CONGRESSMAN CICILLINE REITERATES SUPPORT FOR PROTECTION OF CHURCHES IN TURKEY
armradio.am
02.03.2012 12:44
At yesterday's House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the
Administration's Budget for Fiscal Year 2013, Congressman David
Cicilline (D-RI) raised issues of importance to the Armenian-American
community, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly)
During a series of questions posed to U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, who was testifying before the Committee, Congressman
Cicilline made reference to legislation adopted last year regarding the
protection of church properties in Turkey as well as efforts to end
religious discrimination. As his allotted time was about to expire,
Congressman Cicilline indicated that he would be submitting questions
on this matter for the Secretary to answer for the record.
Last year, Congressman Cicilline joined House Foreign Affairs Committee
Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) in offering an amendment to the
State Department Reauthorization Bill, which called upon Turkey to
return confiscated church properties and to safeguard its Christian
heritage. The amendment mirrored H.Res. 306, which was introduced by
Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), and was overwhelmingly approved by the
Committee by a vote of 43-1. The amendment language later became the
text for H.Res. 306 and was unanimously adopted by the full House
of Representatives.
Also this week, Congressman Cicilline commemorated the 24th
anniversary of the Sumgait pogrom against peaceful Armenians living in
Azerbaijan. Rep. Cicilline told his colleagues that we must remember
"the victims of these senseless atrocities" and to never forget
"our responsibility to one another as members of the human race and
the importance of standing up to abuse or discrimination wherever
it occurs."
armradio.am
02.03.2012 12:44
At yesterday's House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the
Administration's Budget for Fiscal Year 2013, Congressman David
Cicilline (D-RI) raised issues of importance to the Armenian-American
community, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly)
During a series of questions posed to U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, who was testifying before the Committee, Congressman
Cicilline made reference to legislation adopted last year regarding the
protection of church properties in Turkey as well as efforts to end
religious discrimination. As his allotted time was about to expire,
Congressman Cicilline indicated that he would be submitting questions
on this matter for the Secretary to answer for the record.
Last year, Congressman Cicilline joined House Foreign Affairs Committee
Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) in offering an amendment to the
State Department Reauthorization Bill, which called upon Turkey to
return confiscated church properties and to safeguard its Christian
heritage. The amendment mirrored H.Res. 306, which was introduced by
Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), and was overwhelmingly approved by the
Committee by a vote of 43-1. The amendment language later became the
text for H.Res. 306 and was unanimously adopted by the full House
of Representatives.
Also this week, Congressman Cicilline commemorated the 24th
anniversary of the Sumgait pogrom against peaceful Armenians living in
Azerbaijan. Rep. Cicilline told his colleagues that we must remember
"the victims of these senseless atrocities" and to never forget
"our responsibility to one another as members of the human race and
the importance of standing up to abuse or discrimination wherever
it occurs."