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New Armenian Genocide Resolution Introduced In U.S. House Of Represe

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  • New Armenian Genocide Resolution Introduced In U.S. House Of Represe

    NEW ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION INTRODUCED IN U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    armradio.am
    18.03.2009 10:57

    Legislation calling on the U.S. President to properly recognize
    the Armenian Genocide was introduced today in the U.S. House of
    Representatives, two weeks before President's Obama's April 5th trip to
    Turkey and roughly a month before the White House's annual April 24th
    commemoration of this crime against humanity, reported the Armenian
    National Committee of America (ANCA).

    The measure, H.Res.252, is spearheaded by lead sponsors, Adam Schiff
    (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) and Congressional Armenian Caucus
    Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and cosponsored
    by over 70 House colleagues. The resolution is identical to the
    one introduced in both the House and Senate in the 110th Congress,
    which was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, over
    intense pressure from the Turkish Government and Bush Administration,
    and publicly endorsed by then-candidate for President Barack Obama,
    his Vice President Joe Biden, and current Secretary of State Hillary
    Clinton.

    "Armenians in the U.S. and around the world thank Adam Schiff, George
    Radanovich, Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk for leading Congressional
    efforts toward U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said Aram
    Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "The election of Barack
    Obama, who has spoken repeatedly, forcefully, and wit h great clarity
    about the need for American recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
    marked a truly welcome break from the flawed policies of the past on
    this score. We look, in the coming days and weeks, for the President
    to honor his pledge, to fully support this legislation, and to raise
    the discourse in Washington, DC on the Armenian Genocide from level
    of Turkey's threats and denials up to the level of the core moral
    and humanitarian values of the America people."

    In the days leading up to the introduction of the Armenian Genocide
    Resolution, Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone and Kirk
    sent a letter to President Obama urging him to end the complicity
    of past Administrations in Turkey's genocide denial by properly
    characterizing the Armenian Genocide. That sentiment was reiterated
    by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, in a March
    7th letter sent to President Obama.

    The resolution comes six-weeks prior to April 24th, the worldwide
    commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. U.S. Presidents have marked the
    annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 by the Ottoman
    Turkish government every year since 1994, though have refrained from
    the proper characterization of this crime under threats and pressure
    from the Turkish government.

    "There is going to be heavy focus on encouraging President Obama to
    make a strong statement of recognition on April 24, because it will
    be im portant in setting the tone of the discussions on the Armenian
    Genocide Resolution in Congress," Rep. Schiff told Armenian Weekly
    Editor Khatchig Mouradian earlier today. "The Turkish lobby will
    be spending millions -- like they did in past years. They will also
    argue that the recognition of the genocide will cut off reconciliation
    between Armenia and Turkey, and that this is not the right time. The
    truth is, after 94 years, if this is not the right time, I don't know
    when that right time can be."

    Rep. Radanovich concurred, noting, "President Obama made a clear
    promise to the Armenian community during his campaign and to do
    anything short of properly recognizing the Armenian genocide as such
    would be a direct slap in the face to Armenians around the world." In a
    statement issued earlier today, he went on to note that "The Armenian
    constituents in my district have been staunch advocates of the truth
    and to them I promise not to give up this fight."

    As Members of Congress prepared to introduce the Armenian Genocide
    Resolution, thousands of Armenian American activists contacted their
    legislators through phone, mail and the ANCA WebFax system urging
    them to become early cosponsors of the legislation.

    The Armenian Genocide legislation is expected to the referred to the
    House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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