Senator Boxer placed a "hold" on Matt Bryza's confirmation as Ambassador to Azerbaijan . Her stand represents a powerful symbol of how thoughtful Senators and active citizens can ensure that U.S. diplomacy is driven by American values, not special interests.
On Monday of this week The Wall Street Journal was on the offensive, unfairly attacking Senator Boxer for daring to question Bryza's nomination. In a mean-spirited editorial, the Journal bitterly and repeatedly attacked the ANCA's "hard line" opposition to Bryza's deeply flawed nomination. (Well, if "hard line" means fearlessly standing up to anti-Armenian interests, it's a badge we all wear with honor.)
We can't accept is the Journal's insulting our community by demeaning all of us, who believe in Armenian Genocide recognition, as somehow suffering from a "tribal Caucasian obsession."
It's an outrage that the Journal so scornfully smears an entire ethnic group. And for what? The "crime" of honoring the victims of genocide. Disgraceful!
This is a new interview of ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian to Voice of America. He explains that Obama's nomination of Bryza will die when the Senate changes after November and Obama will have to re-nominate the new Ambassador:
Showing posts with label Matthew Bryza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew Bryza. Show all posts
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
ANCA Action Alert: Ask your Senators to Oppose the Bryza Nomination
Armenian National Committee of America, Action Alert
Ask your Senators to Oppose the Bryza Nomination: Call your Senators TODAY!
On Tuesday, September 21, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to vote on Matthew Bryza, President Obama's controversial nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Senator Barbara Boxer, last month, requested a delay in the Committee vote in order to provide Senators with a meaningful opportunity, during the August recess, to examine Mr. Bryza's diplomatic record, conflict of interest issues, and his written responses to Senate inquiries.
Matt Bryza's troubling diplomatic track record, his potential conflict of interest issues, and his recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee clearly establish that he is not the right person to advance U.S. interests and America values as Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Please call on your two U.S. Senators to prevent the confirmation of this deeply flawed nomination.
Matt Bryza's troubling diplomatic track record, his potential conflict of interest issues, and his recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee clearly establish that he is not the right person to advance U.S. interests and America values as Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Please call on your two U.S. Senators to prevent the confirmation of this deeply flawed nomination.
Simply type in your ZIP Code and you will get an easy-to-use phone script to call your U.S. Senators TODAY. Calling is quick and easy.
You can watch the Bryza confirmation hearing online on the ANCA website:
http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=1913
You can read the ANCA's concerns about the Bryza nomination at:
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/BryzaNomination.pdf
You can watch the Bryza confirmation hearing online on the ANCA website:
http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases.php?prid=1913
You can read the ANCA's concerns about the Bryza nomination at:
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/BryzaNomination.pdf
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Armenian news site: "Greek-Cypriots Oppose Bryza Nomination"
date: 13 September 2010
NEW YORK–The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) on Monday issued a statement calling on Greek-Cypriot Americans to “strongly oppose” the nomination of Matthew Bryza to the open position of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan. The statement described Bryza as a biased and “unsuitable representative” for the post and urged activists to make their opposition felt through an Armenian National Committee of America Action Alert asking Senators to Oppose the Nomination.
We present the statement below in its entirety:
NEW YORK—On August 3rd, the US Senate Foreign relations Committee chairman John Kerry postponed a committee vote on the nomination of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan designate Matt Bryza in response to a hold over request by Senator Barbara Boxer.
Matt Bryza’s troubling diplomatic record and his conflicts of interest issues in regards to his bias towards Turkey’s cycle of impunity and denial of Turkey’s crimes of Genocide and Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus makes him an unsuitable representative for America in any post.
The Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) calls on Greek-Cypriot Americans to strongly oppose the Bryza nomination based on his support of the deeply flawed Annan plan. Based on Turkish-British racist bizonal bicommunal federation, the Annan Plan would have falsely legitimized the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, would have allowed the illegal Turkish settlers to remain in homes and properties stolen from Greek-Cypriots by the Turkish military and would have ultimately transformed Cyprus into a Turkish protectorate with British bases, after the eventual forced migration of all Greek-Cypriots and all other indigenous Christian minorities on the island — Latins, Arab Maronites and Armenians.
FACTS ABOUT MATT BRYZA AND THE PRO-TURKISH ANNAN PLAN
At a press conference on July 21, 2006 on his return from a ten day trip to Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, in response to a question on the status of the Annan Plan and whether it’s off the table, he stated: “I would just repeat what I said, that the basic ideas that are—that became known as the Annan Plan reflect wisdom and hard work and a spirit of fairness, I would argue.”
In his July 21, 2006 press conference, Bryza responded to a question from a Turkish reporter from the Anatolia News Agency asking “what does the U.S. government plan to help these people [Turkish Cypriots] end their isolation?”
Mr. Bryza responded “that we have done a number of things….We are providing $30.5 million in assistance…to the Turkish Cypriot community….So we are already actively working to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots—or to ease the isolation of Turkish Cypriots.”
In a Press Release on the official website of the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC, Matt Bryza is quoted prominently as follows:
““We are constantly thinking about how we can minimize, reduce, eliminate the isolation of our Turkish Cypriot friends. This is not simply because we seek to reward our Turkish Cypriot friends for voting in favor of the Annan Plan, but because we realize that the best way to facilitate a long term settlement is to raise the economic well-being of Turkish Cypriots so that there are not economic disparities between the north and the south.”
Mr. Bryza’s comments are a prime example of his continuing personal lobbying on behalf of Turkey .
Mr. Bryza’s persistent parroting of Turkey’s arguments based on false historical revisionism of Turkey’s crimes of invasion and occupation of Cyprus are a deliberate effort to mislead Washington and Americans overall about the truth regarding Turkey.
Mr. Bryza is married to Zeyno Baran a Turkish-born foreign analyst at the Hudson Institute. Baran is a major producer of Turkish invasion denial propaganda over the years. She and Bryza have documented links and connections to the Turkish government and deep state involved in making Turkish-occupied-Cyprus an illegal base for international narcotics trafficking and terrorism.
Matt Bryza in no way should represent American interests; we encourage the Greek-Cypriot American community and its friends to join the Armenian-American community to stop Bryza.
TAKE ACTION:
Armenian National Committee of America ANCA Action Alert: Ask your Senators to Oppose the Bryza Nomination. Call your Senators TODAY!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Washington Times Carries Cyprus Action Network of America’s Call to Oppose Bryza nomination
Washington Times Carries Cyprus Action Network of America’s Call to Oppose Bryza nomination
For Immediate Release: September 17, 2010
Contact: Nikolaos Taneris, Tel. (917) 699-9935
WASHINGTON, DC—James Morrison, columnist, Washington Times, made the Cyprus Action Network of America’s recent call to oppose the nomination of Matt Bryza to the post of American ambassador to Azerbaijan the lead of his prominent “Embassy Row” column in the Thursday. September . 16 edition of the Washington Times.
Morrison wrote in his lead paragraphs:
“In the hottest diplomatic dispute facing Congress as it convenes next week, Armenian-Americans are stepping up their campaign to prevent Matthew J. Bryza from serving as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to consider his nomination on Tuesday. They have picked up support from Cypriot-Americans, who complain that Mr. Bryza, whose wife was born in Turkey, is biased toward Turkish positions on Cyprus.” Morrison also added “The Cyprus Action Network of America on Monday registered its opposition to Mr. Bryza.” And then Morrison quoted extensively from the Cyprus Action Network of America’s statement "Matt Bryza's troubling diplomatic record and his conflict of interest issues in regard to his bias toward Turkey's cycle of impunity and denial of Turkey's crime of genocide and Turkey's illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus makes him an unsuitable representative in any post," it said in a statement.”
The Washington Times columnist also noted that Mr. Bryza a career US foreign service worker has been criticized for refusing to condemn the Turkish troops illegally occupying Cyprus , and the columnist went on to quote Senator Menendez who, in his written questions, asked Mr. Bryza to "explain why you believe that a U.S. [congressional] resolution recognizing the genocide in Armenia would harm our relationship with Turkey."
Morrison’s “Embassy Row” column is found at:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/16/embassy-row-435598625/
To view the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA)’s complete statement along with the Greek translation of Greek-Cypriot refugee journalist and researcher Mrs. Fanoulla Argyrou’s letter to the US Senate to oppose the Matt Bryza nomination, please visit the Cyprus Action Network of America (CANA) website at: http://cyprusactionnetwork.org/
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Letter to members of the US Senate: Mat Bryza’s pro-Turkish devotion incompatible with human rights principles
We copy an open letter of veteran journalist, author and researcher Fanoulla Argyrou to the members of the US Senate, regarding the possible nomination of Matthew Bryza. Please distribute this letter to blogs and social networking sites.
Mat Bryza’s pro-Turkish devotion incompatible with human rights principles
Honourable Members of the United States Senate,
We have heard that the US Senate Foreign Relations committee chairman John Kerry, in response to a request by Senator Barbara Boxer, has postponed the committee vote on the nomination of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan designate Matt Bryza.
We welcome this move and hope that enough time will be allowed and enough research will go into the preliminary work needed to establish the suitability or not of Mr. Bryza to this post.
We remember Mr. Bryza very well and his statements during 2006 when he toured our area.
In his July 21, 2006 press conference, Matt Bryza responded to a question from a Turkish reporter from the Anatolia News Agency asking "what does the U.S. Government plan to help these people [Turkish Cypriots] end their isolation?"
Mr. Bryza responded "that we have done a number of things. We are providing $30.5 million in assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community. So we are already actively working to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots-or to ease the isolation of Turkish Cypriots."
That was an insult to us Greek Cypriots, victims of a brutal Turkish invasion and continued occupation of half of our country Cyprus, a member of the UN and the EU. The Turkish Cypriots are not in any isolation whatsoever. That is a fabricated myth by Turkish propaganda. The Cyprus issue is not “the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots” but the fact that Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and still holds under occupation half of a sovereign country.
The majority of Turkish Cypriots supported and welcomed the Turkish invading forces and joined them in their invasion against us the Greek Cypriots. To this day they condone Turkey in her violations of our human rights. It is us the Greek Cypriots who are isolated in that since the Turkish invasion in 1974 for 36 years Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots do not allow us to return to our land and properties. The Turks, Turkish Cypriots and the imported Turkish Anatolian population of settlers (purposely imported by Turkey in order change the demography of the occupied area and fill in the gap she created by the forceful uprooting of us the 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees) are using however our stolen properties without our permission.
In total violation of our human rightsThe Turkish Cypriots enjoy the benefits of “both worlds”. Unlike us the victims and uprooted Greek Cypriot refugees, are free to travel anywhere in Cyprus, have been issued passports of the Republic of Cyprus, identity cards, they travel thus as citizens of the EU anywhere and their children enter European universities, they enjoy free medical, they come every day to the free part and work and get paid without paying taxes, whereas we the Greek Cypriots have to pay for our health cover [see APPENDIX I]. They are paid pensions, welfare, and all the benefits as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus without paying a penny in taxes and obligations. We the Greek Cypriots have in fact become second class citizens in our own country because it us the Greek Cypriots who subsidise them!
Furthermore Turkey in 1974 has murdered thousands of Greek Cypriots, 1619 are still missing presumed murdered as well and Turkey still does not reveal the whereabouts of these people in order relieve their families of the misery of waiting and dying without knowing what happened to their loved ones.
The Turkish invading army raped well over 800 Greek Cypriot women of all ages. The actual number to be precise reaches 2,000 and the 800 number represents those who had abortions.
At a press conference on July 21, 2006 on his return from a ten day trip to Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, in response to a question on the status of the Annan Plan and whether it's off the table, he stated:
"I would just repeat what I said, that the basic ideas that are-that became known as the Annan Plan reflect wisdom and hard work and a spirit of fairness, I would argue."
The Annan Plan was a monstrosity of the worst kind that provided Turkey 99% of all her demands over Cyprus i.e. giving her the control of the whole island on a platter. (Statement of admission by Turkish veteran journalist M.A. Birand). That plan excluded the 200,000 Greek Cypriots from returning to their homes, was that American “wisdom” and “fairness”? That plan opened Turkey an avenue to turkify the island in only few years after that. The people of Cyprus rejected that plan during the referendum on 24 April 2004. 76% of the Greek Cypriots rejected it and if one separates the vote of the illegal settlers from those of the Turkish Cypriot votes will find that even the indigenous Turkish Cypriots rejected that apartheid solution. Which favoured Turkey and only Turkey.
Mr. Bryza in his July 21 2006 statement found “wisdom” in it, “hard work” and “spirit of fairness”. Well, wisdom and fairness are two things that plan definitely did not reflect. What Mr. Bryza’s statement reflected though was his pro-Turkish stance which relates to his undisputable conflict of interest which stretches to his Turkish contacts. Starting from his Turkish born wife who is a major producer of Turkish invasion denial propaganda over the years.
Mr. Bryza is considered a major asset for Turkey but not for America.
We hope the Senate will use adequate judgement in taking the proper and right decision in respect and protection of the principles of human rights. To protect the victims and not those who offend.
Yours sincerely,
Fanoulla Argyrou
Refugee from occupied Nicosia, Cyprus.
London
APPENDIX I
According to information provided by the Cyprus Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus Christofias Government up until December 2009 had given the Turkish Cypriots 167,28 million Euros! (And that is only from the present Government)
Break down figures:
22,62 million Euros for medical services
117,9 million Euros in social benefits
1,22 million Euros for child benefits and student grants
9,25 million Euros for agricultural purposes
4,35 million Euros for education
4,22 million Euros for electricity supply to the occupied
0,26 million Euros for telecommunications
7,46 million Euros in looking after the Muslim places of worship and houses in the free part of Cyprus, the Turkish language department at the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and retaining the check points.
Mat Bryza’s pro-Turkish devotion incompatible with human rights principles
Honourable Members of the United States Senate,
We have heard that the US Senate Foreign Relations committee chairman John Kerry, in response to a request by Senator Barbara Boxer, has postponed the committee vote on the nomination of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan designate Matt Bryza.
We welcome this move and hope that enough time will be allowed and enough research will go into the preliminary work needed to establish the suitability or not of Mr. Bryza to this post.
We remember Mr. Bryza very well and his statements during 2006 when he toured our area.
In his July 21, 2006 press conference, Matt Bryza responded to a question from a Turkish reporter from the Anatolia News Agency asking "what does the U.S. Government plan to help these people [Turkish Cypriots] end their isolation?"
Mr. Bryza responded "that we have done a number of things. We are providing $30.5 million in assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community. So we are already actively working to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots-or to ease the isolation of Turkish Cypriots."
That was an insult to us Greek Cypriots, victims of a brutal Turkish invasion and continued occupation of half of our country Cyprus, a member of the UN and the EU. The Turkish Cypriots are not in any isolation whatsoever. That is a fabricated myth by Turkish propaganda. The Cyprus issue is not “the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots” but the fact that Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and still holds under occupation half of a sovereign country.
The majority of Turkish Cypriots supported and welcomed the Turkish invading forces and joined them in their invasion against us the Greek Cypriots. To this day they condone Turkey in her violations of our human rights. It is us the Greek Cypriots who are isolated in that since the Turkish invasion in 1974 for 36 years Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots do not allow us to return to our land and properties. The Turks, Turkish Cypriots and the imported Turkish Anatolian population of settlers (purposely imported by Turkey in order change the demography of the occupied area and fill in the gap she created by the forceful uprooting of us the 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees) are using however our stolen properties without our permission.
In total violation of our human rightsThe Turkish Cypriots enjoy the benefits of “both worlds”. Unlike us the victims and uprooted Greek Cypriot refugees, are free to travel anywhere in Cyprus, have been issued passports of the Republic of Cyprus, identity cards, they travel thus as citizens of the EU anywhere and their children enter European universities, they enjoy free medical, they come every day to the free part and work and get paid without paying taxes, whereas we the Greek Cypriots have to pay for our health cover [see APPENDIX I]. They are paid pensions, welfare, and all the benefits as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus without paying a penny in taxes and obligations. We the Greek Cypriots have in fact become second class citizens in our own country because it us the Greek Cypriots who subsidise them!
Furthermore Turkey in 1974 has murdered thousands of Greek Cypriots, 1619 are still missing presumed murdered as well and Turkey still does not reveal the whereabouts of these people in order relieve their families of the misery of waiting and dying without knowing what happened to their loved ones.
The Turkish invading army raped well over 800 Greek Cypriot women of all ages. The actual number to be precise reaches 2,000 and the 800 number represents those who had abortions.
At a press conference on July 21, 2006 on his return from a ten day trip to Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, in response to a question on the status of the Annan Plan and whether it's off the table, he stated:
"I would just repeat what I said, that the basic ideas that are-that became known as the Annan Plan reflect wisdom and hard work and a spirit of fairness, I would argue."
The Annan Plan was a monstrosity of the worst kind that provided Turkey 99% of all her demands over Cyprus i.e. giving her the control of the whole island on a platter. (Statement of admission by Turkish veteran journalist M.A. Birand). That plan excluded the 200,000 Greek Cypriots from returning to their homes, was that American “wisdom” and “fairness”? That plan opened Turkey an avenue to turkify the island in only few years after that. The people of Cyprus rejected that plan during the referendum on 24 April 2004. 76% of the Greek Cypriots rejected it and if one separates the vote of the illegal settlers from those of the Turkish Cypriot votes will find that even the indigenous Turkish Cypriots rejected that apartheid solution. Which favoured Turkey and only Turkey.
Mr. Bryza in his July 21 2006 statement found “wisdom” in it, “hard work” and “spirit of fairness”. Well, wisdom and fairness are two things that plan definitely did not reflect. What Mr. Bryza’s statement reflected though was his pro-Turkish stance which relates to his undisputable conflict of interest which stretches to his Turkish contacts. Starting from his Turkish born wife who is a major producer of Turkish invasion denial propaganda over the years.
Mr. Bryza is considered a major asset for Turkey but not for America.
We hope the Senate will use adequate judgement in taking the proper and right decision in respect and protection of the principles of human rights. To protect the victims and not those who offend.
Yours sincerely,
Fanoulla Argyrou
Refugee from occupied Nicosia, Cyprus.
London
APPENDIX I
According to information provided by the Cyprus Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus Christofias Government up until December 2009 had given the Turkish Cypriots 167,28 million Euros! (And that is only from the present Government)
Break down figures:
22,62 million Euros for medical services
117,9 million Euros in social benefits
1,22 million Euros for child benefits and student grants
9,25 million Euros for agricultural purposes
4,35 million Euros for education
4,22 million Euros for electricity supply to the occupied
0,26 million Euros for telecommunications
7,46 million Euros in looking after the Muslim places of worship and houses in the free part of Cyprus, the Turkish language department at the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and retaining the check points.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)