Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St. NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
PRESIDENT BUSH AGAIN FAILS TO HONOR
PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
“It is truly a sad day when it is left to a lone
diplomat, our Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans,
to honor the forsaken pledge of his President.”
— Aram Hamparian, ANCA
WASHINGTON, DC – Despite the call for moral clarity from over two
hundred U.S. legislators, President Bush failed, once again, to
honor his pledge to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as
a “genocide” in his annual April 24th remarks, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In a statement issued today, on April 24th, the annual day of
remembrance for the Armenian Genocide, the President again resorted
to the use of evasive and euphemistic terminology to obscure the
full moral, historical, and contemporary legal implications of
Turkey’s genocide against the Armenian people between 1915-1923.
In retreating from his promise, the President ignored the counsel
of the one hundred and seventy-eight Representatives and thirty
Senators who had written letters urging him to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide.
“Armenian Americans appreciate President Bush’s willingness to join
with Armenians around the world by speaking out on this solemn
occasion, but – sadly, remain deeply troubled by his failure to
honor his campaign pledge – and his own promise of moral clarity –
by properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide, ” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “It is truly a sad day
when it is left to a lone diplomat, our Ambassador to Armenia, John
Evans, to honor the forsaken pledge of his President – to speak as
the moral conscience of our nation in the face of official White
House complicity in the denial of this crime against all humanity.”
As in the past, the ANCA has also expressed concern that the
Administration’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide
reflects a broader unwillingness to confront genocide – as
evidenced by the White House’s failure to take decisive steps to
bring an end to the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. The
ANCA is working with a broad coalition of organizations to pressure
the Administration to respond in a timely and meaningful way to the
worsening crisis in Darfur. “If we are to end the cycle of
genocide, we must, as a nation, generate the resolve to forcefully
intervene to stop genocide when it takes place, to unequivocally
reject its denial, to hold the guilty accountable, and to secure
for the victims the justice they deserve,” added Hamparian.
In February of 2000, then presidential candidate George W. Bush,
campaigning for votes among Armenian voters in the Michigan
Republican primary, pledged to properly characterize the genocidal
campaign against the Armenian people. In his statements as
President, he has consistently avoided any clear reference to the
Armenian Genocide, and his Administration has consistently opposed
legislation marking this crime against humanity.
The text of the President’s remarks is provided below.
#####
The White House
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Presidential Message
April 24, 2006
Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th
century — the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5
million Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
This was a tragedy for all humanity and one that we and the world
must never forget.
We mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it
remains a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those
who believe in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of
every human life. It is a credit to the human spirit and
generations of Armenians who live in Armenia, America, and around
the globe that they have overcome this suffering and proudly
preserved their centuries-old culture, traditions, and religion.
We praise the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have sought to
examine the historical events of this time with honesty and
sensitivity. The analysis by the International Center for
Transitional Justice, while not the final word, has made a
significant contribution toward deepening our understanding of
these events. We encourage dialogues, including through joint
commissions, that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic
events and move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations.
Today, we look with hope to a bright future for Armenia. Armenia’s
Millennium Challenge Compact reflects our confidence and the
importance we place in Armenia making progress on democratic reform
and advancement of free markets. We seek to help Armenia bolster
its security and deepen its inclusion in the Euro-Atlantic family.
We remain committed to securing a peaceful and lasting settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hope the leaders of Armenia
and Azerbaijan will take bold steps to achieve this goal.
On this solemn day of remembrance, Laura and I express our deepest
condolences to the Armenian people. Our nations stand together,
determined to create a future of peace, prosperity, and freedom for
the citizens of our countries and the world.
GEORGE W. BUSH
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
