Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
March 4, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: ckojoian@aaainc.org
Caucus Co-Chairs Launch Letter-Writing Campaign to Urge Bush to
Recognize the Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Assembly of America commended Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) today for launching a letter-writing campaign to ask
President Bush to appropriately acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in
his remembrance remarks next month.
The Co-Chairs are circulating the letter below among Members of the
House of Representatives with the strong support of the Armenian
Assembly and the Armenian-American community.
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The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We are writing to urge you to join us in reaffirming the United States
record on the Armenian Genocide in your upcoming April 24th
commemorative statement.
This date marks the 90th anniversary of the systematic and deliberate
campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Over
the following eight years, one and a half million Armenians were
murdered, and more than half a million were forced from their homeland
into exile. In the years since, descendants of Armenian immigrants
have clung to their identity and have prospered across this nation and
throughout the world. The United States is fortunate to be home to an
organized and active Armenian community, whose members contribute and
participate in every aspect of civic life.
By properly recognizing the terrible atrocities committed against the
Armenian people as “genocide” in your statement, you will honor the
many Americans who helped launch the unprecedented U.S. diplomatic,
political and humanitarian campaign to end the carnage and protect the
survivors. The U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry
Morgenthau, acting on instructions from Secretaries of State William
Jennings Bryan and Robert Lansing, protested the slaughter of the
Armenians to the Ottoman leaders. Without our intervention, the
Ottoman Empire’s genocidal plan would have been even more lethal.
As you have eloquently declared, Americans are blessed with freedom
and security, but that good fortune brings with it an important
responsibility. The United States must never allow crimes against
humanity to pass without remembrance and condemnation. As
U.S. efforts to aid victims of genocide continue, it is imperative
that we pay tribute to the memory of others who have suffered and to
never forget the past. By commemorating the Armenian Genocide, we
renew our commitment to prevent future atrocities, and therefore
negate the dictum that history is condemned to repeat itself.
We look forward to your April 24th statement and, as always, stand
ready to work with you on this and the many other matters of
importance to our nation.
Sincerely,
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The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
NR#2005-022