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Senate does not approve free frigates for Turkey
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/01/04/senate-does-not-approve-free-frigates-for-turkey/
11:02 04.01.2013
Despite the best efforts of Ankara's allies in Washington during the
final hours of the Congressional session, the U.S. Senate refused to
act Wednesday on a free give-away of advanced American naval vessels
to Turkey. Earlier this week, the House had approved the controversial
measure, following a contentious debate, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America.
`We join with our Greek American friends in thanking Congressmen
Engel, Sherman, Bilirakis, and Sarbanes for opposing this
controversial measure giving away two guided missile frigates to an
increasingly arrogant and antagonistic Turkey, and welcome the
Senate's decision to block efforts to `fast-track' passage of this
controversial measure in the final hours of the 112th Congress,' said
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. `This most recent
setback for Turkey reflects the growing bipartisan understanding on
both sides of Capitol Hill about the real price America is paying for
Turkey's growing hostility to U.S. interests and allies. Ankara's
failure is yet another signal that the era of Turkey's having a
blank-check in Washington is over.'
In a letter circulated earlier this week on Capitol Hill, the ANCA
stressed that: `Such a transfer would materially strengthen Ankara's
naval capabilities at a time when it is using its maritime fleet to
aggressively challenge the right of Cyprus to explore its off-shore
energy resources, and is seeking to obstruct the ability of Greece to
protect its territorial waters.' The ANCA also emphasized that:
`Transferring these vessels would also send a dangerous signal to
Turkey's leaders that our government endorses its military occupation
of Cyprus, its increasingly belligerent stance toward Israel, its
blockade of Armenia, its meddling in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution process, or, for that matter, its violations against the
rights of Christians, Kurds, and other minorities.' The letter closed
by noting that: `Such material rewards and moral endorsements are
neither warranted, nor constructive. In fact, they will work against
our nation's regional security interests.' The American Hellenic
Institute, Hellenic American Leadership Council, and other Greek
American groups also weighed in against the transfer.
The U.S. House, on December 31st, considered this transfer as part of
H.R.6649, a measure added to the `Suspension Calendar' under expedited
procedures requiring a two thirds vote. The House adopted H.R.6649
after considerable debate, including a defense of the legislation by
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and statements in opposition from Representatives
Eliot Engel (D-NY), the incoming Ranking Democrat on the Foreign
Affairs Committee, and Brad Sherman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and
John Sarbanes (D-MD). The absence of Senate action at the end of the
112th Congress will mean that any legislation authorizing such a
transfer will need to be re-introduced for consideration by the 113th
Congress.
Congressman Brad Sherman, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, opposed H.R.6649 both on its merits and on the process
being used to secure its consideration in the final hours of the
Congressional session, noting: `Woodrow Wilson noted that Congress in
committee is Congress at work. Congress ignoring the committee process
is a Congress that doesn't work. This bill has not been the subject of
hearing and, more importantly, a markup in the Foreign Affairs
Committee. And in the dead of night, provisions to transfer two
frigates to Turkey, a controversial provision, was added to this
otherwise innocuous bill... Send this bill back to committee. Let us
have a real discussion. Let us follow the rules, not suspend the
rules, when we're dealing with a matter of this importance to our
foreign policy in the eastern Mediterranean.'
Congressman Engel, in his remarks, stressed: `Some people say this
should continue because, after all, Turkey is an ally and we need to
help them. Well, I look at it the other way. They're a NATO ally, so
they have responsibility. And the way they're acting has been anything
but responsible. This is not an inconsequential or trivial matter.'
Representative Sarbanes, in his comments, remarked that: `This is not
a non-controversial bill. I know it's being brought here on suspension
as though it is, and I'm sure in the past when we've had these
transfers of vessels, excess defense materials and so forth, often
that is a non-controversial action to take. In this case, it's
anything but non-controversial, and I'm surprised, frankly, that the
majority would bring the bill to the floor in this form.'
In his remarks, Rep. Bilirakis explained his opposition to H.R.6649,
noting that: `the Turkish navy, as recently as last year, held naval
live-fire exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. These provocative
exercises took place near the natural gas fields of Israel and the
Republic of Cyprus and threatened to disrupt peaceful and productive
economic activity. Instead, Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that, in the
eastern Mediterranean, Congress will continue to work to foster the
relationships between the United States, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus in
order to promote and foster issues of mutual, economic, and diplomatic
importance.'
Congressional scrutiny of the proposed transfer of advanced naval
vessels, which are described by the U.S. Navy as having been designed,
among other missions, to support and protect amphibious landing
forces, was heightened by Turkey's record of aggression in neighboring
littoral areas, most notably its 1974 invasion and ongoing military
occupation of Cyprus, as well as its false claims to sovereign Greek
islands in the Aegean Sea, and its regular incursions into both Greek
and Cypriot territorial waters.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/01/04/senate-does-not-approve-free-frigates-for-turkey/
11:02 04.01.2013
Despite the best efforts of Ankara's allies in Washington during the
final hours of the Congressional session, the U.S. Senate refused to
act Wednesday on a free give-away of advanced American naval vessels
to Turkey. Earlier this week, the House had approved the controversial
measure, following a contentious debate, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America.
`We join with our Greek American friends in thanking Congressmen
Engel, Sherman, Bilirakis, and Sarbanes for opposing this
controversial measure giving away two guided missile frigates to an
increasingly arrogant and antagonistic Turkey, and welcome the
Senate's decision to block efforts to `fast-track' passage of this
controversial measure in the final hours of the 112th Congress,' said
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. `This most recent
setback for Turkey reflects the growing bipartisan understanding on
both sides of Capitol Hill about the real price America is paying for
Turkey's growing hostility to U.S. interests and allies. Ankara's
failure is yet another signal that the era of Turkey's having a
blank-check in Washington is over.'
In a letter circulated earlier this week on Capitol Hill, the ANCA
stressed that: `Such a transfer would materially strengthen Ankara's
naval capabilities at a time when it is using its maritime fleet to
aggressively challenge the right of Cyprus to explore its off-shore
energy resources, and is seeking to obstruct the ability of Greece to
protect its territorial waters.' The ANCA also emphasized that:
`Transferring these vessels would also send a dangerous signal to
Turkey's leaders that our government endorses its military occupation
of Cyprus, its increasingly belligerent stance toward Israel, its
blockade of Armenia, its meddling in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution process, or, for that matter, its violations against the
rights of Christians, Kurds, and other minorities.' The letter closed
by noting that: `Such material rewards and moral endorsements are
neither warranted, nor constructive. In fact, they will work against
our nation's regional security interests.' The American Hellenic
Institute, Hellenic American Leadership Council, and other Greek
American groups also weighed in against the transfer.
The U.S. House, on December 31st, considered this transfer as part of
H.R.6649, a measure added to the `Suspension Calendar' under expedited
procedures requiring a two thirds vote. The House adopted H.R.6649
after considerable debate, including a defense of the legislation by
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and statements in opposition from Representatives
Eliot Engel (D-NY), the incoming Ranking Democrat on the Foreign
Affairs Committee, and Brad Sherman (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and
John Sarbanes (D-MD). The absence of Senate action at the end of the
112th Congress will mean that any legislation authorizing such a
transfer will need to be re-introduced for consideration by the 113th
Congress.
Congressman Brad Sherman, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, opposed H.R.6649 both on its merits and on the process
being used to secure its consideration in the final hours of the
Congressional session, noting: `Woodrow Wilson noted that Congress in
committee is Congress at work. Congress ignoring the committee process
is a Congress that doesn't work. This bill has not been the subject of
hearing and, more importantly, a markup in the Foreign Affairs
Committee. And in the dead of night, provisions to transfer two
frigates to Turkey, a controversial provision, was added to this
otherwise innocuous bill... Send this bill back to committee. Let us
have a real discussion. Let us follow the rules, not suspend the
rules, when we're dealing with a matter of this importance to our
foreign policy in the eastern Mediterranean.'
Congressman Engel, in his remarks, stressed: `Some people say this
should continue because, after all, Turkey is an ally and we need to
help them. Well, I look at it the other way. They're a NATO ally, so
they have responsibility. And the way they're acting has been anything
but responsible. This is not an inconsequential or trivial matter.'
Representative Sarbanes, in his comments, remarked that: `This is not
a non-controversial bill. I know it's being brought here on suspension
as though it is, and I'm sure in the past when we've had these
transfers of vessels, excess defense materials and so forth, often
that is a non-controversial action to take. In this case, it's
anything but non-controversial, and I'm surprised, frankly, that the
majority would bring the bill to the floor in this form.'
In his remarks, Rep. Bilirakis explained his opposition to H.R.6649,
noting that: `the Turkish navy, as recently as last year, held naval
live-fire exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. These provocative
exercises took place near the natural gas fields of Israel and the
Republic of Cyprus and threatened to disrupt peaceful and productive
economic activity. Instead, Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that, in the
eastern Mediterranean, Congress will continue to work to foster the
relationships between the United States, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus in
order to promote and foster issues of mutual, economic, and diplomatic
importance.'
Congressional scrutiny of the proposed transfer of advanced naval
vessels, which are described by the U.S. Navy as having been designed,
among other missions, to support and protect amphibious landing
forces, was heightened by Turkey's record of aggression in neighboring
littoral areas, most notably its 1974 invasion and ongoing military
occupation of Cyprus, as well as its false claims to sovereign Greek
islands in the Aegean Sea, and its regular incursions into both Greek
and Cypriot territorial waters.