Senator Sam Brownback, Chairman
Rep. Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chairman
For Immediate Release

www.csce.gov
April 8, 2005

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEY FOCUS OF HELSINKI COMMISSION BRIEFING

(Washington) - The United States Helsinki Commission will hold a briefing to review religious freedom conditions in the Republic of Turkey.

Religious Freedom in Turkey
10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Briefing Panelists:

Merve Kavakci, former member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly
Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, Armenian Orthodox Church
Van Krikorian, Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission
Barry Jacobs, American Jewish Committee
Representative of Protestant/evangelical groups

The Turkish Embassy has been invited to participate.

An un-official transcript will be available on the Helsinki Commission's web site at www.csce.gov within 24 hours of the briefing.

The United States Helsinki Commission, an independent federal agency, by law monitors and encourages progress in implementing provisions of the Helsinki Accords. The Commission, created in 1976, is composed of nine Senators, nine Representatives and one official each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

Media Contact: Sean Woo
202.225.1901

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