Ed Royce: “In closing, Mr. Speaker, religious freedom is a foundation necessary, I believe, for any democracy. It's a freedom we…”

“In closing, Mr. Speaker, religious freedom is a foundation necessary, I believe, for any democracy. It's a freedom we here in America can enjoy, and, frankly, it is embedded so deeply in our culture that many of us tend to take these freedoms for granted. But, unfortunately, this same scenario does not exist around this globe, and I just have to tell you, Turkey has been identified on the religious freedom watch list for 3 straight years. I wish that weren't the case, but it is. Frankly, I believe that what progress has come comes at least in part--in part--due to this type of pressure from religious freedom reports or from resolutions. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom allows us to gather nonpartisan information on countries that violate these fundamental human rights. And it's my understanding that in 2008 the Government of Turkey claimed they would return confiscated properties, but out of 1,400 claims, less than 100 were approved. Now, we have close relations with Turkey. We have common interests. And this is a friendly urging that it do more on this important issue and, frankly, one that Turkey itself has committed to improving on. But, that said, with some of the statements made here today, I have to comment on an issue of which I have some personal knowledge, or memory. When I was a young boy, I remember very well an Armenian in our community, a very elderly Armenian, who was the sole Armenian in his village to survive the Armenian genocide.…”