Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St. NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: anca@anca.org
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
PRESIDENT BUSH FAILS TO HONOR PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
FOR THE FOURTH TIME
WASHINGTON, DC – President Bush, ignoring calls from over 190
U.S. legislators, failed, once again, to honor his campaign pledge to
properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as “genocide,” reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In a statement issued today, on April 24th, the annual day of
remembrance for the Armenian Genocide, the President again resorted to
the use of evasive and euphemistic terminology to obscure the reality
of Turkey’s Genocide against the Armenian people between 1915-1923.
This year’s statement praised the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC,) the failed State Department funded initiative
devised to derail progress toward international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The effort was universally rejected by Armenians
in the U.S., Armenia and around the world.
“We do appreciate that President Bush has, once again, taken the time
to mark April 24th as a day of remembrance. Armenian Americans,
however, remain deeply troubled that for the fourth year in a row,
despite his repeated calls for ‘moral clarity’ in the conduct of our
international affairs, he has allowed pressure by a foreign government
to reduce the President of the United States to using evasive and
euphemistic terminology to avoid properly identifying the Armenian
Genocide – an important chapter in America’s emergence as an
international humanitarian power – as what is was: a genocide,” said
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “The President’s failure to
honor his campaign promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide is
compounded by the fact that, in this statement, he commends the
thoroughly discredited Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, a
transparent partnership between the U.S. State Department and the
Turkish government to block the growing international recognition of
and justice for Turkey’s crime against the Armenian nation.”
“It is also plainly disingenuous for the President to ‘call on both
Armenia and Turkey to restore their economic, political, and cultural
ties,’ when it is the Turkish government that has illegally imposed a
decade-long blockade of Armenia, and it has been Armenia that has
called for the normalization of bilateral relations without
preconditions. This formulation suggests either a lack of
understanding of the region or a deliberate effort to artificially
play down Turkey’s belligerent posture while simultaneously devaluing
Armenia’s very meaningful contributions to regional stability.”
The Bush Administration is formally on record in opposition to
Congressional legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide. For the
position of the Democratic Presidential hopeful John Kerry regarding
Armenian Genocide recognition, please visit
The text of the President’s remarks are provided below.
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The full text of the statement by President George W. Bush
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The White House
Washington
April 24, 2004
On this day, we pause in remembrance of one of the
most horrible tragedies of the 20th century, the
annihilation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians
through forced exile and murder at the end of the
Ottoman Empire. This terrible event remains a source
of pain for people in Armenia and Turkey and for all
those who believe in freedom, tolerance, and the
dignity of every human life. I join with my fellow
Americans and the Armenian community in the United
States and around the world in mourning this loss of
life.
The United States is proud of the strong ties we share
with Armenia. From the end of World War I and again
since the reemergence of an independent Armenian state
in 1991, our country has sought a partnership with
Armenia that promotes democracy, security cooperation,
and free markets. Today, our Nation remains committed
to a peace settlement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and is grateful for Armenia’s continuing cooperation
in the war on terror. By advancing understanding and
goodwill, free nations can help build a brighter
future for the world. Our country seeks to help
Armenia expand its strategic relations with the United
States and our European allies.
Generations of Armenian Americans have also
strengthened our communities and enriched our Nation’s
character. By preserving their heritage, faith, and
traditions, Armenian Americans enhance the diversity
that makes America great.
I commend individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have
worked to support peace and reconciliation, including
through the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation
Commission, and call on Armenia and Turkey to restore
their economic, political, and cultural ties. I also
send warm wishes and expressions of solidarity to the
Armenian people on this solemn day of remembrance.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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