Transcript [PDF] - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

31
Chairman BERMAN. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. DELAHUNT. You know, I would echo the final sentiments expressed
by my friend from Texas. You know, this is a historical
agreement between Turkey and Armenia, and I believe it represents
something that is a watershed moment in the relationship
between those two nations. It has the potential to stabilize an entire
region, a region where we have substantial national security
interests.
The protocols include a timetable, and they call for the development
and normalization of relations between these two countries
and they are currently, as I am sure has been stated, under consideration
by the legislative bodies of both Turkey and Armenia.
If they are ratified, they would open the last closed European
border and establish a road map for normalized relations at long
last. They would obviously have significant benefits for Armenia,
increasing its political and economic and cultural links with Europe
and in opening up the possibility of Armenia to join the European
Union.
Let us remember that this agreement was negotiated and signed
by the Armenian Government. In fact, after the agreement was announced
the President of Armenia, President Sarkisian, went on a
diaspora tour, including stops in Paris, New York and Los Angeles,
to persuade diaspora Armenians that the protocols, and now I am
quoting him, ‘‘do not harm Armenia’s state and national interests,
but on the contrary,’’ and this is the critical language, ‘‘open new
opportunities for resolving the centuries old feud between these
countries.’’
Reconciliation between the Governments of Armenia and Turkey
would certainly benefit our own national interest. Passage of today’s
resolution undoubtedly is going to provoke a highly negative
reaction within Turkey across the entire political spectrum and
could sidetrack the normalization process between Armenia and
Turkey. That does nothing for Armenia, does nothing for Turkey
and it does nothing for the United States.
Yesterday I had an opportunity to meet with the chair of the
Turkish Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Murat Mercan. This is
what he stated to me. If the House Foreign Affairs Committee
passes H. Res. 252, it will imperil the normalization process and
could become a permanent impediment toward passing the protocols
in Turkey that everyone on this committee I daresay supports
and embraces.
Most importantly, and this is what my friend, Mr. McCaul, alluded
to. The issue which is the subject of this resolution is one
that Armenia and Turkey have agreed to deal with. This is the pertinent
language. There is a determination to implement a dialogue
in the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual covenants
between the two nations, including an impartial scientific
examination of the historical records and archives to define existing
problems and formulate recommendations.
Let us not put that process at risk by passing this resolution. I
am very concerned that passage of this resolution, as I said, will
undoubtedly hinder and might very well terminate the possibility
of success so that the Armenian people and the Turkish people can
address this issue and move forward.
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