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 WASHINGTON–Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has formally shared the
reservations of the Silver State’s Armenian community regarding
the dangers of the recently signed Turkey-Armenia Protocols with
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
In a October 30, 2009 letter to ANCA-Nevada
activist Razmig Libarian, the Senate leader reported that he had
recently written to Secretary Clinton to pass along the concerns
of his state’s citizens of Armenian heritage, and to encourage
her to meet directly with the national leadership of the
Armenian American community regarding the state of
Turkey-Armenia relations.
In his letter to Secretary Clinton, dated
October 20, 2009, Senator Reid wrote: “I am sure you are aware
that this agreement has raised concerns in the Armenian
community inside the United States. I have received many letters
from Nevadans who do not support the creation of an
international commission to examine the historical record on the
genocide and who believe that the agreements are unfair to
Armenia. (I have included a sample letter below). Given the
serious nature of the community’s concerns, I felt it was
important to raise them directly with you. The commission is
particularly sensitive to the Armenian-American community since
the Armenian genocide has never been recognized by Turkey.”
Despite the high profile of Armenia-Turkey
ties in the Obama-Biden Administration’s foreign policy agenda,
neither President Obama nor Secretary Clinton has met with the
Armenian American community leadership.
The full text of both letters is provided below.
October 30, 2009
Dear Mr. Libarian:
Thank you for contacting me about your concerns regarding
relations between Armenia and Turkey. I appreciate hearing from
you.
I have always, and will continue to, recognize the terrible
atrocities that took place in 1915 as genocide. As I said to
those gathered for the Armenian American Cultural Society of Las
Vegas’ annual commemoration on April 19, 2009, I believe that
the United States should acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
On September 1, 2009, Armenia and Turkey signed protocols
that expressed a desire to establish diplomatic relations
between the two nations and open the border to trade. Final
agreement is pending the ratification of the protocols by each
country’s Parliament. As you note, these protocols also called
for the formation of a commission to study the Armenian
genocide.
I certainly appreciate the concerns that you raise in your
letter and believe that it is important that the specifics
issues you raise about the historical commission are taken into
consideration. I recently wrote to Secretary Clinton to let her
know about the concerns I have heard from my constituents on
this issue, and included a sample copy of letters I have
received. I also asked her to meet with the Armenian-American
community to discuss these issues. The full text of my letter to
Hilary Clinton is below.
Thank you once again for contacting me, and I hope you will
continue to keep in touch. My best wishes to you.
Sincerely,
HARRY REID
United States Senator
Nevada
TEXT OF SENATOR REID’S LETTER TO SECRETARY CLINTON
October 20, 2009
The Honorable Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
Department of State
22001 C Street, NW
Room 7226
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Secretary Clinton:
I am writing about the recent agreement to establish normal
diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia. I know you have
personally been involved in the negotiation of this agreement
and
appreciate your attention on the issues I am raising today.
I am sure you are aware that this agreement has raised
concerns in the Armenian community inside the United States. I
have received many letters from Nevadans who do not support the
creation of an international commission to examine the
historical record on the genocide and who believe that the
agreements are unfair to Armenia. (I have included a sample
letter below). Given the serious nature of the community’s
concerns, I felt it was important to raise them directly with
you. The commission is particularly sensitive to the
Armenian-American community since the Armenian genocide has
never been recognized by Turkey.
I would also respectfully suggest that you meet directly with
Armenian-American groups so they have an opportunity to share
their views with you. Thank you again for your consideration of
this request and your interest in this important national
security issue.
Sincerely,
HARRY REID
United States Senator
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