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Turkish Diaspora in USA: Bill on â€œArmenian Genocideâ€ is a cash cow for some lawmakers and for Armenian Diaspora â€“ EXCLUSIVE

Turkish Diaspora in USA: Bill on â€œArmenian Genocideâ€ is a cash cow for some lawmakers and for Armenian Diaspora â€“ <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE </font>

11 February 2010 09:23 (UTC +04:00)

I donâ€™t think HR 252 (bill about recognition of â€œgenocideâ€) will pass. Because this is a cash cow for some lawmakers and for Armenian Diasporaâ€ - told in an interview with APAâ€™s Washington correspondent Karahan Mete, one of the leaders of Turkish Diaspora in USA.

In response to those congressmen, who are preparing to discuss the HR 252 next month at US Congress, Mr. Mete mentioned that, this is not first time US lawmaker pressing an â€œunethical, immoral, undemocratic law or resolutionâ€:

â€œUS lawmakers are passing or attempt to pass an alleged Armenian genocide resolution are violating international lawâ€.

According to him, unfortunately, some of the Jewish organizations in US are trying to bring the â€œArmenian Genocideâ€ phenomena at the same level as the Holocaust: â€œI donâ€™t see any similarity between these two events except some falsificationsâ€.

Mr. Mete also talked about the challenges of Turkish Diaspora in USA.
â€œOur problem is not with Armenians around world. Our problem is with the Armenian Diaspora. We should distinguish Armenians that are part of the Diaspora, from regular Armenian citizens. I am talking from my experience. I would say that Armenian people are very nice and kind; specially young and educated Armeniansâ€ â€“ he added.

The member of Turkish Diaspora also complained about Turkish Government.
â€œUnfortunately we are working with a handful of people to overcome on this accusation (Armenian Genocide). This cannot generate the result we desire. In order to get result that we desire, we should educate our people. Educating Turkish citizens falls under government jurisdiction. Unfortunately the Turkish government has no national plan on how to deal with this issue. Past and present Turkish government ran and keeps running to crisis after crisis like a fire truck. Our opponents know that and keep starting fires many places to make us overwhelmedâ€.

As regards with Diaspora activities, Mr.Mete said that, they are not doing enough.
â€œWhat we need to do and how we need to do it is key issue for solving the problem. It will take hundreds of pages for me to layout this strategy. A short explanation might cause some misunderstandings or confusions; therefore I am reluctant elaborateâ€.

According to him, the other question is why the US and other countries are responding Armenian claims enthusiastically.

â€œBecause the Turkish independence war is not over yet; Independence war is continuing with different from. The new form of the war is propaganda war, which we do not know how to fight. The Armenian genocide phenomena are a tool for some of this country to build negative international public opinion against Turkey. When time comes to invade and occupy and divide the Turkey they have already needed public support to justify their actionâ€ â€“ he answered.

He stressed that, therefore Turks need to see and analyze the Armenian phenomena and other issues in a big context.
â€œWe are charging individual issues like a bull charging a red cape. Each time the bull charges the red cape he gets another spear in his back, and eventually gets killed. Each time the bull charges thinking that time is the time I will destroy the obstacle. That is what the bullfighter wants him to do; he can stab him on and on until he is dead. Unfortunately our strategy for dealing with international problems is similar to this bull fightâ€ â€“he mentioned.
In the meanwhile the meeting scheduled for today between the Secretary of State Hillary Klinton and key figures of Armenian Diaspora was cancelled. The State Department press-service explained to APA the reason of the cancellation as weather conditions in Washington DC.