Washington briefing: Expert: Armenia-Turkey protocols undermine congressional resolutions

by Emil Sanamyan

Published: Thursday November 26, 2009

Greg Aftandilian at an August 2009. POMED.org

The agreements signed by the Armenian and Turkish governments last month will serve to chip away at congressional support for Armenian Genocide resolutions, according to a former State Department analyst and senior foreign-policy advisor in Congress.

Gregory Aftandilian spoke at a November 19 event organized by Policy Forum - Armenia, a nonprofit association, and George Washington University Law School.

Mr. Aftandilian called "naïve" the view expressed by Armenian president Serge Sargsyan, in his recent interview with the Armenian Reporter, that all countries would recognize the Armenian Genocide "sooner or later." Mr. Aftandilian said progress on human-rights issues rarely occurs without persistent advocacy.

And the protocols, he argued, will provide an excuse for "softer" supporters of Armenian issues in Congress to withdraw their backing for resolutions.

This erosion of congressional support appears to be already underway, according to letters to constituents made available to the Armenian Reporter.

In separate responses to letters requesting support for recognition, Sens. Mark Udall (D.-Colo.) and Michael Bennet (D.-Colo.) underscored their desire not to upset the Armenia-Turkey normalization process. Both officials have backed affirmation in the past.

Another past resolution supporter, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D.-Colo.), now withholds his support similarly citing the Obama administration's efforts to facilitate Armenia-Turkey talks.