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ARMENIAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP OPPOSES DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH FORCES IN LEBANON
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 31 2006
WASHINGTON, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian
Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical churches in the United States
were joined by leading grassroots Armenian American organizations in
urging President Bush to oppose the deployment of Turkish forces within
Lebanon as part of an international peacekeeping operation. According
to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), in a letter sent
to the White House on August 30, the community leaders stressed that,
"Turkey's record of genocide, massacres, aggression and torture
is deeply inscribed in the collective memory of the Lebanese, the
Armenians, the Greeks, the Cypriots, the Kurds and the Arab people
everywhere.
Far from being a credible peacemaker, Turkey carries heavy liabilities
that would only complicate an already complex peacemaking mission
that the U.S. must pursue in Lebanon and the region." The following
Churches and community organizations participated in this initiative:
Armenian Catholic Exarchy of the United States and Canada, Armenian
Missionary Association of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, Eastern U.S., Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Western U.S., Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council, Armenian
National Committee of America, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Youth
Federation, Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society,
Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union, National Organization of
Republican Armenians. The leadership of the Lebanese Armenian community
unanimously and forcefully opposes the introduction of Turkish troops
onto Lebanese soil. Earlier this month, the three Armenian political
parties in Lebanon, namely the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
the Social Democratic Henchakian Party, and the Armenian Democratic
Liberal Party, issued a joint declaration expressing the collective
opposition of Lebanese Armenians to any Turkish participation in
peacekeeping operations. An appeal against the introduction of Turkish
forces was also released by Lebanon's Armenian religious leadership,
comprising the Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, and Armenian
Evangelical communities.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, earlier this week wrote
a letter to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations,
expressing opposition to the deployment of Turkish forces in
Lebanon. In a powerfully worded letter he addressed Turkey's ongoing
use of aggression and genocide, describing Turkish participation in
a peacekeeping mission as "morally unacceptable." The opposition of
the Greek American community to the inclusion of Turkish forces in
Lebanon's peacekeeping operation was communicated to the President
last month in a letter from the American Hellenic Institute.
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 31 2006
WASHINGTON, AUGUST 31, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian
Apostolic, Catholic and Evangelical churches in the United States
were joined by leading grassroots Armenian American organizations in
urging President Bush to oppose the deployment of Turkish forces within
Lebanon as part of an international peacekeeping operation. According
to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), in a letter sent
to the White House on August 30, the community leaders stressed that,
"Turkey's record of genocide, massacres, aggression and torture
is deeply inscribed in the collective memory of the Lebanese, the
Armenians, the Greeks, the Cypriots, the Kurds and the Arab people
everywhere.
Far from being a credible peacemaker, Turkey carries heavy liabilities
that would only complicate an already complex peacemaking mission
that the U.S. must pursue in Lebanon and the region." The following
Churches and community organizations participated in this initiative:
Armenian Catholic Exarchy of the United States and Canada, Armenian
Missionary Association of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, Eastern U.S., Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Western U.S., Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council, Armenian
National Committee of America, Armenian Relief Society, Armenian Youth
Federation, Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society,
Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union, National Organization of
Republican Armenians. The leadership of the Lebanese Armenian community
unanimously and forcefully opposes the introduction of Turkish troops
onto Lebanese soil. Earlier this month, the three Armenian political
parties in Lebanon, namely the Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
the Social Democratic Henchakian Party, and the Armenian Democratic
Liberal Party, issued a joint declaration expressing the collective
opposition of Lebanese Armenians to any Turkish participation in
peacekeeping operations. An appeal against the introduction of Turkish
forces was also released by Lebanon's Armenian religious leadership,
comprising the Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, and Armenian
Evangelical communities.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, earlier this week wrote
a letter to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations,
expressing opposition to the deployment of Turkish forces in
Lebanon. In a powerfully worded letter he addressed Turkey's ongoing
use of aggression and genocide, describing Turkish participation in
a peacekeeping mission as "morally unacceptable." The opposition of
the Greek American community to the inclusion of Turkish forces in
Lebanon's peacekeeping operation was communicated to the President
last month in a letter from the American Hellenic Institute.