Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
E-mail: ancawr@anca.org
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PRESS RELEASE
April 12, 2007
Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims April 22 – 29, 2007 as
"Days of Remembrance"
to Commemorate Armenian Genocide

Los Angeles, CA – The State of California’s largest Armenian American
public affairs organization, the Armenian National Committee of America
– Western Region (ANCA-WR), is praising a proclamation concerning the
Armenian Genocide released by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on April 6,
2007. The document specifically addresses the continued denial of the
Armenian Genocide which is so deeply offensive to the over 500,000
Armenian Americans who live in the Golden State.

"We are proud to see Governor Schwarzenegger exercise moral leadership
on the Armenian Genocide," commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew
Kzirian. "His statement is appreciated by Armenian Americans in
California and all people of conscience who believe that the denial of
genocide is morally abhorrent. The ANCA-WR will be sharing the
Governor’s proclamation with all 53 Members of California’s
Congressional Delegation in the hope that they will pass, without delay,
the Armenian Genocide resolution pending in the House Foreign Affairs
Committee," added Kzirian.

The statement reads in part, "Documented as the first instance of
genocide in the twentieth century, the Armenian Genocide remains
unacknowledged to this day. I strongly echo the sentiments that all
nations must examine their own painful histories, as the denial of
genocide further wounds a nation’s ability to heal. It is our
responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many innocents
[Armenians], remembering their suffering and vowing to help prevent
future genocides." The proclamation goes on to declare the week of
April 22 through April 29, 2007 as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide."

Governor Schwarzenegger’s proclamation was issued in the midst of a
campaign by the Turkish Government to defeat a resolution (H.Res.106)
pending in the U.S. Congress that would mark the slaughter of 1.5
million Christians as the first genocide of the 20th century. Over 48
of the State of California’s 53 Members of Congress have cosponsored the
Armenian Genocide resolution. San Francisco – Bay Area Congressman Tom
Lantos (D-CA), who serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee and is himself a Holocaust survivor, has not indicated whether
he is supporting the legislation or if he will schedule a vote on the
bill in his committee. Currently, nearly 200 Members of Congress from
over 35 states have cosponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution.

This is the tenth proclamation issued by the Office of the Governor of
California in the past eleven years, and supplements the sixteen
proclamations by the California Assembly and Senate dating back to 1991.
Governor Schwarzenegger has followed in the footsteps of predecessor
Governor Grey Davis in issuing proclamations recognizing and calling for
remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

The full text of the proclamation is included below.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working
in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters
throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the
world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American
community on a broad range of issues.

###

Photo Caption: Governor of the State of California, Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R-CA).

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Proclamation

Between the years 1915 and 1923, during the chaos of World War I, over
one million Armenian men, women and children living within the Ottoman
Empire’s borders were killed; forcing hundreds of thousands of Armenians
to flee to foreign countries after being stripped of their possessions,
their identities and their homeland.

Scores fled to the United States, and California was fortunate to become
home to one of the largest populations of Armenians outside the Republic
of Armenia. Many of California’s Armenian-American families are the
descendants of these courageous genocide survivors, whose hope for a
life independent [of] war and violence was realized on our soil. Like
their family members before them, the Armenian-American community
bravely flourished and contributed much to our state and nation.

Documented as the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century,
the Armenian Genocide remains unacknowledged to this day. I strongly
echo the sentiments that all nations must examine their own painful
histories, as the denial of genocide further wounds a nation’s ability
to heal. Though over ninety years have passed since these mass killings
took place, present day atrocities resonate throughout the world. It is
our responsibility to recognize the brutal slayings of so many
innocents, remembering their suffering and vowing to help prevent future
genocides.

I join California’s Armenian-American communities and all Armenians
worldwide in remembering those who were killed and persecuted during the
Armenian Genocide, and urge people throughout the world to never forget
these horrific crimes against humanity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim the week of April 22nd – April 29th, 2007
as "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have here unto set my hand and caused the Great
Seal of the State of California to be affixed to this 6th day of April
2007.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress