Hellenic News of America
May 23 2005
Greek American Organizations’ Policy Statement on Armenia
WASHINGTON, DC– The American Hellenic Institute announced today that
the major Greek American membership organizations endorsed the policy
statement on Armenia prepared by the American Hellenic Institute.
These are: the Order of AHEPA, the Hellenic American National
Council, the Cyprus Federation of America, the Panepirotic Federation
of America, the Pan-Macedonian Association of America, the Evrytanian
Association of America and the American Hellenic Institute. The
endorsed statement, which is part of the 2005 Greek American Policy
Statements, follows:
Armenia
We support the Armenian American community’s efforts to secure full
recognition, proper commemoration, and a just resolution of the
Armenian Genocide.
In 2005, the 90th anniversary of the Genocide, the Administration
should, for the sake of U.S. interests and American values, finally
bring an end to all forms of U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denial of
this crime against all humanity. The President, in his annual April
24th remarks, should properly recognize the Armenian Genocide as a
clear instance of genocide, as defined by the United Nations Genocide
Convention.
The U.S. Congress should adopt legislation both recognizing the
Armenian Genocide and urging the American people to apply the lessons
of this tragedy to the cause of preventing future genocides.
Finally, Turkey must be pressured to acknowledge its genocidal crime
against the Armenian nation, to come to terms with this chapter in
its history, and, consistent with the Genocide Convention and other
relevant international legal instruments, to make full reparations to
the Armenian people.
We also support efforts to press Turkey to lift its illegal blockade
of Armenia and to end the mistreatment of the Armenian population in
Turkey.
We refer readers to Professor Peter Balakian’s recent book The
Burning Tigris, a remarkable history of the Armenian Genocide by the
Young Turk government in Turkey. Professor Balakian includes the
details of the humanitarian movement of leading American public
citizens and ordinary citizens to save the Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress