:::TurkishPAC:::

On this day, in 1981, an Armenian gunman assassinates Turkish Consulate Secretary, Mehmet Savas Yerguz, in Geneva, Switzerland, as he is leaving his office. Swiss authorities apprehend Mardiros Jamgotchian. Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) claims responsibility for the assassination.

 

TurkishPAC strongly condemns Armenian terrorist acts.

(Taken from www.ataa.org/reference)

Sacramento, CA - National and grassroots Turkish American associations joined power to defeat California Assembly Bill 961, a proposed law that sought to punish companies who did business in the Ottoman Empire or do who business in Turkey today.  The bill was introduced by Armenian Assemblyman Paul Krikorian and supported by nationalists Armenian groups. On the front line were activists from ATAA component organizations, the Turkish American Association of California (TAACA) and the Association of Turkish Americans of S. California (ATASC).  Ergun Kirlikovali and Karahan Mete lead over 25 local Turkish Americans to provide statements at the public hearings of the Business and Professions and Judiciary Committees.  An elderly Turkish American woman placed roses on the podium for each of her family members who were massacred during the Armenian Revolt (1885-1921), that caused the deaths and displacement of over 600,000 Muslims and Jews in Eastern Anatolia.

On this day, in 1982, an Armenian gunman assassinated Turkish Honorary Consul Orhan Gündüz  in Somerville, Massachusetts, while he waits in his automobile in rush-hour traffic. The gunman escapes. JCAG claims responsibility.

On this day, in 1984, two Armenian gunmen open fire on Isik Yonder, as he drives his wife, Sadiye Yonder, to the Turkish Embassy in Teheran, Iran, where she works. Isik Yonder is killed and Sadiye Yonder is injured. Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) claims responsibility.

TurkishPAC condemns Armenian terrorist acts.

(For more information: www.ataa.org/reference)

TurkishPAC reservedly welcomes President Obama’s avoidance of the term “genocide” in his statement on the occasion of the Armenian Remembrance Day, but deeply regrets his use of the nearly-as-offensive term "Medz Yeghern” to characterize the historical events. President Obama’s statement portrays a one-sided view of the historical events by grossly exaggerating the number of Armenian casualties while not mentioning Moslem, and even Jewish, sufferings. It is hoped that an impartial international commission of scholars, which we understand is envisioned in the road map prepared by the Armenian and Turkish parties in Switzerland, will pave the way for establishing historical truth related to the tragic events that took place nearly a century ago. Turkey has opened all its historical archives, while the Armenian archives remain mostly closed.

TurkishPAC supports President Obama’s call for a dialogue between Turks and Armenians and normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. It is hoped that this will contribute toward a long-term strategic alliance between Turkey and the United States. As outlined in our April 16 announcement, however, TurkishPAC believes that such normalization should be predicated on Armenia withdrawing from the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabagh and renouncing anti-Turkish reference in its constitution and modifying its stance toward Turkey in general.

TurkishPAC regrets that President Obama, while calling attention to the contributions of Americans of Armenian descent to the American society, has omitted a similar attribution to Turkish Americans, whose contributions have been no less significant.

TurkishPAC Board of Directors