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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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NR#: 2011-002
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.
Article: Tallahasse Democrat: Foreign Journalists Spending Time at Democrat
The Tallahassee Democrat
Foreign Journalists Spending Time at Democrat
By Ashley Ames • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Published: May 04. 2011 2:00AM
On April 22, two journalists from halfway across the world walked into the newsroom of the Tallahassee Democrat.
Ofelya Kamavosyan and Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu, both first-time visitors to the United States, are here for three weeks through the International Center for Journalist’s program, New Media, New Challenges: Turkish-Armenian-American Journalist Exchange Program.
Kamavosyan, who hails from Armenia, and Oztarsu, who is from Turkey, will be working as reporters at the Democrat.
ICJ’s program aims to develop professional skills and relationships between media professionals that will foster understanding, effective communication and collaboration between the three countries.
Kamavosyan and Oztarsu are hosted by Democrat staff for the duration of their stay, and at the end of three weeks their hosts will go to conferences in Turkey and Armenia to watch Kamavosyan and Oztarsu present on what they have learned. They are also working on a joint project for their presentation. Kamavosyan and Oztarsu are two out of 12 who were paired to participate in the program.
Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu, left, and Ofelya Kamavosyan are foreign journalists spending three weeks with the Tallahassee Democrat. (Photo by Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu)
Executive Editor Bob Gabordi said he is glad to have the Democrat participating in this partnership.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with ICFJ and have hosted journalists through the years from several former Soviet republics and Africa,” he said. “And now this is among the more interesting situations: two journalists from neighboring nations with a long history of distrust are here working together as a team.
“Their countries share a border that is closed to each other, and they have not had normal diplomatic relations for a very long time. Through their shared journalism and mutual respect, perhaps Mehmet and Ofelya can inspire progress. If we can be helpful by providing a common working environment, we are glad to do so.”
Ofelya Kamavosyan
I am an Armenian journalist working for the online daily armar.am. I also have worked for the daily Hayastani Hanrapetutyun (Republic of Armenia) for six years.
I have a bachelor’s in International Relations from Yerevan State University and a master’s in political science from Public Administration Academy of Armenia.
I previously worked at Armenpress News Agency as a correspondent. I cover both political and legal issues and events in Armenia.
I am 30 years old and this is my first time in the United States. During my first week with the Tallahassee Democrat, I have been impressed by the professional approach of the news staff and the extensive technical equipment available to the staff here.
This program is a good opportunity for us to learn how the American media operate, what are the differences and difficulties of our colleagues’ work. Everything is new for me here: the lifestyle, people, culture, nature and even English.
Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu
I am from Malatya, Turkey. I graduated from Baku Caucasus University with a focus on International Relations. I live in Yerevan and cover international politics for Turkish and Armenian media outlets.
I’m a co-author of “Nagorno Karabakh Conflict for 100 Questions,” an academic book for Qafqaz University. I have written another book, “Armenian Chronicles,” about my observations as a Turkish journalist working in Armenia. I am one of few Turks living in Armenia.
I am 25 years old and this is also my first time in the United States. It is a good experience for me. The style of journalism here, especially the business ethics, is very different from what I grew up with in Turkey.
I have found some Armenian people in Tallahassee and look forward to adding their observations to my book, “Armenian Chronicles.” It is scheduled to be published in the fall.
Florida Armenians 