Turkish Consulate General in LA embarks ‘reconciliation’ campaign

April 4, 2012 - 13:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Turkish Consulate General in Los Angeles has embarked on a new campaign to promote “friendly relations” between Turks and Armenians and is reaching out to Armenian individuals throughout the community and asking them to join this venture.

According to information obtained by Asbarez, the individuals being sought by the Turkish Consulate are prominent community leaders, entrepreneurs and business people who the consulate believes will further their denialist agenda by projecting a fabricated atmosphere of cooperation. It is actually a dangerous precedent-setting effort, rooted deeply in Turkish foreign policy objectives, that preys on unsuspecting community members to advance an agenda that can be detrimental for the advancement of the Armenian Cause.

The timing of this initiative is also suspect, given that on the eve of the Genocide’s centennial, Turkey is doing all it can to hide its crime by underhandedly involving the Armenian-American community.

The Turkish Consulate is using its contacts and levers at public and private institutions to contact community members. Unfortunately, there are individuals for whom advancement of stature and possible financial gains supersede their commitment to the just resolution of the Armenian Cause, namely the international recognition of the Genocide.

These individuals will be and are being used to become the messengers - persuaders - of this disgusting effort to disrespect the memory of the Genocide victims and undermine the efforts for the advancement of the just aspirations of the Armenian Nation.

There are also parallel approaches by different organizations that have christened themselves “bridge builders” between Armenians and Turks, and through a well-funded effort are luring Armenian-Americans on junkets to Turkey to promote this skewed agenda.

Asbarez said it will continue its investigation into this troubling reality and it WILL expose those who take the Turkish Consulate’s bait and become pawns in the Turkish game of deceit and Genocide denial.

The Foreign Ministry of Armenia, through its embassy, mission and consulate, also has a responsibility to engage in this process and through stern posturing and a deliberate voice denounce this effort, which in the end aims to create a schism in our community.

Past experience has shown that there are those who are swayed by Turkey’s smoke and mirrors tactics. Those individuals are being put on notice.