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."
Assembly activists from across the country, as well as the 2009 Terjenian-Thomas interns, were a driving force behind the letter success by making calls and garnering support.
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.
###
NR#2009-062
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. 
