ANCA: Pallone Urges to Turkey to Make Real Peace Efforts

ANCA: Pallone Urges to Turkey to Make Real Peace Efforts
September 11, 2008 17:43:18

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: anca@anca.org
Website: www.anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
September 11, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Email: elizabeth@anca.org

PALLONE CALLS ON TURKEY TO FOLLOW SOCCER
DIPLOMACY WITH REAL STEPS TOWARD PEACE

— Urges Ankara to End Genocide Denial,
Remove Article 301, and End Blockade

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) welcomed Armenia’s diplomatic outreach to Turkey and
called on Turkey to reciprocate this gesture of good will with
concrete steps toward an enduring peace based on truth and justice,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The New Jersey legislator’s House floor statement comes in the wake
of the recent Armenia-Turkey World Cup soccer qualifying match in
Yerevan that Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul attended at the
invitation of his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sargsyan. In his
remarks, the Congressman specifically calls upon Turkey to end its
denial of the Armenian Genocide, to remove Article 301 and other
free speech restrictions on the discussion of this crime, and to
lift its illegal 15-year old blockade of Armenia.

In the days prior to the soccer match, the ANCA circulated a letter
explaining to every Member of Congress that, "for this initiative
to succeed, Turkey’s leaders need to view this as a true
opportunity for enduring peace, not simply as a photo opportunity
to help alleviate the growing international pressure it is under to
recognize the Armenian Genocide."

The full text of Congressman Pallone’s remarks is provided below.

#####

PALLONE CONGRATULATES ARMENIA ON
HISTORIC SOCCER MATCH WITH TURKEY

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Armenia and its
president, Serge Sargisian, on the historic soccer match between
Armenia and Turkey this past weekend.

On July 9th, President Sargisian, in the Wall Street Journal Europe
Addition, took a surprising and historic step, by inviting
President Abdullah Gul of Turkey to sit with him and watch the two
nations play a World Cup qualifier match in Yerevan, the capital of
Armenia.

In an effort to warm relations between the two countries, President
Sargisian wrote, ‘…just as the people of China and the United
States shared enthusiasm for ping pong before their governments
fully normalized relations, the people of Armenia and Turkey are
united in their love for football.’

President Gul accepted the offer, and on Saturday, September 6th,
he became the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia.

Armenia initiated soccer diplomacy with Turkey despite nearly a
century of Turkish genocide denial and 15 years of an economic
blockade. For years, Armenia has been ready to establish
relations with Turkey without preconditions and President
Sargisian’s recent efforts reinforced this commitment. President
Gul must also be commended for his efforts to see past the
opposition of some in his country to attend the match.

With the recent violence between Russia and Georgia, further steps
to promote stability in the Caucasus must be taken. Strengthening
Armenian and Turkish relations is essential to these efforts.

Turkey can strengthen its relationship with Armenia by ending its
policy of genocide denial; policy that is imposed both globally and
domestically. The Turkish government lobbies heavily against the
international community’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Domestically, Turkey should lift all restrictions imposed by
Section 301 of the Turkish penal code on individuals who study,
discuss, or recognize the Armenian Genocide. Silencing academics
and writers limits freedom of speech and makes any serious
discussion of the Armenian Genocide within Turkey taboo.

To improve relations, Turkey must also lift its stifling economic
blockade on Armenia. The State Department estimates that the
blockade inflates Armenia by 30 to 35 percent. Removing the
blockade will enable the development of needed infrastructure
projects and regional communications, energy, and transportation in
the Caucasus. The removal of the blockade would also do much to
catalyze global investment in Turkey and Armenia.

With the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia, Armenia proved
itself to be a constructive partner to Georgia. The Armenian
government provided safe transit for U.S and international
officials and thousands of Georgian nationals, and non-governmental
organization representatives.

But Armenia experienced significant economic distress due to the
conflict. The country lost an estimated 650 million dollars and
shortages in fuel and wheat were rampant. With renewed volatility
in the Caucasus, Armenia can no longer afford to suffer from duel
blockades.

President Sargisian’s initiation of soccer diplomacy and President
Gul’s reciprocal invitation to watch a game next year in Turkey is
a positive breakthrough in a region of historic violence and tense
emotions.

As President Sargisian wrote, ‘A more prosperous, mutually
beneficial future for Armenia and Turkey, and the opening up of a
historic East-West corridor for Europe, the Caspian region and the
rest of the world, are goals that we can and must achieve.’ As a
Congress, we must do all we can to support these efforts. Thank
you.

_____________________________________
Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Communications Director
Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: anca@anca.org
Internet: www.anca.org

Submitted by Emil Lazarian