Pallone Protests Treatment of Armenian Hotel Owner in Turkey

WASHINGTON, DC--Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) requested the US Ambassador to Turkey address the unfair treatment of two Americans who own a hotel in eastern Turkey. Pallone, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, also asked the Ambassador to explain how he plans to resolve the situation involving Victor and Kristy Bedoian, who claim they have been harassed by the local government because Victor is of Armenian descent.

In a letter to Ambassador Robert Pearson, Pallone voiced concern over the treatment of the Bedoians since they purchased and opened a hotel in Van, Turkey. The Bedoians, who had operated a business in the area since 1994, enjoyed years of positive relations with the government of Turkey, even though the regional government where they do business is under strict military control.

Pallone said the Bedoians were encouraged by Turkey's General Directorate for Foreign Investment to expand their investment beyond transport and tourism. Taking this official encouragement into account, they found additional US investment to purchase a hotel. When the funding was secured and the proper paperwork completed, the Bedoians purchased a hotel for upgrading.

Pallone said this is when the Turkish government abruptly and arbitrarily changed the relationship on the sole basis of Bedoian's Armenian ethnicity. Bedoian is a second-generation American who was born in New York and resided in Arizona with his wife before moving to Turkey.

"Beginning March 19, 2001--just days after the purchase of the hotel--Turkish governmental agencies and officials violated their own national laws and the spirit of the burgeoning US-Turkey relationship with the apparent sole purpose of driving the Bedoians out of Turkey," Pallone wrote in his letter to the Ambassador. "For the last year, the Bedoians have endured police harassment of their employees, exorbitant fines for false charges, and even unjust arrest. Bedoian estimates that he has lost over $4 million through fines and lost business. The only available explanation for Turkey's behavior is Mr. Bedoian's Armenian ancestry."

"The Bedoian story is well known within the US State Department," Pallone continued. "It is my understanding that during an official visit to Turkey, Secretary Powell raised this case with his Turkish colleagues. I would appreciate a detailed report on all contacts between US and Turkish officials on this subject. Based on the claim by the Bedoians that nothing has been resolved satisfactorily, I would like to be apprised of what you intend to do to resolve this matter. Turkey's blatant disregard for the rights of foreign nationals and the rule of law is contrary to Western standards that Turkey professes to honor."