ISRAELI DEPUTY MINISTER CONFIRMS ISRAELI AID TO SYRIAN KURDS
US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES TO RECOGNIZE AND CONDEMN TURKEY’S ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; TURKEY INCREASINGLY ALIENATED INTERNATIONALLY
The US House of Representatives, voting to recognize the Armenian Genocide. October 29, 2019.
More than 100 years after three-quarters of the Ottoman Empire’s two million Armenian residents were systematically slaughtered by the Turkish seat of Ottoman power in 1915, the United States House of Representatives voted by overwhelming majority to formally recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, long denied by Turkey. The House also voted for President Trump to apply sanctions against Turkey in light of its ongoing campaign against the Kurdish people in northeastern Syria.
The votes came just days after US Special Forces, working with Kurdish intelligence agencies, assassinated ISIS founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar was the only Democratic Congressperson to not vote in favor of recognizing and condemning the genocide, instead voting “present.” She also voted against sanctioning Turkey, and reportedly met with Halil Mutlu the week prior. Mutlu is the co-chairman of the Turkish American Steering Committee (TASC), a pro-Turkish advocacy organization based in the United States.
Turkish Foreign Minister condemned both votes, while Turkish President Erdogan threatened retribution against opposing nations.
Israel announced Wednesday it will close its embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul.
Turkey’s power moves across the region increasingly alienate the nation from the global community. Erdogan’s actions and definitions of terrorism (a charge brought against American pastor Andrew Brunson for affiliation with Kurdish refugees in Turkey) create a dangerous environment for foreign workers. Over the last several decades, Western laborers have sown the Gospel into Turkish soil. Pray for indigenous leaders to stand on their own and lead the growing Turkish church, and for her to stand during coming intensified persecution.
Partner with FAI’s work in Turkey: faimission.org/turkey
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/armenian-genocide-resolution.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50229787
https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/30/ilhan-omar-erdogan-turkey/
https://twitter.com/abdbozkurt/status/1187701319659855872?s=21
https://twitter.com/reuters/status/1189694723734163456?s=21
https://twitter.com/israelinturkey/status/1189448754765664257?s=21
Photo credit: Public Radio of Armenia
TRUMP, GRAHAM ISSUE NEW STATEMENTS ON SANCTIONS AND CEASEFIRE FOLLOWING CALL WITH ERDOGAN
Yesterday, Senator Lindsey Graham joined President Trump on a phone call with Turkish President Erdogan. Graham has been loudly critical of Trump’s withdrawal of US forces in Rojava, leading to a deadly Turkish offensive leaving many Kurds scrambling for their lives.
Both statements affirmed Trump’s threat of sanctions against the Republic of Turkey if a ceasefire is not immediately implemented and maintained. Trump also reached out to the SDF commander General Mazloum to express ongoing commitment to their safety despite US troop movement. Graham expressed encouragement following these conversations.
The conversations took place 24-48 hours after General Mazloum offered a concession with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in exchange for Syrian protection against Turkish forces.
Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP Photo
Sources:
https://twitter.com/lindseygrahamsc/status/1183886217928171520?s=21
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/13/kurds-assad-syria-russia-putin-turkey-genocide/
ERDOGAN STAGES REACH FOR MEDITERRANEAN OIL SUPPLY, PROVOKING CYPRUS/EU OFFICIALS
Andreas Manoli/EPA
ANKARA - Reports say a Turkish driller ship came as close as 51 nautical miles off Cyprus’ southwest coast have drawn criticism from both the government of Cyprus and European Union officials. Cyprus has been partitioned since a Turkish invasion in 1974, leading to a Turkish occupation of the island’s northern area recognized only by the Republic of Turkey. Access to oil resources in eastern Mediterranean waters remains a point of contention between the Turkish and Cypriot governments. August’s recent agreement between Israel, the U.S., and Cyprus last fall drew new lines against Erdogan’s clearly articulated ambitions to rebuild the Ottoman Empire.
Erdogan publicly outlined his regional and territorial ambitions several years ago, with his sights set on reclaiming ground lost to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire following World War I. These nautical provocations related to the Mediterranean oil bed point to his broader goals to restore the fallen Caliphate, while claiming the entire island of Cyprus—which, though small, stands as a strategic point of access and resource for the eastern Mediterranean Basin.
Photograph: Andreas Manoli/EPA
Sources:
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/352157.aspx
https://www.timesofisrael.com/greece-cyprus-israel-us-pledge-to-boost-energy-cooperation/