Armenian Political News

Armenian National Committee of America
PRESS RELEASE
ACTIVISTS ASK CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE PLANNED WOODROW

WILSON CENTER AWARD TO TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTER


WASHINGTON, DC – Citizens from across the United States are asking

their Members of Congress to look into the controversial decision by the

Woodrow Wilson Center to award Armenian Genocide denier, Turkey’s

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, with their public service award,

reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Through an ANCA Action Alert, Armenian American and other anti

-genocide activists are expressing “profound anger and disappointment”

over the Woodrow Wilson Center’s plans to travel to Turkey to bestow the

award on Davutoglu, who had recently openly threatened the United States

against speaking honestly about the Armenian Genocide.

“This award dishonors President Wilson's vision of justice for the Armenian

nation,” explains the letter to Senate and House members. “Mr. Davutoglu

represents a government that, in its aggressive denial of the Armenian

Genocide and ongoing obstruction of justice for the Armenian nation, makes

a mockery of the Wilson Center and its founding commitment to fostering

scholarship commemorating ‘the ideals and concerns of Woodrow Wilson.’"

The letter makes special mention that “Mr. Davutoglu leads a Foreign

Ministry that reflects and actively reinforces the anti-Armenian hatreds and

intolerances that fueled the Armenian Genocide in the first place,” noting

that the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC hosted a group of

demonstrators who insulted and mocked Armenians gathered on April 24th,

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, to mark the murder of 1.5 million

men, women, and children, and the exile of a people from their ancient

homeland. Video from the Turkish protest can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNfpYNeSyfE

The Woodrow Wilson Center receives one-third of its annual funding from

Congress. Senators and Representatives are being encouraged to “formally

investigate this matter and to share [their] concerns on this deeply troubling

development directly with the leadership of the Woodrow Wilson Center.”


The complete text of the letter is provided below.

#####

Dear Senator / Representative:

I am writing to share with you three reasons behind my profound anger and

disappointment over the recently announced decision of the Woodrow Wilson

International Center for Scholars, a U.S. government-supported institution, to

honor the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, who, only weeks ago,

openly threatened the United States against speaking honestly about the

Armenian Genocide.

1) This award dishonors President Wilson's vision of justice for the Armenian

nation

Mr Davutoglu represents a government that, in its aggressive denial of the

Armenian Genocide and ongoing obstruction of justice for the Armenian nation,

makes a mockery of the Wilson Center and its founding commitment to fostering

scholarship commemorating "the ideals and concerns of Woodrow Wilson."

President Wilson, throughout his time in public office, was a tireless champion

of Armenian rights and security. He sharply condemned the Armenian Genocide,

provided extensive relief to its survivors, and pressed, both domestically and

internationally, for a viable Wilsonian Armenia as a means of restoring to the

Armenian people their rightful place at the table of nation's following this horrific

crime. Mr. Davutoglu, whose government blockades the very Armenia that

Woodrow Wilson sought to protect, flagrantly and in the most offensive terms

rejects our great President's vision of a truthful, just and lasting resolution of the

Armenian Genocide.

2) This award makes a mockery of President Wilson's belief in free and open

inquiry

Mr. Davutolgu represents a government that aggressively suppresses free

speech and open historical inquiry, particularly on issues dealing with the

Armenian Genocide. His government, including the leaders of his political party,

continue to enforce laws, such as Article 301, that criminalize the discussion of

the Armenian Genocide and demonize scholars, journalists and others who

dare to speak honestly about this crime against humanity. His record runs directly

counter to the Center's policy that the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service

should be reserved for those who share Woodrow Wilson’s steadfast belief in

"the free and open exchange of ideas” and his commitment to “examin[ing] the

historical background and long-term implications of issues confronting society.”

Far from supporting open inquiry, Mr. Davutoglu has devoted his own personal

energies and the resources of his Ministry to silencing discourse within Turkey

and the United States on the Armenian Genocide, one of the most prominent

human rights issues that Woodrow Wilson himself actively pursued. Three weeks

before the award was announced, Mr. Davutoglu openly condemned President

Obama’s Administration for not doing enough to prevent the March 4, 2010 vote

on the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Not even two months later, Davutoglu condemned President Obama himself for

making a statement express empathy towards Armenian Americans on the 95th

anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a statement which did not even use the

term “genocide.” While Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan expressed appreciation

that President Obama’s statement considered “Turkish sensitivities” and did not

use the term genocide, Foreign Minister Davutoglu called the statement

“unacceptable” and protested that “No nation has the right to impose its memory

records on another nation.”

3) This award provides an undeserved U.S. endorsement for Turkey's anti

-Armenian policies

Mr. Davutoglu leads a Foreign Ministry that reflects and actively reinforces the

anti-Armenian hatreds and intolerances that fueled the Armenian Genocide in the

first place. On April 24th of this year, a day of solemn remembrance for Armenians

worldwide, the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC hosted a group of

demonstrators who, as this video link shows, had, only moments before, insulted

and mocked Armenians gathered on this day to mark the murder of 1.5 million

men, women, and children, and the exile of a people from their ancient homeland.

Please take a moment to watch this video on YouTube (which is banned in Turkey)

as you consider whether Mr. Davutoglu, whose staff hosted the protesters celebrating

genocide, is worthy of this great honor in the name of our late President Woodrow

Wilson.


I bring this matter to your attention because, as a Member of Congress, you appreciate

the public policy implications of the Wilson Center receiving approximately one third of

its budget from our tax dollars and of it having been granted its location in a wing of the

Ronald Reagan Building by the Federal government. The leaders of the Center are, of

course, answerable to the American people and their elected representatives, to act

in accord with both their own official mandate, as well as with the values and interests

of the American people. In proposing to honor Mr. Davutoglu with this award, the Center

acts counter to its own mandate, disgraces President Wilson's proud legacy, and

diminishes the good name of the world-renowned institution named in his sacred

memory.

It is in this spirit that I call upon your office to formally investigate this matter and to share

your concerns on this deeply troubling development directly with the leadership of the

Woodrow Wilson Center. I look forward to hearing from you regarding any action that you

take or feedback you receive on this subject of immediate and pressing concern to my

family, friends, and community.


Alexander Arzumanyan: Armenia can become a bargaining chip in
Russian-Turkish relations
May 18, 2010 - 14:47 AMT 09:47 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -

Member of the Armenian National Congress Alexander Arzumanyan excludes
resumption of hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh but recollects ‘never
say never’ proverb at the same time.

Much depends on the balance of forces in the region, according to him.
“I don’t think the sides are interested to break the balance achieved
during the past years,” he said.

“Hostilities are possible in case the talks reach a deadlock,”
Arzumanyan said, adding that restoration of the PACE subcommittee on
Nagorno Karabakh is inadmissible either for Armenia or for the OSCE
Minsk Group.

At that, he noted that the key to Karabakh conflict resolution is in
Russia’s hands. “Today’s the fate of our country is being discussed in
Ankara, Moscow and Washington, but not in Yerevan. And the Armenian
authorities should take action to improve the situation,” he said.

Commenting on the Russian-Turkish relations, Arzumanyan said that
Armenia can become a bargaining chip in a strategic partnership talk
between these two states. “History showed that when Turkey and Russia
took a joint decision, it was to the detriment of Armenia,” he said.

He also presumed that Ankara will hardly address the Protocols before
the parliamentary elections to be held next year.

Brilliant proposal on Turkey-Armenia relations or another fiction of
the Turkish side?
armradio.am
20.05.2010 18:43

Chairman of the Turkey-U.S. Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group and
deputy chairman of Foreign Relations of the Justice and Development
(AK) Party, Suat Kiniklioglu, said Wednesday “Turkey and Armenia
agreed to be silent for some time and to evaluate what was on the
table," Turkish media report.

Speaking at a think-tank organization in Washington, D.C., Kiniklioglu
said that "there is something new on the table. I can not go into
details but there is a brilliant proposal on Turkey-Armenia relations
and it is up to the Armenians to accept or reject this."

”We are very close to the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations. I
am for the normalization of our relations with Armenia. The
normalization will take place with the political will of the Turks and
Armenians,” Kiniklioglu stressed.

“This is another fiction of the Turkish side," Representative of the
Armenian ruling Republican Party, MP Rafik Petrosyan told “Radiolur

ERDOGAN: TURKEY'S APPROACH TO KARABAKH PROBLEM

IS SENSIBLE
ArmInfo
2010-05-18 12:54:00

ArmInfo. We shall continue our sensible approach to Nagorno Karabakh
problem, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during
his visit to Baku.

As AzerTag reports, Erdogan emphasized that very fruitful meetings were
held, during which bilateral relations were discussed. According to
the Turkish PM, Ilham Aliyev will visit Turkey on June 7- 8. Having
touched on the Karabakh settlement, Erdogan said "Azerbaijan
always took constructive position in the negotiations and keeps on
maintaining this stance". According to the Turkish prime minister,
the fact that "Azerbaijan positively accepted new proposals by the
OSCE Minsk Group, but Armenia didn't response to those proposals",
demonstrates Azerbaijan's constructive approach to this issue.

Expressing Turkey's stance regarding Azerbaijan's initiative to extend
Baku-Tbilisi- Kars railway to Nakhijevan, Erdogan said the work in
this direction is going on. "Let no one worry about it. Solution of
the problem of Nakhijevan is our primary goal. We shall start carriages
by air on June 17, and our foreign minister will probably take part in
the opening ceremony. Turk Hava Yollar? Turkish Airlines will carry out
flights from Istanbul to Nakhijevan three times a week", Erdogan said.


MEVLUT CASUVOGLU’S TWO HATS

It is unadmissible and is a serious breach of diplomatic protocol that

Mr Mevlut Casuvoglu , chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the

Council of Europe (PACE ) , while representing PACE on an official visit

to Armenia , has taken the liberty to act as a Turkish parliamentarian driven

by his hatred towards the Host Country , rather than a responsible chairman

lucky to have the rare opportunity to represent such influential and important

organisation .

Has Mr Casuvoglu been given the choice to wear his Turkish fez and outfit

-which comes complete with the yataghan and the bayonet – , has he been

made aware of the nature of his mission and has he been briefed on the

necessity to wear his chairman’s hat at such occasion?

Hats can make or break a show ! – in this case – even a career!

If a Turkish national has been chosen to represent a European Organisation

(despite the fact that Turkey is NOT a member of the European Union and

might never be ) then that person should understand his obligation to serve

ONLY the organisation he represents and not his own personal denialistic

feelings .

The European Parliament has – REPEATEDLY and FORMALLY –

recognised the veracity of the Armenian genocide and Statements have been

issued to that effect in 1987, 2000, 2002 and 2005.

The actions of a chairman , while officially representing an organisation,

reflect on the stand and resolution adopted by that organisation : by refusing

to visit the Memorial Monument erected in Armenia to the memory of the

one and half million victims of the Armenian genocide – a genocide

perpetrated by the Ottoman government of 1915 and formally recognised by

the organisation he represents - Mr Casuvoglu has acted FOR Turkey’s

interest and AGAINST the interests and decisions of PACE .

Before taking Post had Mr Casuvoglu made his feelings of hatred and denial

known to the respected Members of PACE and had Mr Casuvoglu discussed

with them his decision to not visit the Memorial Monument?

Evidently not!

Mr Casuvoglu must be recalled and replaced the soonest possible – before

October when he intends to re-visit and re-insult Armenia - and maybe PACE

must think now of electing a dozen of chairmans to accommodate its every

representative’s likes and dislikes towards the people of the countries where

they are being sent .

Odette Bazil