Tweet
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.
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.