Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
April 17, 2007
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO REAFFIRM THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly commends the Co-Chairs of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
and Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), for sending a letter today, urging
President George W. Bush to reaffirm the United States’ record on the
Armenian Genocide in his upcoming April 24th commemorative statement.
Last year in his annual commemorative speech, the President noted that
it was a "tragedy for all humanity and one that we and the world must
never forget," but he has repeatedly failed to use the word genocide
when referencing the tragic killings of 1.5 million Armenians from
1915-1923 by the Ottoman Turks.
In their letter, the Co-Chairs encouraged the President to recognize the
atrocities committed against the Armenian people as genocide stating in
part: "The United States must never allow crimes against humanity to
pass without remembrance and condemnation." In addition the letter
emphasizes the importance of the U.S. commitment to prevent future
occurrences of genocide, reiterating that "it is imperative that we pay
tribute to the memory of others who have suffered and to never forget
the past."
This year, Armenians across the world will commemorate the 92nd
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. On Capitol Hill, Pallone and
Knollenberg, in conjunction with the Armenian Embassy and
Armenian-American organizations, will be spearheading an April 24th
event.
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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Editors Note: Attached is the full text of the Co-Chairs’ letter to
President Bush:
April 17, 2007
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, we are
writing to urge you to join us and the more than 185 cosponsors of H.
Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution, in reaffirming the United
States’ record on the Armenian Genocide in your upcoming April 24th
commemorative Statement.
This date marks the 92nd anniversary of the systematic and deliberate
campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Over the
following eight years, one and a half million Armenians were murdered,
and more than half a million were forced from there homeland into exile.
By properly recognizing the terrible atrocities committed against the
Armenian people as "genocide" in your statement, you will honor the many
Americans who helped launch the unprecedented U.S. diplomatic, political
and humanitarian campaign to end the carnage and protect the survivors.
The U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, acting on
instructions from Secretaries of State William Jennings Bryan and Robert
Lansing, protested the slaughter of the Armenians to the Ottoman
leaders.
The United States must never allow crimes against humanity to pass
without remembrance and condemnation. As U.S. efforts to aid victims of
genocide continue, it is imperative that we pay tribute to the memory of
others who have suffered and to never forget the past. By commemorating
the Armenian Genocide, we renew our commitment to prevent future
atrocities, and therefore negate the dictum that history is condemned to
repeat itself.
We look forward to your April 24th statement.
Sincerely,
Frank Pallone, Jr.
Member of Congress
Joe Knollenberg
Member of Congress