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Turkey Interferes in Pasadena City Business
asbarez
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
Pasadena City Hall
PASADENA - An official from the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles met
with a Pasadena City official in an effort to thwart plans by city to
erect an Armenian Genocide monument. The Armenian National Committee
of America Pasadena chapter issued a statement Wednesday denouncing
Turkey's brazen attempts to interfere in city government business.
Below is the text of the announcement:
During the month of August, the Republic of Turkey initiated a meeting
with the City of Pasadena to probe for information about the newly
formed and independent Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee
(PAGMC). The meeting took place at Pasadena City Hall between the Vice
Consul of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles and the City's
management directors. Vice Consul Arif Celik's consultation was
politically driven stating that the government he represents held a
`difference of opinion' about the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of America - Pasadena cannot let such
statements go unchecked: the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact
and will not be allowed to be subjected to `differences of opinions'
or debate. The nation of Turkey should acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide and not interfere with American politics, in American cities
and proposed projects by American citizens and residents. Under the
American Constitution, the citizens of states, cities, and towns
acting through their elected officials, are empowered to conduct their
civic affairs without the interference of foreign governments. The
Turkish government, which is among the world's worst violators of
freedom of expression, consistently seeks, and has frequently
succeeded at the federal level, in imposing a gag rule on American
calls for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. The
initiation of a meeting by a foreign nation's officials with a local
U.S. municipality is politically driven and, therefore, is deemed as
an attempt to intervene in the affairs of our local American
communities. Preserving heritage and memorializing ancestors who were
killed by way of genocide is not subject to the political positions of
foreign nations.
Pasadena has been home to Armenian-Americans for several decades, many
of whom are descendants of the Armenian Genocide. In the past, the
City of Pasadena has conducted an official census count of its
Armenian-American residents and has amended its Affirmative Action
ordinance to uphold Armenian-Americans as a Protected Class. In 1991,
the City of Pasadena established the city of Vanadzor, Armenia as its
sister-city and raised the Armenian Tri-color flag over Pasadena City
Hall on May 28 to commemorate Armenia's Day of Independence. For more
than 30 years, the City of Pasadena has adopted resolutions and issued
official proclamations to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
It is intrusive for the republic of turkey to hold a political
Interest over how local communities stand against various crimes
Against humanity such as the 1915 Armenian genocide. The vested
Interest of a foreign national government in local u.s. community
Issues is invasive, unacceptable, and is viewed as an encroachment on
American rights and values.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
asbarez
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
Pasadena City Hall
PASADENA - An official from the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles met
with a Pasadena City official in an effort to thwart plans by city to
erect an Armenian Genocide monument. The Armenian National Committee
of America Pasadena chapter issued a statement Wednesday denouncing
Turkey's brazen attempts to interfere in city government business.
Below is the text of the announcement:
During the month of August, the Republic of Turkey initiated a meeting
with the City of Pasadena to probe for information about the newly
formed and independent Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee
(PAGMC). The meeting took place at Pasadena City Hall between the Vice
Consul of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles and the City's
management directors. Vice Consul Arif Celik's consultation was
politically driven stating that the government he represents held a
`difference of opinion' about the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of America - Pasadena cannot let such
statements go unchecked: the Armenian Genocide is a historical fact
and will not be allowed to be subjected to `differences of opinions'
or debate. The nation of Turkey should acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide and not interfere with American politics, in American cities
and proposed projects by American citizens and residents. Under the
American Constitution, the citizens of states, cities, and towns
acting through their elected officials, are empowered to conduct their
civic affairs without the interference of foreign governments. The
Turkish government, which is among the world's worst violators of
freedom of expression, consistently seeks, and has frequently
succeeded at the federal level, in imposing a gag rule on American
calls for a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide. The
initiation of a meeting by a foreign nation's officials with a local
U.S. municipality is politically driven and, therefore, is deemed as
an attempt to intervene in the affairs of our local American
communities. Preserving heritage and memorializing ancestors who were
killed by way of genocide is not subject to the political positions of
foreign nations.
Pasadena has been home to Armenian-Americans for several decades, many
of whom are descendants of the Armenian Genocide. In the past, the
City of Pasadena has conducted an official census count of its
Armenian-American residents and has amended its Affirmative Action
ordinance to uphold Armenian-Americans as a Protected Class. In 1991,
the City of Pasadena established the city of Vanadzor, Armenia as its
sister-city and raised the Armenian Tri-color flag over Pasadena City
Hall on May 28 to commemorate Armenia's Day of Independence. For more
than 30 years, the City of Pasadena has adopted resolutions and issued
official proclamations to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
It is intrusive for the republic of turkey to hold a political
Interest over how local communities stand against various crimes
Against humanity such as the 1915 Armenian genocide. The vested
Interest of a foreign national government in local u.s. community
Issues is invasive, unacceptable, and is viewed as an encroachment on
American rights and values.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.