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BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE FOR TURKEY TO FACE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS PANEL
AZG Armenian Daily
25/09/2008
USA-Armenian Genocide
Ending Denial through Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, Ending
the Blockade are Key Issues to be Addressed
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has scheduled the nomination
hearing of Bush's Ambassadorial Nominee for Turkey, James F. Jeffrey,
for Wednesday, September 24, 2008, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (Assembly). "We are hopeful the nomination hearing is
not a question and answer session, which in the past has resulted
in equivocating on the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide and
America's proud record of humanitarian intervention," said Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "This represents a critical
opportunity for the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to go further than
Ambassador Yovanovitch and this time to squarely affirm the Armenian
Genocide. The U.S. record of affirmation is clear as evidenced by
the 1951 U.S. filing before the International Court of Justice. The
Armenian Genocide is an historical fact and Mr. Jeffrey would be well
served to follow in the tradition of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau,"
continued Ardouny.In addition to its campaign of denial and application
of article 301 of its penal code, which punishes discussion of the
Armenian Genocide, for more than a decade, Turkey, in coordination
with Azerbaijan, has blockaded Armenia. The Turkish blockade not only
costs Armenia hundreds of millions of dollars, but also undermines
the stated U.S. policy goals of regional cooperation and economic
integration in the South Caucasus Region. While Turkey's President
Gul did accept the bold invitation by Armenia's President Serzh
Sargsian to visit Armenia on the occasion of a soccer game between
the two countries earlier this month, more concrete steps are needed,
including establishing working diplomatic relations and a process of
normalization that removes blockades, opens borders, restores economic
relations, and strives toward the peaceful resolution of differences
and disputes in the region. In fact, the U.S. Administration has
repeatedly called upon Turkey "to restore economic, political and
cultural links with Armenia."Jeffrey, a career member of the Senior
Foreign Service, currently serves as Assistant to the President and
Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House. Prior to this,
he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of
Near Eastern Affairs. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy
Chief of Mission in Baghdad, United States Ambassador to Albania,
and three other assignments in Turkey. Ambassador Jeffrey received
his bachelor's degree from Northeastern University and his master's
degree from Boston University.
AZG Armenian Daily
25/09/2008
USA-Armenian Genocide
Ending Denial through Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, Ending
the Blockade are Key Issues to be Addressed
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has scheduled the nomination
hearing of Bush's Ambassadorial Nominee for Turkey, James F. Jeffrey,
for Wednesday, September 24, 2008, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (Assembly). "We are hopeful the nomination hearing is
not a question and answer session, which in the past has resulted
in equivocating on the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide and
America's proud record of humanitarian intervention," said Assembly
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "This represents a critical
opportunity for the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to go further than
Ambassador Yovanovitch and this time to squarely affirm the Armenian
Genocide. The U.S. record of affirmation is clear as evidenced by
the 1951 U.S. filing before the International Court of Justice. The
Armenian Genocide is an historical fact and Mr. Jeffrey would be well
served to follow in the tradition of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau,"
continued Ardouny.In addition to its campaign of denial and application
of article 301 of its penal code, which punishes discussion of the
Armenian Genocide, for more than a decade, Turkey, in coordination
with Azerbaijan, has blockaded Armenia. The Turkish blockade not only
costs Armenia hundreds of millions of dollars, but also undermines
the stated U.S. policy goals of regional cooperation and economic
integration in the South Caucasus Region. While Turkey's President
Gul did accept the bold invitation by Armenia's President Serzh
Sargsian to visit Armenia on the occasion of a soccer game between
the two countries earlier this month, more concrete steps are needed,
including establishing working diplomatic relations and a process of
normalization that removes blockades, opens borders, restores economic
relations, and strives toward the peaceful resolution of differences
and disputes in the region. In fact, the U.S. Administration has
repeatedly called upon Turkey "to restore economic, political and
cultural links with Armenia."Jeffrey, a career member of the Senior
Foreign Service, currently serves as Assistant to the President and
Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House. Prior to this,
he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of
Near Eastern Affairs. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy
Chief of Mission in Baghdad, United States Ambassador to Albania,
and three other assignments in Turkey. Ambassador Jeffrey received
his bachelor's degree from Northeastern University and his master's
degree from Boston University.