Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
March 14, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY WELCOMES SENATE INTRODUCTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
Commends Senators Durbin, Ensign for Spearheading Effort
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America today welcomed the
introduction of an Armenian Genocide resolution in the U.S. Senate that
would reaffirm the facts of this calamitous chapter in human history and
recognize the proud record of U.S. humanitarian intervention. The
legislation was introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Senator Richard
J. Durbin (D-IL) and Senator John Ensign (R-NV), both longtime Armenian
issues supporters who have sponsored similar reaffirmation initiatives
in the past.
"The Armenian Genocide was the Twentieth Century’s first genocide — a
crime against humanity that included murder, deportation, torture, and
slave labor. It is long past time that the United States speak with
clarity on this reality," Durbin said.
"Recognizing the Armenian Genocide takes on added importance in the face
of the genocide occurring now in the Darfur region of Sudan," Durbin
continued. "We must honor those who died in the Armenian Genocide by
recognizing their suffering and by dedicating ourselves to preventing
tragedies in the future."
The following Senators are original cosponsors to the measure: Wayne
Allard (R-CO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Norm Coleman
(R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Russ Feingold
(D-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry
(D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Joseph Lieberman
(ID-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Jack Reed
(D-RI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI), John Sununu (R-NH) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
"The Assembly commends the leadership of Senators Durbin and Ensign for
spearheading this bi-partisan resolution which, once and for all, will
set the U.S. record straight on the fact of the Armenian Genocide," said
Board of Directors Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.
"Sadly, 92 years after the beginning of the Armenian Genocide, the
scourge of this monstrous crime continues to plague the world,"
Hovnanian continued. "Passing up this opportunity to properly
acknowledge this crime against humanity means burying the past and
ignoring the continuing cycle of genocide. It is past time for Congress
to formally acknowledge the atrocities of 1915."
The Senate bill mirrors legislation introduced in the House of
Representatives, known as H. Res. 106. The House version, spearheaded
by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), together with Congressmen Brad
Sherman (D-CA) and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), has over 180 cosponsors to
date.
Senators Durbin and Ensign, both longtime supporters of U.S.
reaffirmation efforts, also spearheaded legislation last Congress to
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. The lawmakers also supported a
resolution to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the U.S.
implementation of the Genocide Convention. The legislation specifically
cited the importance of learning the lessons of the Holocaust as well as
the Armenian Genocide, and the Cambodian and Rwandan genocides in an
effort to prevent the repetition of similar atrocities in the future.
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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