NOTE TO THE EDITOR: Following please find a letter to the editor of “The Wall Street Journal,” printed March 12, 2007, exposing earlier misleading assertions by former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris regarding Congressional reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

Other letters printed on the same topic included those of Dr. Dikran Abrahamian, from Ontario, Canada and Ross Vartian, Executive Director of USA-PAC.

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The Wall Street Journal
Letters to the Editor
March 17, 2007
Page A13

Turkey, and the U.S., Must Confront Genocide’s Reality

In his March 3 editorial-page commentary “Don’t Go Cold on Turkey,” former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris opposes U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. His main contention is that this will result in a “train wreck” with an important, long-standing American ally.

Amb. Parris and the other opponents of honestly recognizing this crime are once again crying wolf. “Train wrecks” were loudly but falsely predicted before President Reagan’s 1981 public affirmation of the Armenian genocide, the 1984 designation by the House of April 24 as a day for its remembrance, as well as before the amendments passed by the House in 1996 and 2004 restricting U.S. aid to Turkey based on its denial of this crime against humanity.

Despite threats of retribution, Turkey has taken only token steps against the European Parliament, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Argentina, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and other states and international bodies that have recognized the Armenian genocide.

In fact, despite all its threats in 2001 against France’s recognition of the Armenian genocide, trade between France and Turkey grew 22% the following year, and has grown by 131% over the past five years.

Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman
Armenian National Committee of America
Washington