OVER ONE HUNDRED HOUSE MEMBERS URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO RECOGNIZE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. 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 Armenian
Assembly of America reported. 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 d
ictum 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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress