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 WASHINGTON–President
Barack Obama’s National Security Advisor James L. Jones, in a
letter sent recently to a bipartisan group of 82 U.S.
Representatives, failed to meaningfully respond to the specific
concerns raised by these legislators with the President
regarding Turkey’s ongoing efforts to block U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).
The letter from Jones, dated September 17,
2009, sidestepped concerns regarding Turkey’s backtracking from
the commitments it has made as part of its discussions with
Armenia, and, most notably, Ankara’s use of this dialogue to
serve its longstanding interest in preventing Presidential
commemoration and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.
In his letter, Jones used the very evasive
and euphemistic terminology, in the place of an honest and
straightforward recognition of this genocidal crime, that
President Obama powerfully condemned as “inexcusable” while a
U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate.
On July 30 of this year, 82 members of the
U.S. House shared their concerns with President Obama about
Turkey’s efforts to manipulate the public perception of its
dialogue with Armenia to block U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. The legislators stressed in their letter, that, in
light of Turkey backtracking from its commitments, it was
especially important for the President to honor his campaign
pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
“It would appear that Turkey, in an effort to
block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, agreed to a
roadmap it did not intend to uphold,” explained the legislators
in their July 2009 letter. “Therefore, we urge your
Administration to separate the issues of normalization and
genocide recognition. We hope that renewed efforts and focused
resources from the Administration can be utilized to nurture the
Armenia-Turkey normalization process without preconditions and
within a reasonable timeframe, and continue to remain strongly
supportive of your stated campaign policy to officially
recognize the Armenian Genocide.”
The Congressional letter was initiated by
Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), who
co-chair the Armenian Caucus, and Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George
Radanovich (D-CA), the lead authors of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, H.Res.252. Joining them as co-signers were
Representatives: Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Joe Baca (D-CA), Michele
Bachmann (R-MN), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA),
Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Bruce Braley, (D-IA), John Campbell,
(R-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Dennis
Cardoza (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joe
Courtney (D-CT), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-OR),
Steve Driehaus (D-OH), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA),
Bob Filner (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Elton Gallegly (R-CA),
Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey
(D-NY), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Jesse Jackson,
Jr. (D-IL), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Leonard
Lance (R-NJ), James Langevin (D-RI) Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander
Levin (D-MI), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Daniel Lungren (R-CA). Stephen Lynch (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus
McCotter (R-MI), James McGovern (D-MA) Jerry McNerney (D-CA),
Candice Miller (R-MI), Walt Minnick (D-ID), Grace Napolitano
(D-CA), Richard Neal (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), John Olver
(D-MA) Payne, Donald (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Collin Peterson
(D-MN), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Steven Rothman
(D-NJ), Edward Royce (R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL) Paul Ryan (R-WI),
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD) James Sensenbrenner
(R-WI), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Mark Souder
(R-IN), Zack Space (D-OH), Jackie Speier (D-CA), John Tierney
(D-MA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Niki Tsongas
(D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Walz (D-MN), Henry Waxman
(D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Lynn
Woolsey (D-CA).
The full text of the
letter from James Jones to President Obama follows.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 17, 2009
Dear Representative________:
Thank you for your July 30 letter to the
President regarding the normalization of relations between
Armenia and Turkey following their April 22nd announcement of an
agreed framework and roadmap. We agree that the Armenia-Turkey
normalization process, which has important benefits for both
sides, should move forward without preconditions and within a
reasonable timeframe. Toward this end, we are actively engaged
at the highest levels to support full restoration of relations
between Turkey and Armenia. On August 31, the U.S. warmly
welcomed the joint statement made by Turkey and Armenia, with
Swiss participation, outlining further steps in the
normalization of their bilateral relations.
Thank you also for your restatement of your
position on the massacres of 1915, which the President has
described as one of the great atrocities of the 20th century.
As he said in his Remembrance Day message, his view of that
history has not changed. Our interest remains the achievement of
a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts. We continue
to believe the best way to advance that goal is for the Armenian
and Turkish people to address the facts of the past as part of
their efforts to move forward. We will continue to pursue these
efforts vigorously in the months ahead.
Sincerely,
[signed]
General James L. Jones, USMC, Ret.
National Security Advisor
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