Just a few hours ago, Armenian community of America won a battle for justice. The House Foreign Affairs Committee despite heavy attacks from the Turkish Lobby, voted 43 to 1 to press Turkey to return Armenian and other Christian churches.

“We won this landmark victory in the face of years of Turkish lies about its supposed "tolerance," and despite its token conversion of a few ancient churches, like Akhtamar, into tourist museums,” Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian said.

According to Mr. Hachikian, Turkish government even tried to justify its confiscation of so-called "disused" churches by blaming Christians for abandoning them, entirely ignoring that thousands of parishes were destroyed through pre-meditated mass murder.

“Our overwhelming victory has set off a firestorm in Turkey. CNN-Turk broke the news by calling it "an American slap in Turkey's face." The truth, of course, is, that it was simply a stand for freedom,” ANCA press service quoted him as saying.