InternationalWashington briefing: Armenian-American groups split on Turkey protocols
Published: Friday September 18, 2009
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Washington - The protocols on the establishments of bilateral relations and diplomatic relations that Armenia and Turkey are expected to sign on October 13 continue to be debated by Armenian-Americans.
The traditional political parties – the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaks), the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramkavars) – have opposed the initiative, while the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) and the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) have issued conditional endorsements.
In a September 9 letter addressed to President Barack Obama, leaders of the AAA and AGBU and the primates of the Eastern and Western Dioceses of the Armenian Church referred to the protocols and said they "look[ed] forward to a positive outcome" and the normalization of relations.
At the same time, they expressed concern with Turkey's efforts to link talks with Armenia to the Karabakh peace process and warned that "if this normalization process is used as a smokescreen for not reaffirming the Armenian Genocide and the U.S. record, it will be a blow to the rapprochement process."
Meanwhile, in Southern California, the protocols' opponents have organized a series of public protests and public meetings to denounce the deal as compromising Armenian interests. Much of the criticism has focused on the impact the protocols would have on efforts to win international condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and address its consequences.
In Washington, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) will organize two town hall-style meetings to discuss the protocols on September 24 and 26.
