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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), co-chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, sent the following letter today to Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, asking him to disregard threats made by the Turkish government that they will retaliate against the U.S. if Congress considers a resolution affirming the Armenian Genocide.
The Honorable Tom Lantos
Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives
2170 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Lantos:
We are writing to share our concerns regarding the Turkish government's threats to retaliate against our country if the U.S. Congress, exercising its Constitutional duties, moves toward adoption of a resolution affirming the Armenian Genocide.
These threats have been issued in response to our recent introduction -- along with more than 160 of our colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives -- of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.106. This measure seeks to affirm the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide, an important chapter in our nation's history marked by courageous diplomatic protests and unprecedented American relief efforts for the survivors of this crime.
It is our understanding that senior Turkish government officials have warned that, in response to Congress even considering this resolution, they will close supply pipelines for our forces serving in Iraq. This shameless threat to interfere in U.S. military operations is absolutely unacceptable and deeply offensive. Moreover, we have heard that senior Administration officials, rather than outright rejecting these outrageous intimidations, have instead passed them on to Members of Congress as justification for not supporting the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
Regardless of any Member's position on this resolution, it should be clear that a foreign government's interfering with U.S. congressional debate is completely inappropriate. As elected Members of Congress and the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, we are outraged that the Turkish government would put the lives of our troops abroad at risk in the pursuit of its increasingly desperate campaign to deny the systematic slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians.
We therefore respectfully request you reject any unduly warnings in relation to congressional consideration of legislation on the Armenian Genocide.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
FRANK PALLONE, JR. JOE KNOLLENBERG
Member of Congress Member of Congress |
