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PRESS RELEASE
July 31, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
SENATE PANEL APPROVES JOHN BASS AS NEXT U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY
Nomination Awaits Confirmation by the Full Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
approved the nomination of John R. Bass to serve as the next U.S.
Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly). Under the Chairmanship of Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ), Bass' nomination was approved by voice vote.
Although questions regarding the Turkish government's 99-year campaign
of genocide denial were not raised during his confirmation hearing,
some media outlets mistakenly reported that Bass denied the Armenian
Genocide at that hearing. While recognizing that several Turkish
journalists and public organizations have taken steps to counter the
Turkish government's denial of the Armenian Genocide, `more can be
done, and we encourage both sides to pursue a full, frank, and just
acknowledgement of the facts surrounding the tragic events on 1915,'
Bass said in his opening remarks.
Following his July 15th confirmation hearing, questions on various Armenian
American issues were submitted for the record to the nominee by Chairman
Menendez, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).
Chairman Menendez began his questioning on the Armenian Genocide and the
recent commemorations held on April 24 in Istanbul. `Will you make
participating in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the genocide
a priority for you and your staff? How do you personally characterize the
events that took place between 1915-23 that resulted in the deportation of
nearly 2,000,000 Armenians and the killing of as many as 1,500,000 men,
women, and children?' Menendez asked.
`The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
days of the Ottoman Empire,' Bass replied. `If confirmed, I will continue
to make attendance at such commemoration events a priority, particularly in
light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of one of the worst atrocities of
the 20th century,' Bass said.
Chairman Menendez also drew the nominee's attention to the Turkish
government's discriminatory policies regarding religious minorities. `Less
than one hundred years ago, there was a vibrant and large Christian
population in Turkey. Because of genocide and persecution, the population
has been decimated and accounts for less than point 2 percent of the
population today,' Menendez said. `How will you address issues of religious
persecution against Christians and other religious minorities with Turkish
authorities?' Menendez inquired.
`Religious minority groups face continuing challenges in Turkey,' Bass
said. `If confirmed, I will encourage the Turkish government to follow
through on the return of religious minority properties and to take
additional steps to promote religious freedom, such as allowing more
religious communities to own property, register their places of worship,
and train clergy,' Bass replied.
Last month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed H.R. 4347, the
Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act. Although a similar measure
has not yet been introduced in the Senate, the continued destruction of
historic Christian sites of Anatolia has not gone unnoticed in Washington.
Senator Boxer also questioned nominee Bass on the Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation efforts. `How does the failure of the Turkish government to
openly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide impede efforts to normalize
relations between Turkey and Armenia?' Boxer asked.
`To achieve full reconciliation, Turkey must come to terms with its past,'
Bass said bluntly. `The Administration will continue to encourage a full,
frank and just acknowledgement of the facts,' Bass said, in an effort to
support the normalization of relations that will result in the opening of
the border.
Senator Boxer also raised the issue of Turkey's 20-year land blockade on
Armenia directly. `How will you work to end this illegal blockade?' she
asked. `Facilitating Armenia's regional integration by opening its border
with Turkey is a priority for the United States,' Bass said. =80=9CIf confirmed,
this would be one of my key goals as Ambassador.'
In his line of questioning, Senator Markey recalled the service of former
U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, in whose footsteps
Bass would serve. `Do you agree with the accounts of U.S. diplomats,
including Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, who served as U.S. ambassador to the
Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, regarding the attempted annihilation of
the Armenian people?' Markey asked.
`I am aware of the history of the tragic massacres and forced exile that
occurred at the end of the Ottoman Empire, and with U.S. policy during that
period. Ambassador Morgenthau's accounts, and the reporting of other U.S.
diplomats, serve as important historical records of these tragic events
from various perspectives. The individual stories of the tragedy are
horrifying.'
`The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
days of the Ottoman Empire. If confirmed as Ambassador, my role would be to
represent faithfully the President's policies, as it has been in all of my
previous assignments,' Bass said.
`We commend Chairman Menendez and Senators Boxer and Markey for their
poignant and sharp questioning of nominee Bass on critical issues of
concern to Armenian Americans,' stated Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. `The Assembly looks forward to the opportunity to
discuss shared concerns directly with the next U.S. ambassador to
Turkey,' Ardouny added.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-041
Available online: http://bit.ly/1nNNm4l
July 31, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
SENATE PANEL APPROVES JOHN BASS AS NEXT U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY
Nomination Awaits Confirmation by the Full Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
approved the nomination of John R. Bass to serve as the next U.S.
Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly). Under the Chairmanship of Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ), Bass' nomination was approved by voice vote.
Although questions regarding the Turkish government's 99-year campaign
of genocide denial were not raised during his confirmation hearing,
some media outlets mistakenly reported that Bass denied the Armenian
Genocide at that hearing. While recognizing that several Turkish
journalists and public organizations have taken steps to counter the
Turkish government's denial of the Armenian Genocide, `more can be
done, and we encourage both sides to pursue a full, frank, and just
acknowledgement of the facts surrounding the tragic events on 1915,'
Bass said in his opening remarks.
Following his July 15th confirmation hearing, questions on various Armenian
American issues were submitted for the record to the nominee by Chairman
Menendez, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).
Chairman Menendez began his questioning on the Armenian Genocide and the
recent commemorations held on April 24 in Istanbul. `Will you make
participating in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the genocide
a priority for you and your staff? How do you personally characterize the
events that took place between 1915-23 that resulted in the deportation of
nearly 2,000,000 Armenians and the killing of as many as 1,500,000 men,
women, and children?' Menendez asked.
`The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
days of the Ottoman Empire,' Bass replied. `If confirmed, I will continue
to make attendance at such commemoration events a priority, particularly in
light of the upcoming 100th anniversary of one of the worst atrocities of
the 20th century,' Bass said.
Chairman Menendez also drew the nominee's attention to the Turkish
government's discriminatory policies regarding religious minorities. `Less
than one hundred years ago, there was a vibrant and large Christian
population in Turkey. Because of genocide and persecution, the population
has been decimated and accounts for less than point 2 percent of the
population today,' Menendez said. `How will you address issues of religious
persecution against Christians and other religious minorities with Turkish
authorities?' Menendez inquired.
`Religious minority groups face continuing challenges in Turkey,' Bass
said. `If confirmed, I will encourage the Turkish government to follow
through on the return of religious minority properties and to take
additional steps to promote religious freedom, such as allowing more
religious communities to own property, register their places of worship,
and train clergy,' Bass replied.
Last month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed H.R. 4347, the
Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act. Although a similar measure
has not yet been introduced in the Senate, the continued destruction of
historic Christian sites of Anatolia has not gone unnoticed in Washington.
Senator Boxer also questioned nominee Bass on the Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation efforts. `How does the failure of the Turkish government to
openly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide impede efforts to normalize
relations between Turkey and Armenia?' Boxer asked.
`To achieve full reconciliation, Turkey must come to terms with its past,'
Bass said bluntly. `The Administration will continue to encourage a full,
frank and just acknowledgement of the facts,' Bass said, in an effort to
support the normalization of relations that will result in the opening of
the border.
Senator Boxer also raised the issue of Turkey's 20-year land blockade on
Armenia directly. `How will you work to end this illegal blockade?' she
asked. `Facilitating Armenia's regional integration by opening its border
with Turkey is a priority for the United States,' Bass said. =80=9CIf confirmed,
this would be one of my key goals as Ambassador.'
In his line of questioning, Senator Markey recalled the service of former
U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, in whose footsteps
Bass would serve. `Do you agree with the accounts of U.S. diplomats,
including Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, who served as U.S. ambassador to the
Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, regarding the attempted annihilation of
the Armenian people?' Markey asked.
`I am aware of the history of the tragic massacres and forced exile that
occurred at the end of the Ottoman Empire, and with U.S. policy during that
period. Ambassador Morgenthau's accounts, and the reporting of other U.S.
diplomats, serve as important historical records of these tragic events
from various perspectives. The individual stories of the tragedy are
horrifying.'
`The U.S. government acknowledges as historical fact and mourns that 1.5
million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final
days of the Ottoman Empire. If confirmed as Ambassador, my role would be to
represent faithfully the President's policies, as it has been in all of my
previous assignments,' Bass said.
`We commend Chairman Menendez and Senators Boxer and Markey for their
poignant and sharp questioning of nominee Bass on critical issues of
concern to Armenian Americans,' stated Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. `The Assembly looks forward to the opportunity to
discuss shared concerns directly with the next U.S. ambassador to
Turkey,' Ardouny added.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-041
Available online: http://bit.ly/1nNNm4l