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BRYZA IN WIKILEAKS: 'ADMINISTRATION WORKING HARD TO CONVINCE CONGRESS NOT TO PASS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION'
Asbarez
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza
On Mar. 15, 2007, a classified cable was sent from the US Embassy in
Turkey to the US Department of State, which was published May 24 on
the whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks.
This particular cable refers to a meeting on Mar. 9, 2007, between
then US Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza and Istanbul Deputy
Governor for minority affairs Fikret Kasapoglu, in which the parties
discuss the Armenian Genocide Resolution (referred to as AGR in the
cable) being debated in the US House of Representatives and the Senate.
"Bryza stressed that the Administration is working hard to convince
Congress not to pass AGRs currently being contemplated in both the
US House of Representatives and Senate. The Administration's position
remains that a candid discussion about Turkish-Armenian history should
take place within civil society, he said. Kasapoglu believes the case
against AGRs should stress four points:
Istanbul's tradition of tolerance for different cultures dating back
to the beginning of the Ottoman Empire.
Despite historical and present political tensions between Turkey and
Armenia, more than 40,000 economic migrants from Armenia still choose
to live in Turkey illegally (we regularly hear the number 70,000 from
GOT officials) The positive, spontaneous, mass public condemnation
of Hrant Dink's assassination was a sign of the respect people have
for each other and for different cultures.
Turkey's mostly young population find it hard to comprehend what
happened during World War I and politicizing 'genocide' allegations
will only inspire hatred."
Istanbul's deputy governor also raised the issue of Turkish-Armenians,
saying they were "increasingly seen as part of society but that
certain events (e.g., AGRs) 'just make things worse'."
"The Deputy Governor agreed that arguing against congressional
Armenian 'genocide' resolutions by focusing on a potential increase
in ultra-nationalism and risks to the Turkish-Armenian community's
security is not constructive. Rather, Kasapoglu suggested focusing on
Turkey's tradition of tolerance for religious minorities and the fact
that Armenians still choose to immigrate illegally by the thousands
to Turkey," reads the cable, in part.
Asbarez
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza
On Mar. 15, 2007, a classified cable was sent from the US Embassy in
Turkey to the US Department of State, which was published May 24 on
the whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks.
This particular cable refers to a meeting on Mar. 9, 2007, between
then US Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza and Istanbul Deputy
Governor for minority affairs Fikret Kasapoglu, in which the parties
discuss the Armenian Genocide Resolution (referred to as AGR in the
cable) being debated in the US House of Representatives and the Senate.
"Bryza stressed that the Administration is working hard to convince
Congress not to pass AGRs currently being contemplated in both the
US House of Representatives and Senate. The Administration's position
remains that a candid discussion about Turkish-Armenian history should
take place within civil society, he said. Kasapoglu believes the case
against AGRs should stress four points:
Istanbul's tradition of tolerance for different cultures dating back
to the beginning of the Ottoman Empire.
Despite historical and present political tensions between Turkey and
Armenia, more than 40,000 economic migrants from Armenia still choose
to live in Turkey illegally (we regularly hear the number 70,000 from
GOT officials) The positive, spontaneous, mass public condemnation
of Hrant Dink's assassination was a sign of the respect people have
for each other and for different cultures.
Turkey's mostly young population find it hard to comprehend what
happened during World War I and politicizing 'genocide' allegations
will only inspire hatred."
Istanbul's deputy governor also raised the issue of Turkish-Armenians,
saying they were "increasingly seen as part of society but that
certain events (e.g., AGRs) 'just make things worse'."
"The Deputy Governor agreed that arguing against congressional
Armenian 'genocide' resolutions by focusing on a potential increase
in ultra-nationalism and risks to the Turkish-Armenian community's
security is not constructive. Rather, Kasapoglu suggested focusing on
Turkey's tradition of tolerance for religious minorities and the fact
that Armenians still choose to immigrate illegally by the thousands
to Turkey," reads the cable, in part.