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Canada Free Press, Canada
September 17 2004
Exclusive
A Position John Kerry Has Held for 20 Years
by Marinka Peschmann, Special to Canada Free Press
What do Canada, France, the Vatican and Presidential hopeful John
Kerry have in common? Armenian Genocide. "Between 1915-1923 the
rulers of the old Ottoman Empire killed or deported over 1.5 million
Armenian men, women and children in a systematic policy of ethnic
extermination." John Kerry -- April 22, 2004. In August 2004, Kerry
pledged, "as President, I will continue to fight against the denial
of the Armenian Genocide." But under both Democratic and Republic
administrations, President Reagan, President Bush, Sr., and President
Clinton, the Armenian Genocide resolution didn't pass both houses.
Canada's Armenian Genocide resolution passed on April 21, 2004, "and
condemn this act as a crime against humanity." Prime Minister Paul
Martin and Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham stated that the
resolution does not represent the Canadian government's position. On
January 29, 2001, "France publicly recognizes the Armenian Genocide
of 1915." Pope John Paul II's September 27, 2001, declaration read in
part, "The extermination of a million and a half Armenian Christians,
in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the
twentieth century…" And accused flip-flopper, Senator Kerry, is
cosponsoring the latest Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164" and has been
"resolute" and "steadfast for 20 years" on this issue.
In 1990, Kerry voted in favor of Republican Senator Bob Dole's
Genocide Resolution. Democratic Senator Robert Byrd gave notice that
he would filibuster and succeeded in stopping its passage. Kerry
cosponsored legislation, "S.1557, granting Armenia permanent normal
trade relations status" and champions initiatives to "lift the
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades," including last January, when he
called on President Bush to press Turkey's Prime Minister "to lift
his nation's illegal blockade of Armenia." , a position that
President Bush already held and enforced early on in his
administration. Bush, like Clinton, commemorates April 24th, Armenian
Remembrance day. Armenia shares borders with Turkey and Iran. "There
are individuals on both sides who are obstacles and supporters," says
Aram Sarafian of The National Organization of Republican Armenians,
"in time - it will pass. It's an eventuality. Every year it gets
closer."
This highly charged "moral" issue within the Armenian community has
been a global hot button issue for decades. Do the ramifications of
acknowledging "genocide" and passing a U.S. "genocide resolution"
reach wider on the World stage, affecting U.S. National Security
interests and stability in the region? Some argue "no," suggesting
that claim is overblown, "Turkey needs the U.S. more than the U.S.
needs Turkey." Others claim "it's purely lobbying." The
American-Armenian groups first gathered politically in the 1970s and
have grown more powerful and effective during the 1990s.
Turkey, a member of NATO, rebuffs Armenia's genocide allegations,
claiming the death toll is lower and both the Turks and Armenians
suffered causalities when the Ottoman Empire collapsed before
Modern-day Turkey was created in 1923. Currently seeking European
Union (EU) membership Turkey must first implement human rights
reforms and halt the "Continued torture and maltreatment of
prisoners… widespread abuse of women, and restrictions on free
expression." Belgium is calling for an Armenia Genocide inclusion.
Britain, the USA and Germany support Turkey's EU bid. This December,
a date is to be scheduled for Turkey's EU application.
On October 19, 2000, Republican House Speaker Dennis Haster pulled
the latest Genocide resolution, citing a letter written by President
Clinton, who wrote, "We have significant interests in this troubled
region of the world:" Violence between Israelis and Palestinians had
escalated, the bombing of the USS Cole sharpened conflict in the
Middle East and the continuation of U.S. forces using South Turkey's
Incirlik air base to maintain Saddam Hussein's containment was in
jeopardy. "Consideration of the resolution at this sensitive time
will negatively affect those interests and could undermine efforts to
encourage improved relations between Armenia and Turkey."
On January 28, 2004, New York Life Insurance Co., reached a $20
million class action settlement negotiated in part on behalf of the
Armenian-American plaintiff's by, double-murder accused Scott
Peterson's, famed attorney, Mark Geragos. New York Life will pay "to
resolve more than 2,000 insurance policies issued to Armenians in the
Turkish Ottoman Empire prior to 1915… and contribute at least $3
million to Armenian civic organizations."
In Los Angeles on August 31, 2004, a class action lawsuit was filed
on behalf of Armenians against two German banks, Deutsche Bank and
Dresdner Bank who: "1) made deposits, 2) were killed in the Armenian
Genocide and 3) whose heirs were not repaid deposits on their
accounts.
Anthony Barsamiain, Chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America is
committed to seeing the resolution passed. "There will be a date soon
when the President and the Congress regardless of party reaffirms the
Armenian Genocide," said Barsamiaian, "and in turn will bring to
light the truth of the American response."
If elected would Kerry honor his pledge or repeat history? "I think
he"s gone so far," says Barsamian, "and has such a record that I
don't think he could." A high level Kerry official confirmed that
Kerry is "solid" on passing the Armenia Genocide resolution. When
pressed on specifics the official acknowledged, "That's a tough one".
September 17 2004
Exclusive
A Position John Kerry Has Held for 20 Years
by Marinka Peschmann, Special to Canada Free Press
What do Canada, France, the Vatican and Presidential hopeful John
Kerry have in common? Armenian Genocide. "Between 1915-1923 the
rulers of the old Ottoman Empire killed or deported over 1.5 million
Armenian men, women and children in a systematic policy of ethnic
extermination." John Kerry -- April 22, 2004. In August 2004, Kerry
pledged, "as President, I will continue to fight against the denial
of the Armenian Genocide." But under both Democratic and Republic
administrations, President Reagan, President Bush, Sr., and President
Clinton, the Armenian Genocide resolution didn't pass both houses.
Canada's Armenian Genocide resolution passed on April 21, 2004, "and
condemn this act as a crime against humanity." Prime Minister Paul
Martin and Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham stated that the
resolution does not represent the Canadian government's position. On
January 29, 2001, "France publicly recognizes the Armenian Genocide
of 1915." Pope John Paul II's September 27, 2001, declaration read in
part, "The extermination of a million and a half Armenian Christians,
in what is generally referred to as the first genocide of the
twentieth century…" And accused flip-flopper, Senator Kerry, is
cosponsoring the latest Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164" and has been
"resolute" and "steadfast for 20 years" on this issue.
In 1990, Kerry voted in favor of Republican Senator Bob Dole's
Genocide Resolution. Democratic Senator Robert Byrd gave notice that
he would filibuster and succeeded in stopping its passage. Kerry
cosponsored legislation, "S.1557, granting Armenia permanent normal
trade relations status" and champions initiatives to "lift the
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades," including last January, when he
called on President Bush to press Turkey's Prime Minister "to lift
his nation's illegal blockade of Armenia." , a position that
President Bush already held and enforced early on in his
administration. Bush, like Clinton, commemorates April 24th, Armenian
Remembrance day. Armenia shares borders with Turkey and Iran. "There
are individuals on both sides who are obstacles and supporters," says
Aram Sarafian of The National Organization of Republican Armenians,
"in time - it will pass. It's an eventuality. Every year it gets
closer."
This highly charged "moral" issue within the Armenian community has
been a global hot button issue for decades. Do the ramifications of
acknowledging "genocide" and passing a U.S. "genocide resolution"
reach wider on the World stage, affecting U.S. National Security
interests and stability in the region? Some argue "no," suggesting
that claim is overblown, "Turkey needs the U.S. more than the U.S.
needs Turkey." Others claim "it's purely lobbying." The
American-Armenian groups first gathered politically in the 1970s and
have grown more powerful and effective during the 1990s.
Turkey, a member of NATO, rebuffs Armenia's genocide allegations,
claiming the death toll is lower and both the Turks and Armenians
suffered causalities when the Ottoman Empire collapsed before
Modern-day Turkey was created in 1923. Currently seeking European
Union (EU) membership Turkey must first implement human rights
reforms and halt the "Continued torture and maltreatment of
prisoners… widespread abuse of women, and restrictions on free
expression." Belgium is calling for an Armenia Genocide inclusion.
Britain, the USA and Germany support Turkey's EU bid. This December,
a date is to be scheduled for Turkey's EU application.
On October 19, 2000, Republican House Speaker Dennis Haster pulled
the latest Genocide resolution, citing a letter written by President
Clinton, who wrote, "We have significant interests in this troubled
region of the world:" Violence between Israelis and Palestinians had
escalated, the bombing of the USS Cole sharpened conflict in the
Middle East and the continuation of U.S. forces using South Turkey's
Incirlik air base to maintain Saddam Hussein's containment was in
jeopardy. "Consideration of the resolution at this sensitive time
will negatively affect those interests and could undermine efforts to
encourage improved relations between Armenia and Turkey."
On January 28, 2004, New York Life Insurance Co., reached a $20
million class action settlement negotiated in part on behalf of the
Armenian-American plaintiff's by, double-murder accused Scott
Peterson's, famed attorney, Mark Geragos. New York Life will pay "to
resolve more than 2,000 insurance policies issued to Armenians in the
Turkish Ottoman Empire prior to 1915… and contribute at least $3
million to Armenian civic organizations."
In Los Angeles on August 31, 2004, a class action lawsuit was filed
on behalf of Armenians against two German banks, Deutsche Bank and
Dresdner Bank who: "1) made deposits, 2) were killed in the Armenian
Genocide and 3) whose heirs were not repaid deposits on their
accounts.
Anthony Barsamiain, Chairman of the Armenian Assembly of America is
committed to seeing the resolution passed. "There will be a date soon
when the President and the Congress regardless of party reaffirms the
Armenian Genocide," said Barsamiaian, "and in turn will bring to
light the truth of the American response."
If elected would Kerry honor his pledge or repeat history? "I think
he"s gone so far," says Barsamian, "and has such a record that I
don't think he could." A high level Kerry official confirmed that
Kerry is "solid" on passing the Armenia Genocide resolution. When
pressed on specifics the official acknowledged, "That's a tough one".