Turkey.
We also support the position espoused by the Members that the
Administration should separate the issues of normalization and Genocide
affirmation. U.S.
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide should not be held hostage to
normalization of relations."
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
Editor's Note:
Letter Signatories - Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL),
Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Joe
Baca (D-CA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard
Berman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bruce Braley, (D-IA), John Campbell,
(R-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA),
Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Joseph
Crowley (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Steve Driehaus (D-OH), Anna Eshoo
(D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA),
Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ),
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Jesse
Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Leonard
Lance (R-NJ), James Langevin (D-RI) Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin
(D-MI), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) Daniel Lungren
(R-CA). Stephen Lynch (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey
(D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James McGovern
(D-MA) Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Candice Miller (R-MI), Walt Minnick (D-ID),
Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), John
Olver (D-MA) Payne, Donald (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Collin Peterson (D-MN),
Mike Quigley (D-IL), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Edward
Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL) Paul Ryan (R-WI), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA),
John Sarbanes (D-MD) James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Brad Sherman (D-CA),
Chris Smith (R-NJ), Mark Souder (R-IN), Zack Space (D-OH), Jackie Speier
(D-CA), John Tierney (D-MA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Niki
Tsongas (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Walz (D-MN) Henry Waxman
(D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Photo Captions:
Assembly's Bryan Ardouny and
Taniel Koushakjian, while on Capitol Hill urging congressional support,
thank Congressman Pallone for his leadership.
Assembly's Ardouny thanks Congressman
Radanovich for spearheading the letter with his colleagues. |
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