FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2008
Contact: Nurten Ural, President, ATAA
Allison Block, Advocacy Director, ATAA
Tel: 202.483.9090
E-mail: assembly@ataa.org
ATAA Takes Action on Upcoming Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on the Caucasus Region
On Wednesday, June 18 at 10:00 am, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold an open hearing titled, "The Caucasus: Frozen Conflicts and Closed Borders." The Honorable Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State will be giving testimony. In advance of the hearing, ATAA has sent the following letter to each Member of Congress, which includes information on the pertinent issues in the region and Turkey's involvement therein.
June 11, 2008
Dear Honorable Representative,
On June 18, 2008, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will be holding a hearing regarding the South Caucasus, a critically important region that includes Turkey, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan Georgia and Armenia, and which serves as a link between Central Asia and the west through Turkey.
The Assembly of Turkish American Associations, which serves as the voice of a half-million Turkish and Turkic Americans, would like to point out certain important facts regarding Turkish-Armenian relations:
1. Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia (December 16, 1991). Following Armenia's invasion of Azerbaijan, its ethnic cleansing of thousands of Azeris, and the dislocation of over one million Azeris from their homes, Turkey suspended diplomatic ties with Armenia and closed its land border with Armenia in 1992. The Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan and refugee crisis continues to date despite several United Nations Security Council Resolutions condemning the invasion and demanding an end to the violent occupation.
2. Congressional Research Services report of May 2, 2008, "Armenia, Azerbaijan , and Georgia: Political Development and Implication s for U.S. Interests, states that there is an Armenian blockade of the Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan. While noting the economic impacts of the closed land border, CRS correctly has not chosen to call any of Turkey's actions a blockade or embargo.
3. Russian forces control Armenia's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan, while Armenian forces control Armenia's borders with Georgia and Iran. Armenia has entered military cooperation agreements with Russia and Iran, and now serves as a conduit for the transport of military assets between the two countries.
4. According to the Turkish Armenian Business Development Council, Turkish-Armenian trade reached over $130 million in 2005 and $200 million in 2007, and Turkey is among the top five countries in Armenian foreign trade.
5. Over one million Armenians have left Armenia since its independence in 1991 due its failure to improve its democracy and economy, and its aggression against Azerbaijan. More than 100,000 have immigrated to Turkey, where they have found jobs, established residences and joined Istanbul's thriving Armenian community. The Armenian immigration to Turkey continues, as Turkey provides visas to Armenians to enter Turkey.
6. Turkey has never hesitated to assist the Armenia people, providing food and energy to Armenia. To the extent permitted by Russian forces, Turkey facilitates transit trade between the west and Armenia. Turkey permits at least four direct flights between various Turkish cities and the Armenian capital per week. Turkey provides two air corridors for flights from Armenia, which are used by one hundreds flights per month.
7. A good example of the access Armenia enjoys to the west via Turkey, is Armenia's May 2008hosting of the Elite Round of the European Under-19 Soccer Championships. The vast majority of the teams that participated in the round traveled to Armenia from or over Turkey. During the tournament, the Turkish U-19s defeated Armenia 2-1 in a match that was a model of good sportsmanship. Turkey and Armenia have also drawn the same World Cup qualifications group, and for the first time ever the Turkish National team will be traveling to Armenia for an official game on September 6, 2008.
8. Turkey is making all efforts to normalize relations with a country that continuous to have contentious relations with Turkey, has invaded Azerbaijan, a strategic ally of Turkey and the United States, and who recently entered military cooperation with Iran and Russia. Regarding the Armenian allegation of genocide which threatens U.S.-Turkish relations with a politically motivated indictment in the form of resolution, in 2005 Turkey provided a proposal to Armenia to establish a Joint Historic Commission, the findings of which would be binding. The United States supports Turkey's proposal. However, three rounds of talks between the foreign ministries have not yet yielded any solid commitment from Armenia. To complicate matters further, Armenia has now made it a crime to dissent with the Armenian state and even question the Armenian claim of genocide.
The ATAA thanks you for your interest. If you have any question or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at (202) 483-9090 or by e-mail at assembly@ataa.org.
Sincerely,
Nurten Ural, President
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
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ATAA, a not-for-profit 501(3)c organization based in Washington DC, not only serves as a resource center for its members and component associations throughout the United States, it also works closely with Turkish American to develop an informed and effective Turkish American citizenry. In recent times, the ATAA is becoming a major resource for experts, policy makers, and media seeking a better understanding of U.S.-Turkish relations. To learn more about ATAA, please visit us at www.ataa.org
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