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DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 1 2007
OVER 160 U. S. CONGRESSMEN SUPPORT INTRODUCTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
RESOLUTION
January 31, speaking at a Capitol Hill press conference, Congressmen
Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) joined together in announcing the support of more than 160 of
their House colleagues for the introduction of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution
According to the information DE FACTO received at the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA), joining with the four
legislators as original cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106) are Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-CA) and
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), both strong supporters of Armenian Genocide
recognition as well as senior members of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, the influential panel which will first consider this
legislation prior to a vote on the House floor.
The resolution is similar to legislation introduced in the previous
session of Congress, which was overwhelmingly approved in the
International Relations Committee (now called the Foreign Affairs
Committee), only to be blocked from final passage by former House
Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL). With the change in House leadership,
the lead sponsors noted during the press conference that this
legislation now has the best chance for passage in recent memory.
During his opening remarks at the press conference, Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-chair Frank Pallone underscored the importance of
introducing and passing Armenian Genocide legislation: `We, as the
House of Representatives, have an obligation to send a message to the
world that we affirm the [Armenian] Genocide and to send a message to
the Turkish government, which is ultimately behind all of the
genocide denial on the part of the [U.S.] Administration.'
Citing the presence of Armenian Genocide survivors Yeretzgeen Sirarpi
Khoyan and Mrs. Rose Baboyan, Rep. Adam Schiff explained that "there
aren't many survivors left and while there are still survivors among
us we have, I think, the highest ethical obligation to recognize the
losses of their families, the losses of their entire community, and
in many respects beyond that, the loss of almost an entire people."
Touching on the U.S. responsibility to end the ongoing genocide in
Darfur, Rep. Schiff argued, "How can we demonstrate the kind of moral
leadership we need to condemn the genocide in Darfur if we do not
have the courage to recognize the murder of a million and half people
in the first genocide of the last century?'
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
stressed that, "It is up to the House to bring this important
resolution to vote." He went on to explain that, "38 U.S. states have
recognized the Armenian Genocide" and that the time had come for the
U.S. Congress to enact the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor in the 109th Congress, Rep.
George Radanovich, argued: "I think it is not even in Turkey's
interest to successfully keep this [Genocide resolution passage] from
happening because it is in their best interest as a growing country
to recognize what happened in their country many, many years ago."
"We appreciate the leadership of the Armenian Genocide Resolution's
authors - Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Frank Pallone, Joe
Knollenberg, Brad Sherman, and Thaddeus McCotter - and are, of
course, very encouraged by the broad, bipartisan support for their
introduction of this anti-genocide legislation," said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. "The immoral firing of Ambassador
Evans for recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the intense controversy
over the Richard Hoagland nomination due to his denial of this crime,
and - of course - the brutal assassination of Hrant Dink, all serve
as a stark wake up call for Congress to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Feb 1 2007
OVER 160 U. S. CONGRESSMEN SUPPORT INTRODUCTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
RESOLUTION
January 31, speaking at a Capitol Hill press conference, Congressmen
Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) joined together in announcing the support of more than 160 of
their House colleagues for the introduction of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution
According to the information DE FACTO received at the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA), joining with the four
legislators as original cosponsors of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.106) are Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-CA) and
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), both strong supporters of Armenian Genocide
recognition as well as senior members of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, the influential panel which will first consider this
legislation prior to a vote on the House floor.
The resolution is similar to legislation introduced in the previous
session of Congress, which was overwhelmingly approved in the
International Relations Committee (now called the Foreign Affairs
Committee), only to be blocked from final passage by former House
Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL). With the change in House leadership,
the lead sponsors noted during the press conference that this
legislation now has the best chance for passage in recent memory.
During his opening remarks at the press conference, Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-chair Frank Pallone underscored the importance of
introducing and passing Armenian Genocide legislation: `We, as the
House of Representatives, have an obligation to send a message to the
world that we affirm the [Armenian] Genocide and to send a message to
the Turkish government, which is ultimately behind all of the
genocide denial on the part of the [U.S.] Administration.'
Citing the presence of Armenian Genocide survivors Yeretzgeen Sirarpi
Khoyan and Mrs. Rose Baboyan, Rep. Adam Schiff explained that "there
aren't many survivors left and while there are still survivors among
us we have, I think, the highest ethical obligation to recognize the
losses of their families, the losses of their entire community, and
in many respects beyond that, the loss of almost an entire people."
Touching on the U.S. responsibility to end the ongoing genocide in
Darfur, Rep. Schiff argued, "How can we demonstrate the kind of moral
leadership we need to condemn the genocide in Darfur if we do not
have the courage to recognize the murder of a million and half people
in the first genocide of the last century?'
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
stressed that, "It is up to the House to bring this important
resolution to vote." He went on to explain that, "38 U.S. states have
recognized the Armenian Genocide" and that the time had come for the
U.S. Congress to enact the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor in the 109th Congress, Rep.
George Radanovich, argued: "I think it is not even in Turkey's
interest to successfully keep this [Genocide resolution passage] from
happening because it is in their best interest as a growing country
to recognize what happened in their country many, many years ago."
"We appreciate the leadership of the Armenian Genocide Resolution's
authors - Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Frank Pallone, Joe
Knollenberg, Brad Sherman, and Thaddeus McCotter - and are, of
course, very encouraged by the broad, bipartisan support for their
introduction of this anti-genocide legislation," said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. "The immoral firing of Ambassador
Evans for recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the intense controversy
over the Richard Hoagland nomination due to his denial of this crime,
and - of course - the brutal assassination of Hrant Dink, all serve
as a stark wake up call for Congress to pass the Armenian Genocide Resolution."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress