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ISTANBUL: Ankara criticizes 'anti-Turkish' bill on Christian propert

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  • ISTANBUL: Ankara criticizes 'anti-Turkish' bill on Christian propert

    Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
    June 28 2014


    Ankara criticizes 'anti-Turkish' bill on Christian properties

    ANKARA (AA)

    Turkey has strongly criticized a U.S. House committee bill that
    directs the State Department to monitor the return of property
    confiscated from Christians in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of
    Northern Cyprus.

    "While the clear and concrete steps that Turkey has taken for the
    improvement of the rights and freedoms of all of its citizens,
    including for the non-Muslim minorities are evident; attempts by
    anti-Turkish circles in the U.S. Congress, driven by domestic
    political considerations, to push such unconstructive and baseless
    initiatives are unacceptable," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a
    statement June 27.

    The bill, which passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee on
    Thursday, requires the U.S. secretary of state to provide an annual
    report to Congress regarding Washington's efforts to secure the return
    and restoration of "stolen, confiscated, or otherwise unreturned
    Christian properties" in Turkey and the northern Cyprus.

    Terming the bill as "null and void as far as Turkey is concerned," the
    statement stressed that such initiatives were incongruous with the
    existing spirit of partnership and alliance between the two
    traditional allies.

    Introduced by Republican Committee Chairman Ed Royce and ranking
    Democrat Eliot Engel in March, the bill received bipartisan support in
    the committee, but was met with opposition from Democrats Gerry
    Connolly and Gregory Meeks.

    "It simply does not reflect the relationship the U.S. has cultivated
    with Turkey, a close and trusted NATO ally," said Connolly. "Passing
    this legislation will lead to a rupture in our relationship with
    Turkey at a time when the preservation of our strategic alliance
    should be a top priority."

    The bill is unlikely to go for a full vote until after the summer recess.

    It requires the U.S. secretary of state to report no later than 180
    days later on the State Department's engagement with Turkish
    authorities to return the properties.

    Lauding the adoption of the bill, Chairman of the Armenian National
    Committee of America Ken Hachikian said the measure sent a strong
    signal to Ankara that it must come to terms with its obligations to
    Armenians.

    The Armenian diaspora claims that the loss of lives suffered by
    Ottoman Armenians during their relocation in 1915 constitutes a
    "genocide."

    Turkey rejects the claim, saying that both Turks and Armenians were
    killed when a portion of the Armenian population sided with invading
    Russians and staged an armed revolt against the Ottoman authority
    during the First World War.

    The uprisings were followed by a decision by the government in
    Istanbul to relocate the Armenians living in eastern Anatolia.

    June/28/2014

    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ankara-criticizes-anti-turkish-bill-on-christian-properties------.aspx?pageID=238&nID=68403&NewsCatID=510


    From: Baghdasarian
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