WASHINGTON—Armenian and Hellenic Americans from across the United States are calling on members of the House Natural Resources Committee to vote against legislation that would, if adopted as introduced, create special trade advantages for Turkey in its dealings with Indian Tribes, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
This trade measure is set to be “marked-up” along with a series of other bills on Thursday. An ANCA action alert calls on Members of this panel to oppose H.R.2362 based on a number of criteria, including the following three points:
— The U.S. Congress should not extend special economic benefits particularly in relation to Indian Tribes – to a country that remains an unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against millions of its own indigenous minorities, including Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and others.
— The U.S. Congress should not reward Turkey when it is blockading Armenia, threatening Cyprus, antagonizing Israel, attacking its own Kurdish population, and increasingly undermining U.S. regional priorities.
— The U.S. Congress should not risk violating our nation’s other trade agreements by putting Turkey at the head of the line, ahead of other countries that have been reliable and friendly allies of the United States.
Armenian and Hellenic Groups Register Concerns in Statements to Committee Leadership
A number of Armenian and Hellenic organizations, including the ANCA and American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), have outlined a broad range of concerns – from moral to economic to political – regarding H.R.2362.
In a statement issued Wednesday, ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian urges Committee members “to keep in mind our serious moral and practical reservations, as well as the clear inequities and even potential violations of trade agreements that would be involved in its adoption.” She explained that “the U.S. Congress should not extend special economic benefits to a country that remains an unrepentant perpetrator of genocide against millions of its own indigenous minorities, including Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and others.”
Nahapetian went on to cite a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, which notes that H.R.2362 “could violate our obligations under NAFTA and the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).” The ANCA statement argued “It remains an open and unanswered question as to why Congress should give Turkey an advantage over other countries, such as Canada, that have not only shown a material interest, but have actually already entered into agreements with tribes.”
AHEPA Chairman Dr. John Grossomanides explained, “AHEPA wishes to raise areas of concern that shed light on
1. Turkish threats to U.S. commercial interests;
2. Turkey’s mistreatment of minority communities; and
3. Turkish entities already in the United States.
AHEPA strongly contended that these three areas of concern are quite germane to the legislation because they demonstrate Turkish attitude toward U.S. commercial interests and behavior toward minority communities and reflect the existing track record of Turkish entities in the United States.”
The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA), PSEKA (International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus), Cyprus Federation of America, Pancyprian Association of America, and the American Hellenic Council are also opposing the measure.
Reps. Pallone and Sarbanes Offer Early Opposition to H.R.2362
In a detailed letter sent to the House Natural Resources Committee leadership prior to a subcommittee hearing on H.R.2362, Representatives John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) expressed serious reservations regarding the measure, noting that this type of arrangement would be unusual and potentially problematic,” and citing a broad range of concerns, including: Turkey’s threats against American business enterprises; Turkey’s mistreatment of religious and ethnic minorities; Turkey’s blockade of Armenia; and, Turkey’s illegal occupation of Cyprus, among other issues. “The fact that it is being specifically catered to Turkish interests makes it indefensible given Turkey’s recent, as well as historic, conduct,” contended the legislators.
The Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act of 2011 (H.R.2362) was introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) in June, and has only 13 cosponsors. The House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to vote on the measure on November 17 at 10 a.m. and will be webcast live.
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Is this not a bit too late? Not only the deadly weapons are already in Turkey in use but :
It seems that Ankara and Washington have achieved a certain agreement regarding legal sues of Armenian Americans against Turkish Banks , air base and Armenian property which Turkish president place been built on it . I would say White House has instruct the Federal Court in Californian to kill the California law which allows to put claims aginst Turkey regarding crime committed in connection with Armenian Genocide.
I would say the judges of Federal court being asked to “find ways” to nullify the “Californian law on Armenia Genocide” and so called Armenian Turkish protocol have there unique share in this case – simple Turkey has used the mentioned protocols beside other opportunities to “buy the judicial system “in US!
It is quite intriguing yet completely absurd that ANCA is trying to stop Turks from doing trade with Native Americans. I mean, why is it AnCA’s priority to hurt the Turks. This concept is so immature, so not-envisioned, that makes one wonder, why in the world would you spend time doing something of this sort when your country is facing massive immigration, corruption, poverty, unemployment is 39%, etc. (it’s not like I ran out of ideas, it’s just too embarrassing to put it all in this message). And whats ANCA doing? Trying to poke the giant with a needle… I mean, really?
ANCA is not a bad organization. They have a dedicated,modest staff but if they focused their efforts on something else, like some of the things I mentioned above, Armenia would be in a much better shape. Next time, let’s not be embarrassed at the Capitol Hill when, as I recall, one congressman said “Pols come my office and say ‘what have you done for Poland?’ Jews come and ask ‘what have you done for Israel?’ but when Armenians come they ask ‘what have you done to hurt Turkey?’ ”
Do we care more about hurting Turkey or helpIng our desperate country grow?
Turk-oglu so-called “Spyurka-high”: a Turk pretending to be a Armenian. When a Turk like you is trying to convince us you are Armenian, the least you can do is not make amateurish mistakes in your post. (I won’t tell you what they are: there are a whole bunch – dead giveaways).
On to ANCA: read what ANCA is objecting to. It is not trade with Turks; it is giving Turks preferential treatment when trading with Native Americans.
ANCA is a grassroots organization. By and large they do what the Armenian-American community wants them to do. We want to cause endless headaches for the State of Turkey.
Diaspora Armenians will use all the legal means available to endlessly cause problems for the Turkish State: until – Recognition, Reparations, and Return. Get used to it: it is not going away.
And about the giant and the needle ? have you heard of the expression “death by thousand cuts”.
Turkey vanishes the languages…the cultures …the religions
Continue changing people’s identity…
None of islamic countries could do this…
Even the Heart of Islam, Saudi arabia…
Prophet Muhammad said,
” Lakum deenoon wa li deen”
“You have religion, I have Religion…”
to mean…”Every one is free”
But this Islamic law never been applied there…
They force to Turkify every creatures even name of Animals…
Who existed before them there
Since 1000′ years…since they arrived from Mongolian lands…
Since 1915…they vanished Artful-Armenians from their ancient land
Recently have started with Kurds…Want to vanish 15-20 millions
Tomorrow on Alavis…They are another 10 million at least …
They can reach and vanish USA…Showing they are fair
Merkel and Sarkosy know them very well
Awake you Americans…Read some history
Read and Hear…
From others who have been slayed ( lyric word for slain) by their scimitars…
Theirs’ are still shining…preaching their false identity to vanish more…
SP