Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
Congressmen Radanovich and Schiff, Joined by Armenia Caucus Co-Chairs Knollenberg and Pallone, Introduce Armenian Genocide Resolution
Washington, DC – Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today introduced an Armenian Genocide resolution that would reaffirm the U.S. record on this crime against humanity. Fifty additional Members of Congress have signed on as original co-sponsors to this bipartisan effort to have the United States reaffirm the Armenian Genocide.
The legislation calls upon the President to “ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding” of the “Armenian Genocide” and to “accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide” in the President’s annual message.
“I am proud to once again introduce legislation, that will recall for the benefit of future generations, the first genocide of the 20th century and the extraordinary American response to the attempted destruction of the Armenian people,” said Radanovich, the bill’s lead sponsor. “In this action by the Ottoman Empire and the ultimately ineffective reaction of third parties lie the lessons that could have prevented the genocides that have followed against Jews, Cambodians, Rwandans and so many other peoples.”
Passage of this legislation would reaffirm the U.S. historical record which includes thousands of pages documenting the premeditated extermination of the Armenian people. President George W. Bush himself has carefully set forth the textbook definition of the crime of genocide as it applies to the Armenians in his successive April 24 statements. Nevertheless, the Turkish government is expected to vigorously oppose the resolution by calling upon its hired lobbyists, the Administration and Members of Congress to deny that genocide occurred and to assert irreparable damage to the U.S.-Turkey relationship should Congress adopt the bill.
“On the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide it is high time to recognize the deliberate murder of a million and a half Armenians during the first genocide of the 20th century. Passing a resolution commemorating the genocide will be an important first step in the long process of healing that needs to take place,” said Schiff.
This legislation is similar to the version that nearly passed the House of Representatives in 2000. The previous resolution, which had the support of 143 co-sponsors, and was scheduled for a vote on the House floor was withdrawn at the last minute due to an intervention by President Clinton to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) which prevented a final, affirmative vote.
“Clearly there have been and continue to be sufficient votes in the House to pass this resolution,” said Knollenberg. “I will work with the original co-sponsors, with members of the Armenia Caucus and with the leadership of both parties to secure a concluding vote on this legislative measure. This unique chapter of American and Armenian history must not be forgotten.”
There is a growing trend internationally to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Just since 2000, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden have passed legislation affirming the massacres and expulsion of the Armenian people as genocide.
Additionally, the European Parliament resolved that Turkey must come to terms with its genocidal legacy as part of its European Union accession process. Turkey has responded with bombast internationally and repression at home.
“The government of Turkey does its country and people great damage by threatening nations that acknowledge the truth,” said Pallone. The European Union will not embrace a nation that criminalizes free speech and prosecutes its citizens for challenging official Turkey’s unconscionable denial of the Armenian Genocide. At a minimum, enacting this resolution will effectively end the ongoing campaign of denial.”
As was the case in 2000 when a similar resolution in the House of Representatives was literally minutes from final passage, pan Armenian-American support will be crucial to prevailing during this Congress.
“The Assembly commends the leadership of Congressmen Radanovich and Schiff, and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Knollenberg and Pallone, for spearheading this bi-partisan campaign to once and for all time set the U.S. record straight on the fact of the Armenian Genocide and to uphold America’s credibility and leadership around the world to end the scourge of genocide,” said Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “We anticipate the opposition to be vigorous, and know that the Armenian-American community will rise in a united effort during this the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.”
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.
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Editor’s Note: Attached is the complete list of original sponsors to the
Armenian Genocide resolution introduced today in the House of
Representatives.
1. George Radanovich (R-CA)
2. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
3. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
4. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
5. Robert Andrews (D-NJ)
6. Charles Bass (R-NH)
7. Howard Berman (D-CA)
8. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL)
9. Jeb Bradley (R-NH)
10. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
11. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)
12. Jim Costa (D-CA)
13. Jerry Costello (D-IL)
14. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
15. David Dreier (R-CA)
16. Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
17. Bob Filner (D-CA)
18. Mark Foley (R-FL)
19. Barney Frank (D-MA)
20. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
21. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
22. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
23. Steve Israel (D-NY)
24. Darrell Issa (R-CA)
25. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
26. Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL)
27. James Langevin (D-RI)
28. Sander Levin (D-MI)
29. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
30. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)
31. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
32. James McGovern (D-MA)
33. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA)
34. Michael McNulty (D-NY)
35. Marty Meehan (D-MA)
36. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
37. Candice Miller (R-MI)
38. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
39. Devin Nunes (R-CA)
40. Mike Rogers (R-MI)
41. Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
42. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
43. Edward Royce (R-CA)
44. Jim Saxton (R-NJ)
45. Joe Schwarz (R-MI)
46. E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R-FL)
47. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
48. John Shimkus (R-IL)
49. Christopher Smith (R-NJ)
50. Mark Souder (R-IN)
51. John Sweeney (R-NY)
52. Peter Visclosky (D-IN)
53. Diane Watson (D-CA)
54. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress