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CLINTON PLEDGES CONTINUED PRESSURE ON TURKEY TO RETURN CHURCHES
asbarez
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
Secretary of State's response to questions from Rep. Berman unfairly
credits Ankara for hollow reforms, empty rhetoric, token actions
taken to date
WASHINGTON-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in written responses
to questions submitted by Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA), the
Ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, offered
inordinate and undeserved praise for Turkey for taking "concrete
steps" to return a tiny fraction of stolen religious properties, but
did commit to continuing to both press Ankara to return additional
properties confiscated from minority religious communities to their
rightful owners, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Representative Berman's question, which referenced the Return of
Churches resolution, H.Res.306, that he helped pass on the floor of
the U.S. House, pressed the Secretary as to whether she was "satisfied
that Turkey is committed to returning confiscated Christian churches
and fully respecting the Armenian and other Christian populations that
have lived on these lands since biblical times?" In her response,
Secretary Clinton overstated Turkey's actual actions and offered
unmerited praise for its stated intentions, which, even if fully
implemented, would return less than 5% of stolen church properties
to the rightful owners among Christian and other religious communities.
She did however, in keeping with the letter and spirit of H.Res.306,
and its Senate companion, S.Res.392, promise that the Department of
State "will continue to remain vigilant of the situation for religious
communities and encourage needed reforms in the country."
"We join with Armenian Americans from California and across the
United States in thanking Congressman Berman for raising these
vitally important issues with Secretary Clinton," said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. "While we certainly appreciate that
Secretary Clinton - in accord with the letter and spirit of H.Res.306 -
has committed the United States to continuing to press Turkey to return
stolen religious properties to their rightful owners, we remain deeply
troubled that her undeserved praise for Ankara's still hollow promises
of reform, its political diversions, and its token actions reflect a
lack of seriousness on the part of the Department State regarding the
full return by Turkey of the fruits of its genocidal crimes against
Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, Arameans, Syriacs, and others."
Withdrawal of Snipers: In response to a second question from
Congressman Berman regarding Azerbaijan's opposition to an OSCE
Minsk Group proposal, backed by both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
for the withdrawal of snipers from the front lines, Secretary Clinton
restated U.S. support for pulling back snipers as a step toward
decreasing regional tensions. The rest of her response, which again
reflected the Administration's policy of artificial even-handedness
in dealing with one-sided threats and aggression coming from Baku,
offered generic calls on "all sides" to "improve the atmosphere
for negotiations, prevent unnecessary casualties, and strengthen
implementation of the ceasefire."
In his third question to Secretary Clinton, Representative Berman asked
for an update on progress the Administration has made in expanding
U.S.-Armenia trade and investment in recent years. The Secretary
responded by offering an overly optimistic perspective on the limited
work of the U.S.-Armenia Joint Economic Taskforce (USATF) in growing
bilateral commercial relations. Her answer, while consistent with the
President's campaign commitments to expand U.S.-Armenia economic ties,
fails to reflect the lack of material progress over the past three
years in expanding trade and investment, through the negotiation of
a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, a Double Tax Treaty,
or other bilateral accords, commercial programs, and targeted
trade initiatives. The one specific future project she cited was
U.S. sponsorship of a "Reverse Trade Mission" to the United States
for up to 10 Armenian businesspeople from the information technology
sector. This mission will provide Armenian entrepreneurs a chance to
explore opportunities to buy American products, sell Armenian products,
and build mutually beneficial relationships with U.S. counterparts.
The complete text of the Berman-Clinton exchange is provided below.
Question: On December 13, 2011, the House overwhelmingly passed a
resolution calling on Turkey to return confiscated Christian churches
and properties (H. Res. 306). The resolution calls on the Secretary
of State "in all official contacts with Turkish leaders and other
Turkish officials . . . [to] emphasize that Turkey should (1) end all
forms of religious discrimination . . .(2) allow the rightful church
and lay owners of Christian church properties, without hindrance or
restriction, to organize and administer prayer services . . . (3)
return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and other
places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics,
holy sites, and other religious properties." Are you satisfied that
Turkey is committed to returning confiscated Christian churches and
fully respecting the Armenian and other Christian populations that
have lived on these lands since biblical times?
Answer: While I recognize religious minority groups continue to face
concerning challenges in Turkey, I am encouraged by concrete steps the
Government of Turkey has taken over the past year to return properties
to religious communities.
In August 2011 the government issued a decree allowing religious
minorities to apply to reclaim churches, synagogues, and other
properties confiscated 75 years ago. Several properties have already
been returned to the 24 religious minority foundations that have
applied thus far. Separately, in November 2010, the government of
Turkey returned the Buyukada orphanage to the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
in line with a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.
Turkish officials at the most senior levels have told me they are
committed to reopening the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Halki Seminary
in the near future. In March, Deputy PM Bekir Bozdag stated, "There
are no laws in Turkey against opening a seminary to train Christian
clerics; the state will also support such a move."
The government is redrafting its 1982 military-drafted constitution
to fully embrace individual rights, including those of religious
and ethnic minorities. Significantly, Parliament speaker Cemil Cicek
reached out to Orthodox, Jewish, Armenian and Syriac leaders during
this process. In response, on February 20, the Ecumenical Patriarch
addressed the Turkish Parliament for the first time in the history
of the republic, noting the positive changes taking place in Turkey:
"Unfortunately, there have been injustices toward minorities until
now. These are slowly being corrected and changed. A new Turkey is
being born."
These steps are encouraging and we are urging the Government of Turkey
to continue returning other properties confiscated from minority
religious communities to their rightful owners, as well as moving
forward with needed legal reforms in its Constitutional redrafting
process. We will continue to remain vigilant of the situation for
religious communities and encourage needed reforms in the country.
Question: There have been increasing ceasefire violations in
Nagorno-Karabakh, with the most recent resulting in the death of an
Armenian soldier.
Azerbaijan's President has repeatedly stated that only the first
stage of war is over. In January of this year, President Aliyev said,
"It's not a frozen conflict, and it's not going to be one." The three
Minsk Group Co-Chairs have all called the pulling back of snipers as
a crucial step for decreasing tensions. It has been at least a year
since both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to this proposal,
but Azerbaijan has not. What steps is the Administration taking
to encourage Azerbaijan's acceptance of this important proposal to
prevent war from resuming in this vital area for U.S. interests?
Answer: As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States
remains deeply committed to helping the sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict reach a lasting and peaceful settlement. The U.S. has
emphasized that the parties should show restraint in both their
public statements and on the ground to avoid misunderstandings and
unintended consequences.
We reiterate at every opportunity that there is no military solution
to the conflict and that only a peaceful settlement will lead to
security, stability, and reconciliation in the region. We regret
any loss of life and continue to call upon the sides to take steps
- including the withdrawal of snipers - to improve the atmosphere
for negotiations, prevent unnecessary casualties, and strengthen
implementation of the ceasefire.
Question: Can you give us an update on progress the Administration has
made in expanding U.S.-Armenia trade and investment in recent years?
Answer: The United States remains committed to expanding our economic
relations with Armenia. The principle vehicle for addressing issues
of trade and investment with Armenia is the U.S.-Armenia Joint
Economic Taskforce (USATF). Established in 1999, the USATF meets
annually to deepen economic ties between Armenia and the United
States, advance market reforms in Armenia, and discuss opportunities
for U.S. assistance to contribute to Armenia's long-term economic
development. The task force is an open forum to discuss issues of
concern and interest to both countries.
The most recent USATF was held in late September 2011 and focused
on promoting trade and investment, protecting intellectual property
rights, and enhancing the business climate in Armenia.
The United States continues to seek avenues, through our assistance
programming, to promote greater linkages between American and
Armenian private sector firms with the goal of increasing the volume
of bilateral trade and investment. For example, in the coming months
the U.S. will sponsor a "Reverse Trade Mission" to the United States
for up to 10 Armenian businesspeople from the information technology
sector. This mission will provide Armenian entrepreneurs a chance to
explore opportunities to buy American products, sell Armenian products,
and build mutually beneficial relationships with U.S. counterparts.
Armenia recently completed its five-year compact with the Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC). That program, with its focus on the
agricultural sector, laid the groundwork for increasing agricultural
exports and greater private sector investment in the sector, and will
have a significant long-term impact on trade.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
asbarez
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
Secretary of State's response to questions from Rep. Berman unfairly
credits Ankara for hollow reforms, empty rhetoric, token actions
taken to date
WASHINGTON-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in written responses
to questions submitted by Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA), the
Ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, offered
inordinate and undeserved praise for Turkey for taking "concrete
steps" to return a tiny fraction of stolen religious properties, but
did commit to continuing to both press Ankara to return additional
properties confiscated from minority religious communities to their
rightful owners, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
Representative Berman's question, which referenced the Return of
Churches resolution, H.Res.306, that he helped pass on the floor of
the U.S. House, pressed the Secretary as to whether she was "satisfied
that Turkey is committed to returning confiscated Christian churches
and fully respecting the Armenian and other Christian populations that
have lived on these lands since biblical times?" In her response,
Secretary Clinton overstated Turkey's actual actions and offered
unmerited praise for its stated intentions, which, even if fully
implemented, would return less than 5% of stolen church properties
to the rightful owners among Christian and other religious communities.
She did however, in keeping with the letter and spirit of H.Res.306,
and its Senate companion, S.Res.392, promise that the Department of
State "will continue to remain vigilant of the situation for religious
communities and encourage needed reforms in the country."
"We join with Armenian Americans from California and across the
United States in thanking Congressman Berman for raising these
vitally important issues with Secretary Clinton," said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. "While we certainly appreciate that
Secretary Clinton - in accord with the letter and spirit of H.Res.306 -
has committed the United States to continuing to press Turkey to return
stolen religious properties to their rightful owners, we remain deeply
troubled that her undeserved praise for Ankara's still hollow promises
of reform, its political diversions, and its token actions reflect a
lack of seriousness on the part of the Department State regarding the
full return by Turkey of the fruits of its genocidal crimes against
Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Pontians, Arameans, Syriacs, and others."
Withdrawal of Snipers: In response to a second question from
Congressman Berman regarding Azerbaijan's opposition to an OSCE
Minsk Group proposal, backed by both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,
for the withdrawal of snipers from the front lines, Secretary Clinton
restated U.S. support for pulling back snipers as a step toward
decreasing regional tensions. The rest of her response, which again
reflected the Administration's policy of artificial even-handedness
in dealing with one-sided threats and aggression coming from Baku,
offered generic calls on "all sides" to "improve the atmosphere
for negotiations, prevent unnecessary casualties, and strengthen
implementation of the ceasefire."
In his third question to Secretary Clinton, Representative Berman asked
for an update on progress the Administration has made in expanding
U.S.-Armenia trade and investment in recent years. The Secretary
responded by offering an overly optimistic perspective on the limited
work of the U.S.-Armenia Joint Economic Taskforce (USATF) in growing
bilateral commercial relations. Her answer, while consistent with the
President's campaign commitments to expand U.S.-Armenia economic ties,
fails to reflect the lack of material progress over the past three
years in expanding trade and investment, through the negotiation of
a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, a Double Tax Treaty,
or other bilateral accords, commercial programs, and targeted
trade initiatives. The one specific future project she cited was
U.S. sponsorship of a "Reverse Trade Mission" to the United States
for up to 10 Armenian businesspeople from the information technology
sector. This mission will provide Armenian entrepreneurs a chance to
explore opportunities to buy American products, sell Armenian products,
and build mutually beneficial relationships with U.S. counterparts.
The complete text of the Berman-Clinton exchange is provided below.
Question: On December 13, 2011, the House overwhelmingly passed a
resolution calling on Turkey to return confiscated Christian churches
and properties (H. Res. 306). The resolution calls on the Secretary
of State "in all official contacts with Turkish leaders and other
Turkish officials . . . [to] emphasize that Turkey should (1) end all
forms of religious discrimination . . .(2) allow the rightful church
and lay owners of Christian church properties, without hindrance or
restriction, to organize and administer prayer services . . . (3)
return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and other
places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics,
holy sites, and other religious properties." Are you satisfied that
Turkey is committed to returning confiscated Christian churches and
fully respecting the Armenian and other Christian populations that
have lived on these lands since biblical times?
Answer: While I recognize religious minority groups continue to face
concerning challenges in Turkey, I am encouraged by concrete steps the
Government of Turkey has taken over the past year to return properties
to religious communities.
In August 2011 the government issued a decree allowing religious
minorities to apply to reclaim churches, synagogues, and other
properties confiscated 75 years ago. Several properties have already
been returned to the 24 religious minority foundations that have
applied thus far. Separately, in November 2010, the government of
Turkey returned the Buyukada orphanage to the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
in line with a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.
Turkish officials at the most senior levels have told me they are
committed to reopening the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Halki Seminary
in the near future. In March, Deputy PM Bekir Bozdag stated, "There
are no laws in Turkey against opening a seminary to train Christian
clerics; the state will also support such a move."
The government is redrafting its 1982 military-drafted constitution
to fully embrace individual rights, including those of religious
and ethnic minorities. Significantly, Parliament speaker Cemil Cicek
reached out to Orthodox, Jewish, Armenian and Syriac leaders during
this process. In response, on February 20, the Ecumenical Patriarch
addressed the Turkish Parliament for the first time in the history
of the republic, noting the positive changes taking place in Turkey:
"Unfortunately, there have been injustices toward minorities until
now. These are slowly being corrected and changed. A new Turkey is
being born."
These steps are encouraging and we are urging the Government of Turkey
to continue returning other properties confiscated from minority
religious communities to their rightful owners, as well as moving
forward with needed legal reforms in its Constitutional redrafting
process. We will continue to remain vigilant of the situation for
religious communities and encourage needed reforms in the country.
Question: There have been increasing ceasefire violations in
Nagorno-Karabakh, with the most recent resulting in the death of an
Armenian soldier.
Azerbaijan's President has repeatedly stated that only the first
stage of war is over. In January of this year, President Aliyev said,
"It's not a frozen conflict, and it's not going to be one." The three
Minsk Group Co-Chairs have all called the pulling back of snipers as
a crucial step for decreasing tensions. It has been at least a year
since both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh agreed to this proposal,
but Azerbaijan has not. What steps is the Administration taking
to encourage Azerbaijan's acceptance of this important proposal to
prevent war from resuming in this vital area for U.S. interests?
Answer: As a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States
remains deeply committed to helping the sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict reach a lasting and peaceful settlement. The U.S. has
emphasized that the parties should show restraint in both their
public statements and on the ground to avoid misunderstandings and
unintended consequences.
We reiterate at every opportunity that there is no military solution
to the conflict and that only a peaceful settlement will lead to
security, stability, and reconciliation in the region. We regret
any loss of life and continue to call upon the sides to take steps
- including the withdrawal of snipers - to improve the atmosphere
for negotiations, prevent unnecessary casualties, and strengthen
implementation of the ceasefire.
Question: Can you give us an update on progress the Administration has
made in expanding U.S.-Armenia trade and investment in recent years?
Answer: The United States remains committed to expanding our economic
relations with Armenia. The principle vehicle for addressing issues
of trade and investment with Armenia is the U.S.-Armenia Joint
Economic Taskforce (USATF). Established in 1999, the USATF meets
annually to deepen economic ties between Armenia and the United
States, advance market reforms in Armenia, and discuss opportunities
for U.S. assistance to contribute to Armenia's long-term economic
development. The task force is an open forum to discuss issues of
concern and interest to both countries.
The most recent USATF was held in late September 2011 and focused
on promoting trade and investment, protecting intellectual property
rights, and enhancing the business climate in Armenia.
The United States continues to seek avenues, through our assistance
programming, to promote greater linkages between American and
Armenian private sector firms with the goal of increasing the volume
of bilateral trade and investment. For example, in the coming months
the U.S. will sponsor a "Reverse Trade Mission" to the United States
for up to 10 Armenian businesspeople from the information technology
sector. This mission will provide Armenian entrepreneurs a chance to
explore opportunities to buy American products, sell Armenian products,
and build mutually beneficial relationships with U.S. counterparts.
Armenia recently completed its five-year compact with the Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC). That program, with its focus on the
agricultural sector, laid the groundwork for increasing agricultural
exports and greater private sector investment in the sector, and will
have a significant long-term impact on trade.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress