The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) joined growing calls for U.S. leadership in challenging Turkey's manipulation of the Syria crisis, through direct and indirect support for ISIS, as part of its century-long genocidal drive to weaken or destroy Kurds, Armenians, Arabs, Assyrians, Alawites, and other ethnic minorities within or near its borders.

In a letter sent to the White House earlier today, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian urged President Obama to continue fighting ISIS militants, but noted that the international community cannot stop there, saying that the U.S. must, “in equal measure, forcefully confront Turkey, a treaty ally, that is using these terrorists as surrogate soldiers in a neo-Ottoman drive to destroy minorities, grow its regional influence and expand its borders - all at the expense of U.S. interests and counter to the core values of the American people.”

Expressing regret over Vice-President Biden's recent “forced” apology to Turkey for speaking truthfully about the Erdogan regime's destabilization of the region, Hachikian stated, “Mr. President, we need not lie for Turkey; nor are we obliged to passively accept its transparently false denials. Rather than turning a blind eye to Ankara’s ongoing aggression - in Kobane, Der Zor, Aleppo, Kessab and across northern Syria - we should press for a halt to Turkish support for ISIS, an end to its interference in Syria, and the unconditional opening of its border.”

The ANCA has launched a nationwide action alert urging advocates to write to the White House and call for an end U.S. silence in the face of Turkey's destructive interference in Syria.

Over the past two days, ANCA representatives have joined with Kurdish Americans at White House protests calling for U.S. leadership in ending ISIS aggression.