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CONGRESSMAN SCHIFF QUESTIONS SECRETARY CLINTON ABOUT HER REMARKS ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
armradio.am
01.03.2012 11:29
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, Congressman
Adam Schiff (D-CA) expressed his strong concerns over remarks Clinton
made last month, while speaking at a State Department presentation,
in response to a question regarding the Armenian Genocide, reported
the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
Schiff conveyed that her mischaracterization of the Armenian Genocide
was the cause of "much anguish" in the Armenian-American community,
as well as for many human rights advocates. He was sharply critical
of the comment by saying that "tragically this is in the line of the
Turkish government." Schiff's comments follow a bipartisan letter
that he and Representative Robert Dold (R-IL) spearheaded and sent
to the Secretary.
Citing the voluminous U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide, including
the U.S. filing before the International Court of Justice in 1951
that referred to the "Turkish massacres of Armenians" as an example
of genocide, the1981 proclamation by President Ronald Reagan which
invoked "the genocide of the Armenians," and both President Obama's
and Clinton's statements as Senators, Schiff put the question bluntly
of the Secretary of State whether she now held a "different view."
Explaining that her comments were in reference to the French
Parliament's recent legislation on the Armenian Genocide, and
thus should be viewed in that context, Clinton then restated the
Administration's position by referencing President Obama's several
April 24 commemorative statements. Clinton also invoked Obama's call
for a "full, frank, and just acknowledgment."
Returning to his point about the importance of clarity on the Armenian
Genocide, Congressman Schiff reminded the Secretary of the continuing
consequences of delaying U.S. affirmation. He noted that the recent
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturning California
legislation, which extended that statute of limitations to allow
descendents of survivors to bring life insurance claims for policies
dating from the Armenian Genocide era, was due to the inability of the
federal government to speak forcefully and truthfully as then-Senator
Obama stated in 2008. The court's decision effectively denied redress
to the victims of genocide.
Representatives Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
associated themselves with Congressman's Schiff's remarks. In addition,
Congressman Jackson expressed concern regarding the 18 percent across
the board cut in the Europe and Eurasia account, which also impacts
Armenia.
armradio.am
01.03.2012 11:29
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, Congressman
Adam Schiff (D-CA) expressed his strong concerns over remarks Clinton
made last month, while speaking at a State Department presentation,
in response to a question regarding the Armenian Genocide, reported
the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
Schiff conveyed that her mischaracterization of the Armenian Genocide
was the cause of "much anguish" in the Armenian-American community,
as well as for many human rights advocates. He was sharply critical
of the comment by saying that "tragically this is in the line of the
Turkish government." Schiff's comments follow a bipartisan letter
that he and Representative Robert Dold (R-IL) spearheaded and sent
to the Secretary.
Citing the voluminous U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide, including
the U.S. filing before the International Court of Justice in 1951
that referred to the "Turkish massacres of Armenians" as an example
of genocide, the1981 proclamation by President Ronald Reagan which
invoked "the genocide of the Armenians," and both President Obama's
and Clinton's statements as Senators, Schiff put the question bluntly
of the Secretary of State whether she now held a "different view."
Explaining that her comments were in reference to the French
Parliament's recent legislation on the Armenian Genocide, and
thus should be viewed in that context, Clinton then restated the
Administration's position by referencing President Obama's several
April 24 commemorative statements. Clinton also invoked Obama's call
for a "full, frank, and just acknowledgment."
Returning to his point about the importance of clarity on the Armenian
Genocide, Congressman Schiff reminded the Secretary of the continuing
consequences of delaying U.S. affirmation. He noted that the recent
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision overturning California
legislation, which extended that statute of limitations to allow
descendents of survivors to bring life insurance claims for policies
dating from the Armenian Genocide era, was due to the inability of the
federal government to speak forcefully and truthfully as then-Senator
Obama stated in 2008. The court's decision effectively denied redress
to the victims of genocide.
Representatives Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
associated themselves with Congressman's Schiff's remarks. In addition,
Congressman Jackson expressed concern regarding the 18 percent across
the board cut in the Europe and Eurasia account, which also impacts
Armenia.