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ANCA Seeks To Block Special Treatment For Turkey In Tribal Trade Dea

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  • ANCA Seeks To Block Special Treatment For Turkey In Tribal Trade Dea

    ANCA SEEKS TO BLOCK SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR TURKEY IN TRIBAL TRADE DEALS

    asbarez
    Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

    WASHINGTON-Armenian and Hellenic Americans from across the United
    States are calling on members of the House Natural Resources Committee
    to vote against legislation that would, if adopted as introduced,
    create special trade advantages for Turkey in its dealings with Indian
    Tribes, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

    This trade measure is set to be "marked-up" along with a series
    of other bills on Thursday. An ANCA action alert calls on Members
    of this panel to oppose H.R.2362 based on a number of criteria,
    including the following three points:

    - The U.S. Congress should not extend special economic benefits
    particularly in relation to Indian Tribes - to a country that remains
    an unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against millions of its
    own indigenous minorities, including Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians,
    and others.

    - The U.S. Congress should not reward Turkey when it is blockading
    Armenia, threatening Cyprus, antagonizing Israel, attacking its
    own Kurdish population, and increasingly undermining U.S. regional
    priorities.

    - The U.S. Congress should not risk violating our nation's other
    trade agreements by putting Turkey at the head of the line, ahead of
    other countries that have been reliable and friendly allies of the
    United States.

    Armenian and Hellenic Groups Register Concerns in Statements to
    Committee Leadership A number of Armenian and Hellenic organizations,
    including the ANCA and American Hellenic Educational Progressive
    Association (AHEPA), have outlined a broad range of concerns - from
    moral to economic to political - regarding H.R.2362.

    In a statement issued Wednesday, ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate
    Nahapetian urges Committee members "to keep in mind our serious moral
    and practical reservations, as well as the clear inequities and even
    potential violations of trade agreements that would be involved in its
    adoption." She explained that "the U.S. Congress should not extend
    special economic benefits to a country that remains an unrepentant
    perpetrator of genocide against millions of its own indigenous
    minorities, including Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and others."

    Nahapetian went on to cite a recent Congressional Research
    Service (CRS) report, which notes that H.R.2362 "could violate our
    obligations under NAFTA and the WTO General Agreement on Trade in
    Services (GATS)." The ANCA statement argued "It remains an open
    and unanswered question as to why Congress should give Turkey an
    advantage over other countries, such as Canada, that have not only
    shown a material interest, but have actually already entered into
    agreements with tribes."

    AHEPA Chairman Dr. John Grossomanides explained, "AHEPA wishes to
    raise areas of concern that shed light on 1. Turkish threats to
    U.S. commercial interests; 2. Turkey's mistreatment of minority
    communities; and 3. Turkish entities already in the United States.

    AHEPA strongly contended that these three areas of concern are
    quite germane to the legislation because they demonstrate Turkish
    attitude toward U.S. commercial interests and behavior toward minority
    communities and reflect the existing track record of Turkish entities
    in the United States."

    The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), PSEKA (International
    Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus), Cyprus Federation of
    America, Pancyprian Association of America, and the American Hellenic
    Council are also opposing the measure.

    Reps. Pallone and Sarbanes Offer Early Opposition to H.R.2362 In
    a detailed letter sent to the House Natural Resources Committee
    leadership prior to a subcommittee hearing on H.R.2362, Representatives
    John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) expressed serious
    reservations regarding the measure, noting that this type of
    arrangement would be unusual and potentially problematic," and
    citing a broad range of concerns, including: Turkey's threats
    against American business enterprises; Turkey's mistreatment of
    religious and ethnic minorities; Turkey's blockade of Armenia; and,
    Turkey's illegal occupation of Cyprus, among other issues. "The fact
    that it is being specifically catered to Turkish interests makes it
    indefensible given Turkey's recent, as well as historic, conduct,"
    contended the legislators.

    The Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act
    of 2011 (H.R.2362) was introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) in June,
    and has only 13 cosponsors. The House Natural Resources Committee is
    scheduled to vote on the measure on November 17 at 10 a.m. and will
    be webcast live.

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