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BABACAN LIES AT WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013
by Ara Khachatourian
Some 200 demonstrators protested Ali Babacan's appearance at the Los
Angeles World Affairs Council
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
On Monday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan addressed the
Los Angeles World Affairs Council, where he lied throughout his
presentation about Turkey's economic progress, regional role as
a so-called power player and made never-before-heard allegations
regarding the Armenia-Turkey protocols process all in an attempt
to paint a favorable picture of his country to the more than 150
in attendance.
In response to a question from the audience posed by Armenian National
Committee of American Advisory Board member Levon Kirakossian, Babacan
characterized the Armenia-Turkey Protocols process as one that from
the onset was a three-pronged approach that involved the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict. The actual document of the Protocols and
all statements made during that time indicated that the normalization
of relations between Turkey and Armenia would have no preconditions.
He explained to the audience that secret talks between Armenia and
Turkey began in 2007 and were mediated by Switzerland, expressing
that the two countries expressly agreed to the establishment of a
commission that would "review the events of 1915."
Ali Babacan during his address at LAWAC
Babacan explained that in the absence of an agreement between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, which would have resulted in a regional normalization
agreement, the process had stalled.
Asbarez contacted the Armenian Foreign Ministry regarding the
revelations made by Babacan. The Foreign Ministry referred Asbarez to
an op-ed piece published in October 2010 in the Wall Street Journal
and authored by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, in which he said
"Turkey has backtracked from the agreements. Not only has it refrained
from ratifying the protocols, but Ankara has returned to the language
of preconditions that it had used before the beginning of the process."
In the piece, Nalbandian also said that while Turkey claims "they
have no preconditions... they simply demand that we fulfill this or
that before they can proceed with the ratification. Does this mean
they have no preconditions?"
Babacan went on to say that there were tragic events that took place
in 1915 during World War I, but the government of Turkey does not
possess any proof to deem those events Genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region wrote to
the Turkish Consulate General asking to meet with Babacan while he was
in Los Angeles. At press time, the ANCA-WR had not received a response.
Similarly, the ANCA-WR wrote to the leadership of the LAWAC urging
the organization to cancel the event, arguing that "the Council
would certainly not invite any of the following officials nor their
representatives to speak: Jean Kambanda of Rwanda, Slobodan Milosevic
of Serbia, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Pol Pot of Cambodia, or Heinrich
Himmler of Nazi Germany; Mr. Babacan is a representative of such a
genocidal regime."
The LAWAC President Terry McCarthy told USC Annenberg's Neon Tommy via
telephone: "We have speakers from all spectrums of contentious issues
and as a non-partisan organization, we don't endorse the viewpoints
of the speakers we host."
Babacan's remarks were tailored to appease what he thought was an
unsuspecting audience. However, the extent of questions from the
audience indicated that they were more aware of current trends in
Turkish politics.
Questions ranging from the revelation of an Israeli spy ring in Iran,
as retaliation for the Mavi Marmara incident to the ill-treatment
and oppression of opposition forces, especially during the Gezi Park
demonstrations were all treated with one response. Babacan told the
audience that they should not rely on information they read in papers
and they should be aware that in all instances "illegal organizations"
were at the center of those issues.
Throughout his remarks, Babacan emphasized the continued inroads
Turkey has made in advancing democratic principles, attributing
the country's economic growth to Turkey adherence to those norms
and ignoring continued international criticism of its treatment of
journalists, minorities and dissidents.
While commenting that the Los Angeles World Affairs Council is a forum
for open discussion, its president Terry McCarthy praised Turkey's
so-called economic growth and highlighted the decision to hire Kobe
Bryant to be the face of Turkish Airlines.
In what was he later said was a joke-in poor taste and in an affront
to the Armenian-American community-Mc Carthy told the audience that
the group of demonstrators outside the hotel "probably thought Kobe
would be in attendance."
Some 200 community members gathered outside of the InterContinental
Hotel in Century City, where the event was taking place, to demonstrate
Turkey's lies.
The protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, which
decried the LAWAC for hosting a "representative of the government
responsible for the 1st genocide of the 20th century and the continued
occupation of Western Armenia and over one third of Cyprus."
"This fact that a representative from the government of Turkey is
being given a platform in L.A., from which to spread false propaganda
about all the amazing ways in which Turkey is a shining example
of democracy in order to win the hearts and dollars of potential
investors should be an outrage for us all-not just for Armenians,
but all American citizens and all people who believe in democratic
values," the Executive Director of the Armenian Youth Federation
Western Region, Stepan Keshishian told Neon Tommy in an interview.
"The economic environment in Turkey is founded on an unethical,
immoral, and savage history, which the government actively fights
to deny. Turkish foreign and economic policy today is based on these
same lies," he added.
From: Baghdasarian
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013
by Ara Khachatourian
Some 200 demonstrators protested Ali Babacan's appearance at the Los
Angeles World Affairs Council
BY ARA KHACHATOURIAN
On Monday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan addressed the
Los Angeles World Affairs Council, where he lied throughout his
presentation about Turkey's economic progress, regional role as
a so-called power player and made never-before-heard allegations
regarding the Armenia-Turkey protocols process all in an attempt
to paint a favorable picture of his country to the more than 150
in attendance.
In response to a question from the audience posed by Armenian National
Committee of American Advisory Board member Levon Kirakossian, Babacan
characterized the Armenia-Turkey Protocols process as one that from
the onset was a three-pronged approach that involved the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict. The actual document of the Protocols and
all statements made during that time indicated that the normalization
of relations between Turkey and Armenia would have no preconditions.
He explained to the audience that secret talks between Armenia and
Turkey began in 2007 and were mediated by Switzerland, expressing
that the two countries expressly agreed to the establishment of a
commission that would "review the events of 1915."
Ali Babacan during his address at LAWAC
Babacan explained that in the absence of an agreement between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, which would have resulted in a regional normalization
agreement, the process had stalled.
Asbarez contacted the Armenian Foreign Ministry regarding the
revelations made by Babacan. The Foreign Ministry referred Asbarez to
an op-ed piece published in October 2010 in the Wall Street Journal
and authored by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, in which he said
"Turkey has backtracked from the agreements. Not only has it refrained
from ratifying the protocols, but Ankara has returned to the language
of preconditions that it had used before the beginning of the process."
In the piece, Nalbandian also said that while Turkey claims "they
have no preconditions... they simply demand that we fulfill this or
that before they can proceed with the ratification. Does this mean
they have no preconditions?"
Babacan went on to say that there were tragic events that took place
in 1915 during World War I, but the government of Turkey does not
possess any proof to deem those events Genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region wrote to
the Turkish Consulate General asking to meet with Babacan while he was
in Los Angeles. At press time, the ANCA-WR had not received a response.
Similarly, the ANCA-WR wrote to the leadership of the LAWAC urging
the organization to cancel the event, arguing that "the Council
would certainly not invite any of the following officials nor their
representatives to speak: Jean Kambanda of Rwanda, Slobodan Milosevic
of Serbia, Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, Pol Pot of Cambodia, or Heinrich
Himmler of Nazi Germany; Mr. Babacan is a representative of such a
genocidal regime."
The LAWAC President Terry McCarthy told USC Annenberg's Neon Tommy via
telephone: "We have speakers from all spectrums of contentious issues
and as a non-partisan organization, we don't endorse the viewpoints
of the speakers we host."
Babacan's remarks were tailored to appease what he thought was an
unsuspecting audience. However, the extent of questions from the
audience indicated that they were more aware of current trends in
Turkish politics.
Questions ranging from the revelation of an Israeli spy ring in Iran,
as retaliation for the Mavi Marmara incident to the ill-treatment
and oppression of opposition forces, especially during the Gezi Park
demonstrations were all treated with one response. Babacan told the
audience that they should not rely on information they read in papers
and they should be aware that in all instances "illegal organizations"
were at the center of those issues.
Throughout his remarks, Babacan emphasized the continued inroads
Turkey has made in advancing democratic principles, attributing
the country's economic growth to Turkey adherence to those norms
and ignoring continued international criticism of its treatment of
journalists, minorities and dissidents.
While commenting that the Los Angeles World Affairs Council is a forum
for open discussion, its president Terry McCarthy praised Turkey's
so-called economic growth and highlighted the decision to hire Kobe
Bryant to be the face of Turkish Airlines.
In what was he later said was a joke-in poor taste and in an affront
to the Armenian-American community-Mc Carthy told the audience that
the group of demonstrators outside the hotel "probably thought Kobe
would be in attendance."
Some 200 community members gathered outside of the InterContinental
Hotel in Century City, where the event was taking place, to demonstrate
Turkey's lies.
The protest was organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, which
decried the LAWAC for hosting a "representative of the government
responsible for the 1st genocide of the 20th century and the continued
occupation of Western Armenia and over one third of Cyprus."
"This fact that a representative from the government of Turkey is
being given a platform in L.A., from which to spread false propaganda
about all the amazing ways in which Turkey is a shining example
of democracy in order to win the hearts and dollars of potential
investors should be an outrage for us all-not just for Armenians,
but all American citizens and all people who believe in democratic
values," the Executive Director of the Armenian Youth Federation
Western Region, Stepan Keshishian told Neon Tommy in an interview.
"The economic environment in Turkey is founded on an unethical,
immoral, and savage history, which the government actively fights
to deny. Turkish foreign and economic policy today is based on these
same lies," he added.
From: Baghdasarian