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Armenian Assembly of America News
1334 G Street, N.W., Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://armenianassembly.tumblr.com/
Armenian Assembly Interns Raise Armenian American Issues at the 5th Annual
Middle East Institute Conference on Turkey
By Mariam Pashayan, Crystal Densmore and Lena Krikorian
June 19, 2014
The following questions were raised by Armenian Assembly of America summer
interns Mariam Pashayan and Crystal Densmore at the Middle East Institute's
5th annual conference on Turkey, held a the National Press Club in
Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 16, 2014:
· Mariam Pashayan to Dr. Saban Kardas, Associate Professor of
International Relations at TOBB University of Economics and Technology
(Ankara, Turkey): `Regarding regional and economic stability, what
is the
status of Turkey's land blockade on Armenia? When do you think it will be
lifted and please talk about the potential of trade with Armenia for
Turkey's rural southeastern region?'
o Dr. Kardas: Armenia `did a few things' in order to
`cause the
blockade to take place,' therefore `it will not be lifted.'
· Mariam Pashayan to Amanda Sloat, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Southern Europe and East Mediterranean Affairs, United States Department of
State: `If the U.S. is for Armenia and Turkey to reconcile, then why did
the Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) tell the President of Turkey
Abdullah Gul that Congress has no intention of passing the Armenian
Genocide resolution?
o Sloat: `What John Boehner mentioned to the Turkish President I can
not speak for Congress.'
· Crystal Densmore to Ambassador Rob Ford, former U.S. Ambassador to
Syria: `The Assad government just retook Latakia province which includes
the Armenian town of Kessab, what has been described as the last Armenian
town in the Middle East, and Aleppo continues to be ground zero, with
Armenians again caught in the cross hairs. It is common knowledge that
Turkey assisted the terrorists to enter Latakia and take Kessab, only to
designate the group as a terrorist organization months later. What lessons
have the Turkish government learned in their support of extremist groups
and can we expect them to learn from this?'
o Ambassador Ford: The Turkish government has taken refugees from
Syria and `there were many Armenian refugees in Kessab, but they were not
limited to Armenians.'
Summary:
Although there are differences of opinion on the topic of Turkey and
Armenia relations, it is clear that Turkey and Azerbaijan should lift their
unlawful blockade of Armenia, which has caused regional instability and
impeded economic integration for the last 20 years. Turkey's blockade on
Armenia, as well as the currently stalled reconciliation efforts between
Turkey and Armenia, are due to Turkey's inability to stay true to its
commitment as envisioned in the 2009 Protocols signed by the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Turkey. Clearly, the U.S. supports reconciliation
between Armenia and Turkey. However, it was disappointing to hear a former
U.S. Ambassador downplay the plight of Christian Armenians in Syria. It is
well known that Islamic extremists invaded from Turkey the town of Kessab,
which was predominantly Armenian populated. U.S. government officials,
current and former, should not shy away from recognizing that fact.
Available online at: http://bit.ly/1nlIvTi
1334 G Street, N.W., Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://armenianassembly.tumblr.com/
Armenian Assembly Interns Raise Armenian American Issues at the 5th Annual
Middle East Institute Conference on Turkey
By Mariam Pashayan, Crystal Densmore and Lena Krikorian
June 19, 2014
The following questions were raised by Armenian Assembly of America summer
interns Mariam Pashayan and Crystal Densmore at the Middle East Institute's
5th annual conference on Turkey, held a the National Press Club in
Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 16, 2014:
· Mariam Pashayan to Dr. Saban Kardas, Associate Professor of
International Relations at TOBB University of Economics and Technology
(Ankara, Turkey): `Regarding regional and economic stability, what
is the
status of Turkey's land blockade on Armenia? When do you think it will be
lifted and please talk about the potential of trade with Armenia for
Turkey's rural southeastern region?'
o Dr. Kardas: Armenia `did a few things' in order to
`cause the
blockade to take place,' therefore `it will not be lifted.'
· Mariam Pashayan to Amanda Sloat, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Southern Europe and East Mediterranean Affairs, United States Department of
State: `If the U.S. is for Armenia and Turkey to reconcile, then why did
the Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) tell the President of Turkey
Abdullah Gul that Congress has no intention of passing the Armenian
Genocide resolution?
o Sloat: `What John Boehner mentioned to the Turkish President I can
not speak for Congress.'
· Crystal Densmore to Ambassador Rob Ford, former U.S. Ambassador to
Syria: `The Assad government just retook Latakia province which includes
the Armenian town of Kessab, what has been described as the last Armenian
town in the Middle East, and Aleppo continues to be ground zero, with
Armenians again caught in the cross hairs. It is common knowledge that
Turkey assisted the terrorists to enter Latakia and take Kessab, only to
designate the group as a terrorist organization months later. What lessons
have the Turkish government learned in their support of extremist groups
and can we expect them to learn from this?'
o Ambassador Ford: The Turkish government has taken refugees from
Syria and `there were many Armenian refugees in Kessab, but they were not
limited to Armenians.'
Summary:
Although there are differences of opinion on the topic of Turkey and
Armenia relations, it is clear that Turkey and Azerbaijan should lift their
unlawful blockade of Armenia, which has caused regional instability and
impeded economic integration for the last 20 years. Turkey's blockade on
Armenia, as well as the currently stalled reconciliation efforts between
Turkey and Armenia, are due to Turkey's inability to stay true to its
commitment as envisioned in the 2009 Protocols signed by the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Turkey. Clearly, the U.S. supports reconciliation
between Armenia and Turkey. However, it was disappointing to hear a former
U.S. Ambassador downplay the plight of Christian Armenians in Syria. It is
well known that Islamic extremists invaded from Turkey the town of Kessab,
which was predominantly Armenian populated. U.S. government officials,
current and former, should not shy away from recognizing that fact.
Available online at: http://bit.ly/1nlIvTi