Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
March 31, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
OVER ONE HUNDRED HOUSE MEMBERS URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO RECOGNIZE THE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE Assembly Touts Efforts of Armenian-American
Community
Washington, DC – A congressional letter calling on President George
W. Bush to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in his statement
of remembrance later this month, has the backing of over 100 Members
of the House of Representatives to date. The letter, initiated by
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), will be sent to the President
next month.
“As we approach the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we
recall with appreciation the leading role of the U.S. in attempting to
prevent the genocide and helping those that survived,” said Assembly
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian. “It is now time for
the U.S. to formally and irrevocably reaffirm the facts of history and
recognize this crime against humanity. We thank Congressmen
Knollenberg and Pallone for again leading this effort and rallying
strong bipartisan support to set the U.S. record straight.”
Barsamian also commended hundreds of Armenian-American activists
nationwide, who this month responded to the Assembly’s call to action
urging President Bush to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Assembly State Chairs also took a leadership role in the campaign for
reaffirmation, helping to mobilize grassroots activists and
encouraging congressional support for reaffirmation of the
U.S. record.
The letter to the President says in part, “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.”
“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,” the letter states. “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.”
In his commemorative statement last year, President Bush avoided the
term “Armenian Genocide,” and instead offered the textbook definition
of this crime against humanity.
“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,” the President said in part.
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#2005-037
Editor’s Note: The list of U.S. Representatives who have signed the
letter is attached. This list is also available on the Assembly’s Web
site at
Members of Congress That Have Signed onto the Letter Urging President
Bush to Properly Recognize the Armenian Genocide
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)
Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
Thomas Allen (D-ME)
Rob Andrews (D-NJ)
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Charles Bass (R-NH)
Melissa Bean (D-IL)
Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Howard Berman (D-CA)
Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
Tim Bishop (D-NY)
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Mary Bono (R-CA)
Jeb Bradley (R-NH)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Lois Capps (D-CA)
Michael Capuano (D-MA)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
John Conyers (D-MI)
Jim Costa (D-CA)
Jerry Costello (D-IL)
Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
Susan Davis (D-CA)
William Delahunt (D-MA)
Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Mike Doyle (D-PA)
David Dreier (R-CA)
Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Bob Filner (D-CA)
Mark Foley (R-FL)
Barney Frank (D-MA)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)
Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Steve Israel (D-NY)
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Sue Kelly (R-NY)
Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
Dale Kildee (D-MI)
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Jim Langevin (D-RI)
John Larson (D-CT)
Steven LaTourette (R-OH)
Sander Levin (D-MI)
Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY)
Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)
Jim McDermott (D-WA)
James McGovern (D-MA)
Michael McNulty (D-NY)
Martin Meehan (D-MA)
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Candice Miller (R-MI)
George Miller (D-CA)
Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Collin Peterson (D-MN)
George Radanovich (R-CA)
Mike Rogers (R-MI)
Steven Rothman (D-NJ)
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Ed Royce (R-CA)
Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)
Jim Saxton (R-NJ)
Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Joe Schwarz (R-MI)
E. Clay Shaw (R-FL)
Christopher Shays (R-CT)
Brad Sherman (D-CA)
John Shimkus (R-IL)
Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Mark Souder (R-IN)
John Sweeney (R-NY)
Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH)
Mark Udall (D-CO)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Peter Visclosky (D-IN)
Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Diane Watson (D-CA)
Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
Joe Wilson (R-SC)
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress