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Nouvelles de Turquie
Agence d'Information Européenne sur la Turquie
Aug 16 2005
Money spent by the Armenian Lobby in America (USA/ Armenia)
In 1994 alone, the Armenian Assembly of America has spent $7,000,000,
most of it on lobbying the congress.
Money spent by the Armenian Lobby in America
Senol Kantarci (Assistant at Erzurum University) (~SErmeni Lobisi :
ABD~Rde Ermeni Diasporasinin Olusmasi ve Lobi Faaliyetleri~T ERAREN,
Sayi 1, 2001, pp:139-171)
Translated and Summarised by Fatma Sarikaya
Advisory Board Member, Turkish Forum
While the Americans were waging their war of independence in 1780,
figs from Izmir and other Anatolian produce were advertised in
American papers. The first American ship touching waters was named
Grand Turk, and set to sail off Salem port in 1782. This ship carried
produce to the New England harbors in the 1790~Rs. American trade
ships visited Istanbul in 1786, Izmir in 1797, and Iskenderiye
(Alexandria) in 1800. First trade agreement between America and
Turkey was signed on May 7, 1830 (most favored nation status).
The American traders used the Armenian merchants to reach the goods
of Eastern Anatolia, because Greeks were effective only in Western
Anatolia. Armenians greatly profited from this activity and got rich
for organizing the network of tradesmen all around Turkey. Turks at
this time were the only ones doing mandatory military duty for 5
years and longer in time of war.
America targeted Anatolia as a trade heaven from 1797-1811. After
1819 they saw its potential for religious missionary activity.
America~Rs missionary organization targeting foreign countries,
~SAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission (ABCFM)~T was
founded in Boston in 1810, and targeted Turkey in 1819. Armenians of
Turkey started to immigrate to America as early as 1810.
According to Armenian author Mark Malhasian the ABCFM representatives
arrived in Anatolia in 1820. First they tried to convert the Muslims
into Christians, later gave up on them, and targeted the Christian
population of Eastern Anatolia (the Nasturians, Greeks, Assyrians,
and especially Armenians). Malkasian further states that the ABCFM
Boston secretary Judson Smith quoted in 1893 ~QThanks God, we were
able to reach all villages and towns all over Anatolia, from
Chanakkale to the Mediterranean Coast, the Russian border, and from
the Black Sea to Syria.~R American missionaries bragged about their
activities surpassing all other forms of activity in Anatolia.
The ABCFM was so successful in Turkey that by 1893, they had founded
624 schools and 436 prayer homes. There were 1317 missionaries
working in Turkey, and they had distributed 3 million Bibles, and 4
million other books in Anatolia. They had spent more than 10 million
dollars by 1893. This was a huge sum with 1893 standards.
Missionaries started to send Armenian students to America in 1840 ;
mostly to study theology. Later they started to send some of the
students to study in other universities like Yale and Princeton. The
number of Armenian students who left Turkey for America and stayed
there in the year 1890 was 70. The first group thus settled in
America is the most educated ; however they were also raised with
hate for the Turks. Though small in number this elite group of
Armenians was very effective in creating anti-Turkish sentiments in
America.
The second group of Armenians to reach America from Turkey engaged in
small businesses. They were not educated like the first group. Some
were educated by the missionaries for one or two years, but most were
used by the missionaries for jobs like mail delivery, or as servants.
This group used Turkish antagonism to advertise their trade. Their
hatred for the Turk was passed from father to son and became like a
second nature to Armenian personality.
The third group came in the 1890~Rs. Peasants and farmers started to
arrive in large numbers. This upset both the American and the Ottoman
governments. America did not want to accept people without thorough
health examination ; Ottomans did not want certain areas of their
land left unpopulated. So, they put restrictions to stop the
immigration of Armenians in large numbers. This created a new group
of Armenians who traded in human trafficking. In spite of all
restrictions 12,000 Armenians immigrated to America from Anatolia
between 1890 and 1900. According to R. Mirak, between 1869-1890 1,401
and from 1890-1895 5,500 Armenians immigrated to America. Armenians
were enchanted by the land of opportunities that the Protestant
Missionaries spoke of. The first immigrants intended to come back and
improve living standards for their relatives at home, but they never
came back. Their exodus continued after 1901 and especially after
declaration of 2nd Tazminat. Their numbers reached 3,300 in1908,
5,500 in 1910 and 9,355 in 1913.
Before the start of World War I, the Armenian colony in America
reached 50,000. After 1915 25,000 Armenians came to America. In 1916
there were 16,000 Armenians in New York - most of them settled in
Manhattan writes the daily newspaper Agos printed in Istanbul. In
1924 100,000 Armenians headed to America from Soviet Russia and
Turkey.
Manuel Sarkissian mentions in his book called ~SA Modern History of
Transcaucasian Armenia~T printed in Germany in 1975, on page 310 ;
that in 1939 around 100,000 Armenians lived in Iran, 175,000 in Syria
and Lebanon, 75,000 in France, and 200,000 in America. In 1975 their
numbers in America reached 350,000-400,000.
Roots of Armenian lobby is one century old. The Hinchak Commity
founded in Cenevre in 1887 targeted Turkish land. Their aim was to
entice the Armenians living on Ottoman soil for rebellion to form a
socialist Armenian State there. The Ramgavar Party founded in
Istanbul in 1908 showed similar tendencies. The Tashnak Party and the
Hinchak Committee~Rs branch in America were founded in the 1890~Rs.
They formed many sub-sections in short time and bombarded the public
with anti-Turkish propaganda sometimes secretly and sometimes in the
open. These committees have collected money from the Armenian
immigrants in America and organized open rallies. In America 36
Tashnak Committes were founded in 1903, 48 in 1907, and 77 in 1914.
The Hinchaks gathered 1,500 trained martyrs to their ranks. Thus the
first Armenian lobby was formed.
Senator Newton Blanchard from Louisiana on December 3, 1894 carried
the Armenian uprising in Bitlis to the Senate floor in America. This
was followed by the Armenian resolution on December 3, 1894 and the
external affairs committee decision on January 22, 1896. After the
Adana uprising in 1909 the Armenian lobby activities in America hit
the roof. Two priests named M. Bagdararian and S. S. Yenovkian on
April 27, 1909 sent a telegram to the American President William Taft
in the name of three Protestant Churches of Boston. A letter was also
sent by a group of Episcopalian Church priests claiming to represent
12 million people on May 6th. On May 7th a protest meeting was held
in Fresno California. Their decision was mailed to the White House
with the signature of their Mayor Chester Howell. On May 10th 1909 a
group called the American Friends of Armenians (founded in 1905 in
Illinois) gathered a meeting and mailed their decision to the
President. The New York Armenians held a meeting on May 8 and mailed
it to President William Taft signed by the meeting chairman A.
Agrazian. In New Jersey on May 14, 4 priests were selected to write
down the feelings of the National Congregation of Churches to be
mailed to the President. On May 17, Sacramento, Virginia and Richmond
Armenians letter signed by 50 people was sent to the President. On
June 18th a letter signed by M. G. Papazian, M. G. Benneyan, and H.
M. Dadorian was mailed to the President in the name of the Armenian
Evangelical Alliance of America. This kind of bombardment of letters
to the Congress, the White House and Secretary of State continued
non-stop all year round. The 30,000 pages of documents the Armenians
claim as evidence of their genocide compose of these letters.
The first anti-Turkish lobbying effort in America was crowned with
the May 9, 1916 decision of the Senate, and the May 11, 1920
decision. A lull of 55 years was observed due to Turkey~Rs importance
as a NATO member. However, similar decisions found their way to the
Senate Floor in 1975 (with Turkish interference in Cyprus). The Greek
lobby has always sided with the Armenian members of the Congress.
Now, the Kurdish Groups are following suit.
Hundreds of Armenian lobby groups were founded in America. The total
number is staggering when considering they all have branches in all
corners of the land. Excluding the religious groups the number of
Armenian establishments is 1046. With the religious groups this
number reaches 1228. The aim of all these establishments is making
anti-Turkish propaganda besides protecting Armenian identity and
culture.
The Armenian population in America is estimated between 800,000 and 1
million. However, their representation in the Congress is far beyond
proportion. They have been living in America for over a century and
that they share the same religion are important factors.
The Nixon letter, and the Mondale efforts to blame Turkey for the
American Youth~Rs drug addiction created disappointment among the
Turks. When the Turkish Government interfered in 1974 to undo the
coup efforts in Cyprus to unite the island with Greece, the American
Congress slapped Turkey with an arms embargo. All of these negative
developments since 1970 gave the Greek and the Armenian lobby a wrong
signal like they could use America to fight their wars with Turkey.
Greece and the Greek Cypriot Governments did hot hold any effort or
money to increase their lobbying efforts on the American Congress.
They also sided with all enemies of Turkey, like the PKK and the
Armenians of Lebanon.
If we take a look at some of the major Armenian Lobbying Group
Activities :
Armenian Assembly of America(AAA) aims at educating Armenians about
their unproven genocide, increasing aid sent to Armenia, and
improving Congressional contact for Armenians. Since 1978 they have
been funding 10 weeks of summer internship for at least 30 Armenian
American students of high school level in Washington DC. They inform
about their lobbying activities through publishing like Daily News
Report from Armenia, Armenian This Week, Assembly This Week, and
Monthly Digest of News from Armenia.
Armenian National Committee (ANC) : Aims to provide political
grassroots organization to form coordination between establishments.
Besides improving Armenian social rights, they have devoted
themselves to carry out antagonistic activities against Turkey. They
recommend which political candidates to sponsor during election time
at the federal, state, and county level. Besides their most important
publishing Transcaucaus they publish statements for the Armenian
Community in general.
ANC Eastern Region has been active since 1918. They aim at teaching
the non-Armenians about their culture including their unproven
genocide. Their publication is the ANC Newsletter.
ANC Western Region was founded in 1890. This grassroots organization
specializes in organizing quick action on matters pertinent to
Armenians. Since they work with 14 branches that organize youth
activities they have a strong base. They have a daily radio program
and they participate in Horizon TV network. They provide travel
opportunities to Washington DC for young Armenian Americans to teach
them the ins and outs of lobbying. They also prepare report cards for
the American Congressmen based on how much they sponsor the Armenian
causes.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) aims at reviving the Sevr
Agreement which was nullified after the successful military operation
of the Turks under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal. Lozan agreement
replaced the Sevr. Armenia to this day has not accepted the Lozan
Kars or Gumri Treaties which established Turkey~Rs eastern borders.
Hunchakian Social Demokratic Party of Eastern USA aims only at
creating Turkish animosity world wide.
National Armenian American Republic Council (NAARC) selects
candidates for the Armenian caucus during the election campaigns.
They also lobby with local and congressional politicians to improve
awareness about Armenia~Rs needs.
One thing in common with all the Armenian lobby groups is their
animosity towards anything Turkish. They play the victim role to hide
their aggression over Azeri and Turkish land.
In 1994 alone, the Armenian Assembly of America spent $7,000,000 -
most of it on lobbying the congress.
Their activities involve recognition of their so-called genocide in
the American and other parliaments throughout the world. Without
going to court, they want to force Turkey to accept their theory of
genocide and extract a forced apology. Their ultimate aim is to
establish a Western Armenia on Turkish soil.
They coach American congressmen to give speeches defending the
Armenian claims prior to April of each year. Most congressmen mention
this fact in their speeches. For instance Senator Levin on April 24,
1990 ~S. . Last Saturday and Sunday I was honored with the company of
prominent Armenians from the Greater Detroit Area . .~T Senator Mc
Govern on April 22, 1998 mentions that he met with 60 Armenian
Holocaust survivors and spoke with 14 of them.
Another frequently used method is inviting congressmen to Armenia. On
their return most representatives tell sob stories and beg for aid
for Armenia. For example Senator Pell after his trip in 1990 to
Soviet Armenia explained on the Senate Floor how pitiful condition
the Armenian refugees were in. These representatives sometimes read a
letter from their constituency as if it is evidence of some sort.
Sometimes they refer to a news paper article assuming it is factually
correct.
In spite of all these efforts the American congress has not accepted
their claims, because Turkey was a necessary ally in the area. Now
that the Kurdish Peshmerge pose an alternative to Turkey in the
region we will see how long the American bias to Armenian lobbying
will extend.
Fatma S.
http://www.info-turc.org/article2225.html
--Boundary_(ID_y+mPQKqt9lwP1DgeGeaEMg)--
Agence d'Information Européenne sur la Turquie
Aug 16 2005
Money spent by the Armenian Lobby in America (USA/ Armenia)
In 1994 alone, the Armenian Assembly of America has spent $7,000,000,
most of it on lobbying the congress.
Money spent by the Armenian Lobby in America
Senol Kantarci (Assistant at Erzurum University) (~SErmeni Lobisi :
ABD~Rde Ermeni Diasporasinin Olusmasi ve Lobi Faaliyetleri~T ERAREN,
Sayi 1, 2001, pp:139-171)
Translated and Summarised by Fatma Sarikaya
Advisory Board Member, Turkish Forum
While the Americans were waging their war of independence in 1780,
figs from Izmir and other Anatolian produce were advertised in
American papers. The first American ship touching waters was named
Grand Turk, and set to sail off Salem port in 1782. This ship carried
produce to the New England harbors in the 1790~Rs. American trade
ships visited Istanbul in 1786, Izmir in 1797, and Iskenderiye
(Alexandria) in 1800. First trade agreement between America and
Turkey was signed on May 7, 1830 (most favored nation status).
The American traders used the Armenian merchants to reach the goods
of Eastern Anatolia, because Greeks were effective only in Western
Anatolia. Armenians greatly profited from this activity and got rich
for organizing the network of tradesmen all around Turkey. Turks at
this time were the only ones doing mandatory military duty for 5
years and longer in time of war.
America targeted Anatolia as a trade heaven from 1797-1811. After
1819 they saw its potential for religious missionary activity.
America~Rs missionary organization targeting foreign countries,
~SAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission (ABCFM)~T was
founded in Boston in 1810, and targeted Turkey in 1819. Armenians of
Turkey started to immigrate to America as early as 1810.
According to Armenian author Mark Malhasian the ABCFM representatives
arrived in Anatolia in 1820. First they tried to convert the Muslims
into Christians, later gave up on them, and targeted the Christian
population of Eastern Anatolia (the Nasturians, Greeks, Assyrians,
and especially Armenians). Malkasian further states that the ABCFM
Boston secretary Judson Smith quoted in 1893 ~QThanks God, we were
able to reach all villages and towns all over Anatolia, from
Chanakkale to the Mediterranean Coast, the Russian border, and from
the Black Sea to Syria.~R American missionaries bragged about their
activities surpassing all other forms of activity in Anatolia.
The ABCFM was so successful in Turkey that by 1893, they had founded
624 schools and 436 prayer homes. There were 1317 missionaries
working in Turkey, and they had distributed 3 million Bibles, and 4
million other books in Anatolia. They had spent more than 10 million
dollars by 1893. This was a huge sum with 1893 standards.
Missionaries started to send Armenian students to America in 1840 ;
mostly to study theology. Later they started to send some of the
students to study in other universities like Yale and Princeton. The
number of Armenian students who left Turkey for America and stayed
there in the year 1890 was 70. The first group thus settled in
America is the most educated ; however they were also raised with
hate for the Turks. Though small in number this elite group of
Armenians was very effective in creating anti-Turkish sentiments in
America.
The second group of Armenians to reach America from Turkey engaged in
small businesses. They were not educated like the first group. Some
were educated by the missionaries for one or two years, but most were
used by the missionaries for jobs like mail delivery, or as servants.
This group used Turkish antagonism to advertise their trade. Their
hatred for the Turk was passed from father to son and became like a
second nature to Armenian personality.
The third group came in the 1890~Rs. Peasants and farmers started to
arrive in large numbers. This upset both the American and the Ottoman
governments. America did not want to accept people without thorough
health examination ; Ottomans did not want certain areas of their
land left unpopulated. So, they put restrictions to stop the
immigration of Armenians in large numbers. This created a new group
of Armenians who traded in human trafficking. In spite of all
restrictions 12,000 Armenians immigrated to America from Anatolia
between 1890 and 1900. According to R. Mirak, between 1869-1890 1,401
and from 1890-1895 5,500 Armenians immigrated to America. Armenians
were enchanted by the land of opportunities that the Protestant
Missionaries spoke of. The first immigrants intended to come back and
improve living standards for their relatives at home, but they never
came back. Their exodus continued after 1901 and especially after
declaration of 2nd Tazminat. Their numbers reached 3,300 in1908,
5,500 in 1910 and 9,355 in 1913.
Before the start of World War I, the Armenian colony in America
reached 50,000. After 1915 25,000 Armenians came to America. In 1916
there were 16,000 Armenians in New York - most of them settled in
Manhattan writes the daily newspaper Agos printed in Istanbul. In
1924 100,000 Armenians headed to America from Soviet Russia and
Turkey.
Manuel Sarkissian mentions in his book called ~SA Modern History of
Transcaucasian Armenia~T printed in Germany in 1975, on page 310 ;
that in 1939 around 100,000 Armenians lived in Iran, 175,000 in Syria
and Lebanon, 75,000 in France, and 200,000 in America. In 1975 their
numbers in America reached 350,000-400,000.
Roots of Armenian lobby is one century old. The Hinchak Commity
founded in Cenevre in 1887 targeted Turkish land. Their aim was to
entice the Armenians living on Ottoman soil for rebellion to form a
socialist Armenian State there. The Ramgavar Party founded in
Istanbul in 1908 showed similar tendencies. The Tashnak Party and the
Hinchak Committee~Rs branch in America were founded in the 1890~Rs.
They formed many sub-sections in short time and bombarded the public
with anti-Turkish propaganda sometimes secretly and sometimes in the
open. These committees have collected money from the Armenian
immigrants in America and organized open rallies. In America 36
Tashnak Committes were founded in 1903, 48 in 1907, and 77 in 1914.
The Hinchaks gathered 1,500 trained martyrs to their ranks. Thus the
first Armenian lobby was formed.
Senator Newton Blanchard from Louisiana on December 3, 1894 carried
the Armenian uprising in Bitlis to the Senate floor in America. This
was followed by the Armenian resolution on December 3, 1894 and the
external affairs committee decision on January 22, 1896. After the
Adana uprising in 1909 the Armenian lobby activities in America hit
the roof. Two priests named M. Bagdararian and S. S. Yenovkian on
April 27, 1909 sent a telegram to the American President William Taft
in the name of three Protestant Churches of Boston. A letter was also
sent by a group of Episcopalian Church priests claiming to represent
12 million people on May 6th. On May 7th a protest meeting was held
in Fresno California. Their decision was mailed to the White House
with the signature of their Mayor Chester Howell. On May 10th 1909 a
group called the American Friends of Armenians (founded in 1905 in
Illinois) gathered a meeting and mailed their decision to the
President. The New York Armenians held a meeting on May 8 and mailed
it to President William Taft signed by the meeting chairman A.
Agrazian. In New Jersey on May 14, 4 priests were selected to write
down the feelings of the National Congregation of Churches to be
mailed to the President. On May 17, Sacramento, Virginia and Richmond
Armenians letter signed by 50 people was sent to the President. On
June 18th a letter signed by M. G. Papazian, M. G. Benneyan, and H.
M. Dadorian was mailed to the President in the name of the Armenian
Evangelical Alliance of America. This kind of bombardment of letters
to the Congress, the White House and Secretary of State continued
non-stop all year round. The 30,000 pages of documents the Armenians
claim as evidence of their genocide compose of these letters.
The first anti-Turkish lobbying effort in America was crowned with
the May 9, 1916 decision of the Senate, and the May 11, 1920
decision. A lull of 55 years was observed due to Turkey~Rs importance
as a NATO member. However, similar decisions found their way to the
Senate Floor in 1975 (with Turkish interference in Cyprus). The Greek
lobby has always sided with the Armenian members of the Congress.
Now, the Kurdish Groups are following suit.
Hundreds of Armenian lobby groups were founded in America. The total
number is staggering when considering they all have branches in all
corners of the land. Excluding the religious groups the number of
Armenian establishments is 1046. With the religious groups this
number reaches 1228. The aim of all these establishments is making
anti-Turkish propaganda besides protecting Armenian identity and
culture.
The Armenian population in America is estimated between 800,000 and 1
million. However, their representation in the Congress is far beyond
proportion. They have been living in America for over a century and
that they share the same religion are important factors.
The Nixon letter, and the Mondale efforts to blame Turkey for the
American Youth~Rs drug addiction created disappointment among the
Turks. When the Turkish Government interfered in 1974 to undo the
coup efforts in Cyprus to unite the island with Greece, the American
Congress slapped Turkey with an arms embargo. All of these negative
developments since 1970 gave the Greek and the Armenian lobby a wrong
signal like they could use America to fight their wars with Turkey.
Greece and the Greek Cypriot Governments did hot hold any effort or
money to increase their lobbying efforts on the American Congress.
They also sided with all enemies of Turkey, like the PKK and the
Armenians of Lebanon.
If we take a look at some of the major Armenian Lobbying Group
Activities :
Armenian Assembly of America(AAA) aims at educating Armenians about
their unproven genocide, increasing aid sent to Armenia, and
improving Congressional contact for Armenians. Since 1978 they have
been funding 10 weeks of summer internship for at least 30 Armenian
American students of high school level in Washington DC. They inform
about their lobbying activities through publishing like Daily News
Report from Armenia, Armenian This Week, Assembly This Week, and
Monthly Digest of News from Armenia.
Armenian National Committee (ANC) : Aims to provide political
grassroots organization to form coordination between establishments.
Besides improving Armenian social rights, they have devoted
themselves to carry out antagonistic activities against Turkey. They
recommend which political candidates to sponsor during election time
at the federal, state, and county level. Besides their most important
publishing Transcaucaus they publish statements for the Armenian
Community in general.
ANC Eastern Region has been active since 1918. They aim at teaching
the non-Armenians about their culture including their unproven
genocide. Their publication is the ANC Newsletter.
ANC Western Region was founded in 1890. This grassroots organization
specializes in organizing quick action on matters pertinent to
Armenians. Since they work with 14 branches that organize youth
activities they have a strong base. They have a daily radio program
and they participate in Horizon TV network. They provide travel
opportunities to Washington DC for young Armenian Americans to teach
them the ins and outs of lobbying. They also prepare report cards for
the American Congressmen based on how much they sponsor the Armenian
causes.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) aims at reviving the Sevr
Agreement which was nullified after the successful military operation
of the Turks under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal. Lozan agreement
replaced the Sevr. Armenia to this day has not accepted the Lozan
Kars or Gumri Treaties which established Turkey~Rs eastern borders.
Hunchakian Social Demokratic Party of Eastern USA aims only at
creating Turkish animosity world wide.
National Armenian American Republic Council (NAARC) selects
candidates for the Armenian caucus during the election campaigns.
They also lobby with local and congressional politicians to improve
awareness about Armenia~Rs needs.
One thing in common with all the Armenian lobby groups is their
animosity towards anything Turkish. They play the victim role to hide
their aggression over Azeri and Turkish land.
In 1994 alone, the Armenian Assembly of America spent $7,000,000 -
most of it on lobbying the congress.
Their activities involve recognition of their so-called genocide in
the American and other parliaments throughout the world. Without
going to court, they want to force Turkey to accept their theory of
genocide and extract a forced apology. Their ultimate aim is to
establish a Western Armenia on Turkish soil.
They coach American congressmen to give speeches defending the
Armenian claims prior to April of each year. Most congressmen mention
this fact in their speeches. For instance Senator Levin on April 24,
1990 ~S. . Last Saturday and Sunday I was honored with the company of
prominent Armenians from the Greater Detroit Area . .~T Senator Mc
Govern on April 22, 1998 mentions that he met with 60 Armenian
Holocaust survivors and spoke with 14 of them.
Another frequently used method is inviting congressmen to Armenia. On
their return most representatives tell sob stories and beg for aid
for Armenia. For example Senator Pell after his trip in 1990 to
Soviet Armenia explained on the Senate Floor how pitiful condition
the Armenian refugees were in. These representatives sometimes read a
letter from their constituency as if it is evidence of some sort.
Sometimes they refer to a news paper article assuming it is factually
correct.
In spite of all these efforts the American congress has not accepted
their claims, because Turkey was a necessary ally in the area. Now
that the Kurdish Peshmerge pose an alternative to Turkey in the
region we will see how long the American bias to Armenian lobbying
will extend.
Fatma S.
http://www.info-turc.org/article2225.html
--Boundary_(ID_y+mPQKqt9lwP1DgeGeaEMg)--