ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY JOINS COMMUNITY GROUPS IN URGING PRESIDENT BUSH TO REAFFIRM THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Azg/arm
11 March 05
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly today joined together with
several major Armenian-American organizations to deliver a singular
message to President Bush – that now is the time to accurately label
the atrocities of 1915 as the Armenian Genocide as articulated
by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and other leading U.S.
officials.
Evans most recently evoked the Armenian Genocide during his first
stateside visit to Armenian communities across the country. During a
series of public exchanges with Armenians last week, Evans said, “The
Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century.”
Community organizations, in turn, sent a letter to President Bush
today asking that he also use the word Genocide to characterize the
forced exile and murder of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. The
letter was signed by the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian
Bar Association, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian
Missionary Association of America, the Armenian National Committee,
the Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, the Eastern Diocese of
the Armenian Church, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church,
the Knights of Vartan, the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of North America and the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of North America and said in part:
“In this the 90th Commemorative Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
we urge that you join President Reagan and so many other leading
public officials in reaffirming the facts of history you have already
proclaimed with the correct name – Armenian Genocide…. Just as
it was when your Administration properly termed the crimes against
humanity in Darfur as genocide, U.S. leadership is once again needed
to provide clarity to the crimes against humanity committed by Ottoman
Turkey against our ancestors under cover of WW I.”
Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian said that he was
encouraged by the spirit of cooperation exhibited by the community.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative for us to unite and strengthen
our voices as we work towards an inevitable, full and irrevocable
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,” Hovnanian said.
Also today, the Assembly sent a letter to Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ), asking for their continued leadership and support to
rally Congress in support of affirmation of the truth.
The Assembly additionally sent a “call to action” to thousands of
its members and activists around the country, encouraging their
involvement in the campaign for formal U.S recognition of the Genocide.
For information on how to get involved, log on to the Assembly Web
site at or send an email to the Assembly’s grassroots
branch ARAMAC at [email protected].
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.
Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of the pan-Armenian letter
to President Bush.
March 2, 2005
President George Bush
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
Ambassador Evans has just completed his first U.S. visit to major
Armenian-American communities to share his initial impressions of
Armenia, U.S. programs there and the even greater role that our
community can play in promoting ever closer U.S./Armenia relations.
During his public exchanges with our communities throughout the United
States, Ambassador Evans also properly and repeatedly characterized
the attempted annihilation of our people by Ottoman Turkey as the
Armenian Genocide. In so doing, the Ambassador accurately labeled the
textbook definition of the crime of genocide that you have carefully
set forth in your successive April 24 statements commenting on this
crime against humanity. In effect, Ambassador Evans succinctly named
the policy you have enunciated in these important declarations.
Mr. President, in this the 90th Commemorative Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, we urge that you join President Ronald Reagan and
so many other leading American public officials in reaffirming the
facts of history you have already proclaimed with the correct name –
Armenian Genocide. Candor on this vital matter will ultimately enhance
U.S./Turkey and U.S./Armenia relationships. Just as it was when your
Administration properly termed the crimes against humanity in Darfur
as genocide, U.S. leadership is once again needed to provide clarity
to the crimes against humanity committed by Ottoman Turkey against
our ancestors under cover of WW I.
Sincerely,
Armenian Assembly of America
Armenian Bar Association
Armenian General Benevolent Union
Armenian Missionary Association of America
Armenian National Committee of America
Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, Inc.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America – East
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America – West
Knights of Vartan
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America – East
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America – West