House Foreign Affairs Committee Approves Amendment on Protection of Christian Heritage in Turkey
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE APPROVES AMENDMENT ON PROTECTION OF CHRISTIAN HERITAGE IN TURKEY
Florida Representatives Unanimously Support Berman-Cicilline Amendment
Washington, DC – Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Berman-Cicilline Amendment, which expresses the sense of Congress that Turkey should end all forms of religious discrimination and return confiscated church properties, as part of H.R.2583, the State Department-Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.
The Berman-Cicilline Amendment was offered by House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA) and David Cicilline (D-RI), both Members of the Armenian Caucus. The measure was adopted by a vote of 43-1.
Voting in favor of the amendment were all 6 Florida Representatives who serve on the Committee, namely, Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Reps. Connie Mack (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), David Rivera (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).
The bipartisan amendment is modeled after H. Res. 306, introduced by Congressmen Ed Royce (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA). Earlier it was reported that Florida Reps. Bilirakis and Ros-Lehtinen were original cosponsors of H. Res. 306. However, in a stunning retreat, Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen withdrew her cosponsorship on July 13, a week before the Committee vote. Sources close to the Committee indicated intensive lobbying efforts on the part of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C.
“The South Florida Armenian-American community thanks Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen for her vote in support of the Berman-Cicilline Amendment,” stated 18th Congressional district resident Raffy Yaghdjian. “At the same time, our community remains concerned when our elected officials flip-flop on human rights and freedom of religion issues,” Yaghdjian told FLArmenians.
Congressman Bilirakis is the only member of the Florida delegation that is currently a cosponsor to H. Res. 304 or H. Res. 306, the Armenian Genocide resolution and the Churches bill, respectively. Recently, Rep. Bilirakis delivered remarks on stopping religious persecution at a conference sponsored by the International Coalition for Religious Freedom titled “Stop Religious Persecution Now.”
Armenian-American and Greek-American organizations supported passage of the Berman-Cicilline Amendment. In a letter sent to all Committee Members prior to the vote, the Armenian Assembly of America, along with the Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian Church underscored the plight facing the Christian community in Turkey and the urgent need for Congress to act.
“Florida Armenians were pleased to see this issue raised and we thank Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen, Congressman Deutch, and all of our Florida Representatives for supporting this important measure,” stated Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor of St. David Armenian Church (Eastern Diocese) in Boca Raton. “We live in an era where nations are in search of expressing their unique and distinctive social, cultural and spiritual freedom. In every nation, religious minorities, particularly Christians in Turkey who have shaped its history and culture, must be granted the right to worship and pray in their own churches,” concluded Very Rev. Fr. Berberian.
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Florida Representatives Cosponsor Legislation Urging The Republic of Turkey to Safeguard its Christian Heritage
Florida Representatives Cosponsor Legislation Urging The Republic of Turkey to Safeguard its Christian Heritage
By Taniel Koushakjian
FLArmenians Political Contributor
On Tuesday, June 15, H. Res. 306, legislation “urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties” was introduced by House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Chairman on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA). Congressman Ed Royce is also the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues (Armenian Caucus). H. Res. 306 calls for the “return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and other artifacts,” in Turkey.
Joining Congressmen Royce and Berman were 30 original cosponsors, including Florida Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Congressman Bilirakis represents Florida’s 9th Congressional district (Palm Harbor) and serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Homeland Security Committee and is Vice Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Rep. Bilirakis has a strong voting record in support of Armenian issues, including Armenian Genocide affirmation, and is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen represents Florida’s 25th Congressional district (Miami) and Chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Both Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen and Rep. Bilirakis are members of the Armenian Caucus. However, although voting in support of Armenian Genocide resolutions in 2000 and 2005, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen voted against the same legislation in 2007 and 2010.
In addition to H. Res. 306, on June 15 Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) along with Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced H. Res. 304, the Armenian Genocide resolution. Congressman Bilirakis joined his Armenian Caucus colleagues by cosponsoring H. Res. 304 on July 16. He is the only Member of the Florida delegation to consistently cosponsor Armenian Genocide resolutions. Both bills have been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee where they await committee action.
As the size of the Armenian community expands throughout the state, it is important for Florida Armenians to inform and educate their elected officials about important issues and concerns. From state and local governments, to our Representatives serving us in Congress, Florida Armenians are ready to play an active role in having our voice heard in Washington.
* This story was updated on July 18 at 8:47 p.m.
A New Fusion Cuisine is Born: Flormenian Cuisine (Floridian-Armenian)
A New Fusion Cuisine is Born: Flormenian Cuisine (Floridian-Armenian)
By Robyn and Douglas Kalajian
FLArmenians Cuisine Contributors
The best part of mango season here in Florida is the end, when the ripe fruit tumbles from the trees and spreads across lawns and backyards.
Friends beg you to take home a bag or two. Some people actually leave piles of them by the curb, inviting passers-by to scoop them up.
Mangos
We came home with a surprise armload of free mangoes the other day and decided to try something a little different instead of the usual mango desserts. We had lamb on the brain, as usual, so we settled on a lamb-mango stew.
Mango isn’t part of the Armenian kitchen tradition, but apricots and other fruits are. We wondered, could our local bounty be a tasty substitute? The short answer is: Yes!
We knew mango and lamb would work because it’s done in India, although the recipes we found were variations on curry. We wanted a more traditional Armenian taste, and we also wanted to keep it simple.
We have a habit of freezing lamb tidbits — the pieces that don’t quite work as kebab — so we started by defrosting a container full. We also cooked up some fresh neck bones and picked the meat off them. (You know the drill: You just boil and boil, and then boil some more.)
We wound up with about two cups of well-trimmed lamb meat, and about three cups of broth. Basically, we added about two cups of sliced mangoes, seasoned the mix and kept on cooking.
The main seasonings: sumac, coriander, onions and garlic. If you’re not familiar with sumac, you should cozy up as soon as you have the chance. It’s a tart berry, almost lemony but with a unique flavor.
We infused the broth by placing two tablespoons of the whole, dried sumac berries in a tea strainer and letting it simmer for about 10 minutes.
The sumac balanced the sweetness of the mango perfectly. We also added a little heat with some fresh, diced ginger and a heaping tablespoon of Aleppo red pepper.
The result tasted something like an Armenian chutney: sweet, but not too sweet.
Overall, we were really happy (and a little surprised) at how nicely it all came together. One thing we’d change: I put all the mango in the broth with the lamb and let it all cook together for almost an hour. As a result, the mango pretty much melted. I should have reserved half the mango for the last 10 or 15 minutes for more fruity chunks.
Armenian Lamb Mango Stew
Armenian Lamb Mango Stew (serves 4)
2 cups cooked, trimmed lamb meat
3 cups lamb broth (or chicken broth)
2 cups sliced, fresh mango
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon finely diced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 tablespoons whole sumac, or 1 teaspoon ground sumac
salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup fresh yogurt
a few springs of fresh mint
Directions:
1. Start with broth in a stew pot, reserving the lamb. Bring to a simmer.
2. Place the sumac in a tea strainer and lower into the broth. Leave it there about 10 minutes, until the broth is flavored. If you don’t have a strainer, or whole sumac, you can just add ground sumac when you add the other seasonings. If you don’t have either, use a tablespoon of lemon juice.
3. Sauté the onion, garlic and ginger in olive oil until just soft but not brown, then add to the broth.
4. Add 1 cup of the sliced mango, reserving the other.
5. Add the lamb.
6. Add the red pepper and coriander, plus salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Cook it all for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mango is blended and the lamb is tender.
8. Add the rest of the mango and cook another 10-15 minutes.
Serve over white rice or pilaf if you like. Garnish each serving with a dollop of cold yogurt and a sprig of fresh mint. And don’t forget to eat the mint!
Robyn Kalajian is a retired culinary teacher in Florida and Chief Cook at http://www.TheArmenianKitchen.com. Douglas Kalajian is a retired editor/journalist (Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post) and Sous Chef at http://www.TheArmenianKitchen.com.
Florida Armenians 