Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: anca@anca.org
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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

CHENEY FAILS TO EXPLAIN LETTER RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— Vice President Sidesteps Query from Twenty-two Members of
Congress Regarding Reason for Letter to Genocide Survivor

WASHINGTON, DC – Vice President Dick Cheney has sidestepped a
Congressional request for clarification regarding the reasons behind
his forthright – although apparently mistaken – characterization of
the Armenian Genocide in letter sent this April to survivor Maritza
Ohanessian, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In an April 22nd letter to Mrs. Ohanessian on the occasion of
her 100th birthday, the Vice President had properly described the
Armenian Genocide, a departure from the Administration’s standard
practice of using evasive or euphemistic terminology to downplay the
true historical, legal, and contemporary geopolitical implications of
this crime against humanity. In response to this letter, Congressman
Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and twenty-one of his House colleagues asked
the Vice President if this letter represented a formal shift in the
Administration’s policy. The Vice President’s response, signed by
his Principal Deputy for National Security Affairs John P. Hannah,
simply notes that, “There has been no change in Administration policy
on this issue,” without any articulation of the nature of the policy.

“The Vice President should explain to Mrs. Ohanesian and all Armenian
Americans why he sent this letter recognizing the Armenian Genocide
but cannot now stand behind his words or even offer an explanation
for his reversal,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
“We appreciate Congressman Rothman’s leadership on this issue and
want to thank all those who joined with him in this effort.”

Joining Congressman Rothman as signatories to the June 23rd
Congressional letter were Representatives Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Lois
Capps (D-CA), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Barney Frank
(D-MA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL), Sander
Levin (D-MI), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI),
James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Richard Neal (D-MA),
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff
(D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), John Tierney (D-
MA), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), and Peter Visclosky (D-IN).

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