Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANCA Welcomes Clinton Appointment as Secretary of State

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANCA Welcomes Clinton Appointment as Secretary of State

    Armenian National Committee of America
    1711 N Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20036
    Tel. (202) 775-1918
    Fax. (202) 775-5648
    [email protected]
    Internet www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE
    December 1, 2008
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918


    ANCA WELCOMES CLINTON'S APPOINTMENT AS SECRETARY OF STATE

    -- Senator Clinton Supported Adoption of the
    Armenian Genocide Resolution, Pledged as
    Candidate to "Recognize the Armenian Genocide"

    "I believe the horrible events perpetrated
    by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians
    constitute a clear case of genocide."
    -- Hillary Clinton, January 24, 2008

    WASHINGTON, DC - President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Senator
    Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to serve as his Secretary of State was
    welcomed today by the Armenian National Committee of America
    (ANCA).

    "We extend our thanks to President-elect Obama for this choice and
    our congratulations to Senator Clinton on her appointment to our
    nation's top diplomatic post," said Aram Hamparian, Executive
    Director of the ANCA. "We are certainly pleased to see that, for
    the first time in recent memory, an individual with a strong record
    in support of Armenian Genocide recognition will serve as America's
    Secretary of State."

    During her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Hillary Clinton has both
    called upon President Bush to honor his campaign pledge to
    recognize the Armenian Genocide, and also cosponsored every
    Armenian Genocide Resolution since coming into office in 2001.

    On January 24th of this year Senator Clinton issued a campaign
    statement outlining her views on U.S.-Armenia relations. The full
    text is provided below.

    #####

    Statement of Senator Hillary Clinton
    on the U.S.-Armenia Relationship

    January 24, 2008

    Alone among the Presidential candidates, I have been a longstanding
    supporter of the Armenian Genocide Resolution. I have been a co-
    sponsor of the Resolution since 2002, and I support adoption of
    this legislation by both Houses of Congress.

    I believe the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire
    against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide. I have twice
    written to President Bush calling on him to refer to the Armenian
    Genocide in his annual commemorative statement and, as President, I
    will recognize the Armenian Genocide. Our common morality and our
    nation's credibility as a voice for human rights challenge us to
    ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized and remembered by
    the Congress and the President of the United States.

    If the mass atrocities of the 20th Century have taught us anything
    it is that we must honestly look the facts of history in the face
    in order to learn their lessons, and ensure they will not happen
    again. It is not just about the past, but about our future. We must
    close the gap between words and deeds to prevent mass atrocities.
    That is why I am a supporter of the Responsibility to Protect. As
    President, I will work to build and enhance U.S. and international
    capacity to act early and effectively to prevent mass atrocities.
    The Bush administration's words of condemnation have not been
    backed with leadership to stop the genocide in Darfur. I support a
    no-fly-zone over Darfur. I have championed strong international
    action to ensure that the government of Sudan can no longer act
    with impunity, or interfere with the international peacekeeping
    force, which is essential for the protection of the people of
    Darfur.

    I value my friendship with our nation's vibrant Armenian-American
    community. This is in keeping with my dedication to the causes of
    the Armenian-American community over many years. I was privileged
    as First Lady to speak at the first-ever White House gathering in
    1994 for leaders from Armenia and the Armenian-American community
    to celebrate the historic occasion of Armenia's reborn
    independence. I said at the time that America will stand with you
    as you realize what the great Armenian poet, Puzant Granian, called
    the Armenian's dream "to be left in peace in his mountains, to
    build, to dream, to create."

    I will, as President, work to expand and improve U.S.-Armenia
    relations in addressing the common issues facing our two nations:
    increasing trade, fostering closer economic ties, fighting
    terrorism, strengthening democratic institutions, pursuing our
    military partnership and deepening cooperation with NATO, and
    cooperating on regional concerns, among them a fair and democratic
    resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. As President, I will
    expand U.S. assistance programs to Armenia and to the people of
    Nagorno-Karabagh.

    I look forward, as President, to continuing to work with the
    Armenian-American community on the many domestic and international
    challenges we face together, and to build on the strong foundations
    of shared values that have long brought together the American and
    Armenian peoples.
Working...
X