The following letter was sent by the Armenian Bar Association to all 45 member of the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee regarding H. R. 4347 which requires the Secretary of State to provide an annual report to Congress regarding United States Government efforts to survey and secure the return, protection, and restoration of stolen, confiscated, or otherwise unreturned Christian properties in the Republic of Turkey and in those areas currently occupied by the Turkish military in northern Cyprus.

House Committee on Foreign Affairs

United States Congress

Washington, D.C.

Dear Representatives:

Imagine for a moment an America with no churches. Imagine our cities and towns cleansed of their places of worship. Imagine our citizens’ Sundays, Sabbaths, and High Holy Days stripped clean of their promise of religious assembly and expression.

Imagine the unimaginable and you will see the importance of House Resolution 4347 (the “Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act”).

This nation was built and continues to prosper on the twin pillars of patriotism and faith. We know that you stand proud and protective of this deep and powerful American tradition and ask that, in the same spirit, you give consideration to the pending legislation.

Ottoman Turkey’s genocide of the Armenians took a huge and horrific human toll. We know that and you know that. Less known is the fact that there were a few lucky survivors of the Genocide which remain upright today on the land where so many Armenians were felled. The surviving Armenian and Christian churches are witness to an ancient native civilization, lost for now, but deserving of the dual destinies of recovery and return.

We kindly ask that you bring to your consideration the simple vision of what you would want for your own families and faith. It’s much the same all around the world.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Armen K. Hovannisian Chairman, Armenian Bar Association