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PRESS RELEASE
June 26, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PASSES TURKEY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
H.R. 4347 Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to issue an annual report
to Congress on the fate of Christian properties in Turkey
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC)
adopted H.R. 4347, the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act,
reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The legislation was
approved by voice vote, with amendments.
Introduced by HFAC Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel
(D-NY) in March, H.R. 4347 requires that the Secretary of State, on an
annual basis, `submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
report on the status and return of stolen, confiscated, or otherwise
unreturned Christian churches, places of worship, and other properties in
or from the Republic of Turkey and in northern Cyprus,' until the year 2021.
`We commend Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their strong
support of Armenian American issues and their vigilance in standing up for
religious minorities in Turkey,' stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. `It's not that more should be done. More must be done to protect
Armenian, Greek, Assyrian and other Christian minorities, their properties,
and their right to practice their religion in their ancestral home,'
Ardouny said.
`I have long been concerned that Christian heritage sites in Turkey have
been deteriorating and disappearing in the face of hostile government
policies,' Chairman Royce said. `Despite optimistic claims
by Turkish
leaders, a majority of religious properties remain unreturned. There is
even legislation before the Turkish Parliament to convert the landmark
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum to a mosque. The U.S. must hold
Turkish leaders to their promises. By passing this legislation, the U.S.
sends a message to Turkey that it must return church properties to their
rightful owners, while providing an objective measure of their progress
each year.'
In his opening remarks, Ranking Member Engel recognized Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and
Eastern Prelacy Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, who were both on hand to
witness the committee vote.
In addition to Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, Reps. Chris Smith
(R-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), David Cicilline
(D-RI), Albio Sires (R-NJ), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) also spoke in favor
of H.R. 4347.
However, the bill was heavily opposed before and during today's committee
vote. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) issued a letter last Friday calling on his
colleagues to oppose H.R. 4347. After days of working with committee
members to address their concerns, Chairman Royce offered an amended
version of H.R. 4347 at the beginning of the vote, which includes 15 new
findings and a new section that recognizes `some positive decisions last
year by the Turkish government.' Yet, despite the Chairman's accommodation
of additional language, Connolly proposed an amendment during the vote that
would have stripped the bill of virtually all of its findings. `I am
fearful,' Connolly said, restating the false adage that `now is not the
time' and indicating that `we need Turkey.' Congressman Gregory Meeks
(D-NY) voiced his support for the Connolly amendment and his strong
opposition to H.R. 4347.
In response, Chairman Royce emphasized that previous attempts to find a
solution, `have not resulted in progress,' and that Turkey
has been
`haphazard' in returning confiscated religious property. Ranking Member
Engel, as well as Reps. Cicilline and Lowenthal, also spoke in opposition
to the Connolly amendment and voiced their strong support for H.R. 4347.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) rebuked those opposing the bill, saying `we should
not be fearful' of Turkey, reminding his colleagues that fear =80=9Cinvites
impunity.' `If we have the inability to speak out against human rights
abuses then shame on us,' Smith said. `Friends don't let friends commit
human rights abuses,' he added. If you mention the Armenian Genocide in
Turkey `the Gulag will be at your door,' Smith exclaimed, as he banged his
fist on the desk. `The sword of Damocles hangs over churches in Turkey,'
Smith said.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) also spoke passionately in support of H.R. 4347,
recalling that after the Turkish government threatened to curtail its trade
relations with France for recognizing the Armenian Genocide, trade between
the two countries increased three-fold. The Connolly amendment was defeated
in a voice vote.
Following the Connolly amendment, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Rep. George
Holding (R-NC) offered amendments to H.R. 4347 that were adopted by voice
vote. These amendments added language further diluting the spirit of the
bill while simultaneously affording greater acclaim to the Turkish
government for half-measures taken after a century of abuses.
A copy of H.R. 4347, as amended, is available here. The Grayson amendment
is available here, and the Holding amendment is available here.
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: # 2014-037
Photo Caption 1: (Top) HFAC Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA); (Bottom) HFAC Ranking
Member Eliot Engel (D-NY).
Photo Caption 2: Armenian Assembly interns with Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, and Armenian religious dignitaries
after today's HFAC vote.
Photo Caption 3: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).
Available online: http://bit.ly/UNolL9
From: A. Papazian
June 26, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PASSES TURKEY CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
H.R. 4347 Requires the U.S. Secretary of State to issue an annual report
to Congress on the fate of Christian properties in Turkey
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC)
adopted H.R. 4347, the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act,
reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The legislation was
approved by voice vote, with amendments.
Introduced by HFAC Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel
(D-NY) in March, H.R. 4347 requires that the Secretary of State, on an
annual basis, `submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
report on the status and return of stolen, confiscated, or otherwise
unreturned Christian churches, places of worship, and other properties in
or from the Republic of Turkey and in northern Cyprus,' until the year 2021.
`We commend Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their strong
support of Armenian American issues and their vigilance in standing up for
religious minorities in Turkey,' stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. `It's not that more should be done. More must be done to protect
Armenian, Greek, Assyrian and other Christian minorities, their properties,
and their right to practice their religion in their ancestral home,'
Ardouny said.
`I have long been concerned that Christian heritage sites in Turkey have
been deteriorating and disappearing in the face of hostile government
policies,' Chairman Royce said. `Despite optimistic claims
by Turkish
leaders, a majority of religious properties remain unreturned. There is
even legislation before the Turkish Parliament to convert the landmark
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum to a mosque. The U.S. must hold
Turkish leaders to their promises. By passing this legislation, the U.S.
sends a message to Turkey that it must return church properties to their
rightful owners, while providing an objective measure of their progress
each year.'
In his opening remarks, Ranking Member Engel recognized Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and
Eastern Prelacy Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, who were both on hand to
witness the committee vote.
In addition to Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, Reps. Chris Smith
(R-NJ), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), David Cicilline
(D-RI), Albio Sires (R-NJ), and Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) also spoke in favor
of H.R. 4347.
However, the bill was heavily opposed before and during today's committee
vote. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) issued a letter last Friday calling on his
colleagues to oppose H.R. 4347. After days of working with committee
members to address their concerns, Chairman Royce offered an amended
version of H.R. 4347 at the beginning of the vote, which includes 15 new
findings and a new section that recognizes `some positive decisions last
year by the Turkish government.' Yet, despite the Chairman's accommodation
of additional language, Connolly proposed an amendment during the vote that
would have stripped the bill of virtually all of its findings. `I am
fearful,' Connolly said, restating the false adage that `now is not the
time' and indicating that `we need Turkey.' Congressman Gregory Meeks
(D-NY) voiced his support for the Connolly amendment and his strong
opposition to H.R. 4347.
In response, Chairman Royce emphasized that previous attempts to find a
solution, `have not resulted in progress,' and that Turkey
has been
`haphazard' in returning confiscated religious property. Ranking Member
Engel, as well as Reps. Cicilline and Lowenthal, also spoke in opposition
to the Connolly amendment and voiced their strong support for H.R. 4347.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) rebuked those opposing the bill, saying `we should
not be fearful' of Turkey, reminding his colleagues that fear =80=9Cinvites
impunity.' `If we have the inability to speak out against human rights
abuses then shame on us,' Smith said. `Friends don't let friends commit
human rights abuses,' he added. If you mention the Armenian Genocide in
Turkey `the Gulag will be at your door,' Smith exclaimed, as he banged his
fist on the desk. `The sword of Damocles hangs over churches in Turkey,'
Smith said.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) also spoke passionately in support of H.R. 4347,
recalling that after the Turkish government threatened to curtail its trade
relations with France for recognizing the Armenian Genocide, trade between
the two countries increased three-fold. The Connolly amendment was defeated
in a voice vote.
Following the Connolly amendment, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Rep. George
Holding (R-NC) offered amendments to H.R. 4347 that were adopted by voice
vote. These amendments added language further diluting the spirit of the
bill while simultaneously affording greater acclaim to the Turkish
government for half-measures taken after a century of abuses.
A copy of H.R. 4347, as amended, is available here. The Grayson amendment
is available here, and the Holding amendment is available here.
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: # 2014-037
Photo Caption 1: (Top) HFAC Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA); (Bottom) HFAC Ranking
Member Eliot Engel (D-NY).
Photo Caption 2: Armenian Assembly interns with Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, and Armenian religious dignitaries
after today's HFAC vote.
Photo Caption 3: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).
Available online: http://bit.ly/UNolL9
From: A. Papazian