Protestors waving a U.S. and Armenian flags demonstrate against Turkey during the Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul's visit at a meeting of the World Affairs Council at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, March 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

From an ANCA press release:

Among the thousands of participants in today’s protest were Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-27) and Burbank Board of Education President Paul Krekorian.

“It is not only those with Armenian heritage who demand that the truth be recognized. Friends of Turkey should demonstrate that Turkey accept the Armenian Genocide,” said Congressman Sherman in his remarks to the crowd. “Where will Turkey be among the family of nations if it does not recognize the truth? I will work in Congress every day until the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide is recognized,” he concluded.

The Defense Minister’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants coming from protesters demonstrating along Sunset Boulevard. Armenian Americans attending the luncheon, including Glendale Unified School District Board Member Greg Krikorian, called on the Defense Minister to acknowledge Turkey’s past.

However, Defense Minister Gönül said that “these are Armenian claims, and there is nothing to acknowledge.”