Armenian Assembly of America
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Phone: 202-393-3434
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MEDIA ALERT
September 16, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: ckojoian@aaainc.org
Radanovich Praises House Committee for Passing Armenian Genocide
Legislation
9/15/05
WASHINGTON – Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today praised
the House International Relations Committee for passing a resolution
he sponsored reaffirming the United States’ record on the Armenian
Genocide. The resolution was approved by a vote of 40-7.
“The U.S. National Archives is replete with thousands of pages
documenting the premeditated extermination of the Armenian people,”
Congressman Radanovich said. “As the Armenia Genocide was being
committed, the United States launched an unprecedented diplomatic,
political, and humanitarian struggle to end the carnage and protect
the survivors.
“I appreciate the bipartisan support for this resolution, which
properly acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, reaffirms the proud and
groundbreaking chapter in U.S. history to halt the Genocide, and
renews our commitment to preventing other occurrences of man’s
inhumanity to man.”
Congressman Radanovich introduced the legislation, House Resolution
316, with Congressmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Adam Schiff (D-CA). House Resolution 316 has the support of 140
cosponsors.
“Congressman Radanovich has been a tremendously powerful voice for
Armenian Genocide reaffirmation for over 10 years. Armenian Americans
from around the country are grateful for his unwavering resolve to see
the United States Congress reaffirm this crime against humanity,” said
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of
America. “We look forward to building on the Committee’s action and to
working with all members of Congress to secure a full floor vote on
Armenian Genocide legislation at the earliest opportunity.”
“On behalf of the Armenian Assembly of America and the pan-Armenian
community, we commend Congressman Radanovich for his steadfast
leadership and tenacity in championing this critical measure,” said
Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “Throughout his
distinguished career, he has repeatedly fought for U.S. reaffirmation
of this crime against humanity, sponsoring other legislative
initiatives that would properly recognize the attempted annihilation
of the Armenian people as genocide.”
The resolution calls upon the President to ensure that the foreign
policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and
sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic
cleansing, and a genocide documented in the United States record
relating to the Armenian Genocide.
In addition, the bill calls upon the President – in the President’s
annual message commemorating the Armenian Genocide – to accurately
characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1.5 million
Armenians as genocide and to recall the proud history of United States
intervention in opposition to the Armenian Genocide.
Congressman Radanovich said that President George W. Bush has already
set forth the textbook definition of genocide in his successive April
24th commemorative statements the past few years by using the
expressions “annihilation” and “forced exile and murder” to
characterize the decimation of the Armenian population.
The bill is supported by the Armenian National Committee of America,
Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian American Community.
Also approved in the International Relations Committee today was a
bill by Rep. Adam Schiff. H. Con. Res. 195 commemorates the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923, urges the Government of the Republic of Turkey
to acknowledge the culpability of its predecessor state, the Ottoman
Empire, for the Armenian Genocide and engage in rapprochement with the
Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people.
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.
NR#2005-097