Pan Armenian News

SUCCESS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTIONS – RESULT OF US ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
EFFORTS

20.09.2005 03:51

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The success of the Armenian Genocide resolutions at the US
House panel was the result of the great efforts by Armenian National
Committees, Armenian American community and all the Armenian organizations.
Elizabeth Chouldjian, the coordinator of the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA) Washington Office, stated it in an interview with the Azdak
Beirut newspaper. When presenting the two documents, Ms. Chouldjian noted
that the first one urges the US President `to properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide and use that term, which should be reflected in the US
foreign policy.’ She explained that on the eve of the vote, 140 House
members endorsed the Res. 316, and about 85 members endorsed the Res. 195.
She also noted that Armenian organizations throughout the US lobbied for the
resolutions by letters, phone calls and personal meetings with Congress
members. The second resolution urges Turkey to give up its denialist policy
of the crime and start a dialogue to Armenia to decide the issue in a fair
way. Touching upon the latest reports on Turkish Embassy in the US and
Turkish organizations bribing House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) in 2000 in
order for the latter prevent the passage of resolutions favorable for
Armenians, E. Chouldjian said, `There are countries that secretly try to
affect the American legislative process. This makes convincing the society
in not transparency of political processes in America necessary.» `We are
sure that in case resolutions are submitted to the House, these will be
adopted. We will further present our approached to the MPs. We are
optimistic,» she assured, reported the Yerkir newspaper.