Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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E-mail: anca@anca.org
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PRESS RELEASE
April 27, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
PALLONE AND SCHUMER CALL FOR JUSTICE
FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT TIME SQUARE RALLY
“There must be recognition, there must be restitution,
there must be reparations for the Armenian Genocide.”
— Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), speaking at the
Time Square Rally Marking the 90th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide
NEW YORK, NY – Speaking before a crowd of over eight thousand at an
April 24th Times Square rally marking the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank
Pallone (D-NY) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) issued powerful
calls for international recognition and justice for the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). Moving remarks were also offered by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-
NY), as well as His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, Eastern U.S. and His Eminence Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Eastern U.S.
“Armenian Americans from around the nation welcome the principled
remarks of Senator Schumer and Congressman Pallone in support of
full U.S. recognition and Turkish acceptance of responsibility for
the Armenian Genocide, and – most significantly – a just resolution
of this crime that restores to the Armenian nation, to the extent
possible, what was so brutally taken during the Genocide and in the
years that have followed,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone, in remarks
welcomed by sustained applause, argued forcefully for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the just resolution of the
crime committed against the Armenian nation. The New Jersey
Congressman closed his remarks with the following statement:
“I was reading the New York Times that the Turkish envoy said that
not only did the Genocide never occur, but he suggested that the
reason why Armenians want to recognize the Armenian Genocide today
– want the Congress and the other countries to be on record – is
because they wanted restitution and they wanted reparations. And I
say to that ‘Yes, we do!’ It is important not only to recognize
the genocide but we have to make it clear that those who committed
it pay restitution. There has to be reparations because if there
is no pain, if there is no consequence of genocide recognition,
then that all would be futile. There must be recognition, there
must be restitution, there must be reparations for the Armenian
Genocide.”
In moving remarks to Armenians gathered in New York from around the
nation, Sen. Schumer stressed: “The persecution of Armenia
continues today, in part because we do not recognize that Genocide.
There is still a Turkish blockade of Armenia. There are continued
desecrations of Armenian buildings and churches in the occupied
lands. But what rubs salt in the wounds of those who have suffered
is the refusal of the world to recognize their suffering and to
recognize that a ‘genocide’ occurred. That is the ultimate
indignity.”
The New York Senator went on to note the importance of ensuring
that the victims of genocide receive justice: “If despots in the
dark corners of the world think that they can commit atrocity with
out fear of punishment, then they will be encouraged to commit
those atrocities. And so I say to all of you, we must prick the
conscience of our nation and the world. We must never rest until
the Armenian Genocide is recognized.”