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
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
April 19, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian
Tel: (818) 500-1918

North Dakota Becomes 39th State to Recognize the Armenian Genocide

Bismarck, ND – The Armenian National Committee of America- Western
Region (ANCA-WR) welcomed today a resolution issued by the state North
Dakota’s House and Senate proclaiming April 24 as a day of remembrance
of the Armenian Genocide.

The "Peace Garden State" proclamation makes North Dakota the 39th state
to recognize the Armenian Genocide. North Dakota was quickly followed
by Ohio which became the 40th state to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The full text of the North Dakota proclamation is provided below.

"As North Dakota and Ohio bring the total of states that recognize the
Armenian Genocide to 40 total, the ANCA-WR continues to work to gain
recognition of this crime against humanity by all states across the
country," commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. "It is
important to note that this increase in state-level support is mirrored
by the addition of new cosponsors to H. Res. 106 and S. Res. 106 in the
United States House and Senate," he added.

The proclamation, House Concurrent Resolution NO. 3003 (Representatives
Hanson, Kroeber and Senator Nething), acknowledges Ambassador
Morgenthau’s statement that "whatever crimes the most perverted
instincts in the human mind can devise, and whatever refinement of
persecutions and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive,
became the daily misfortunes of these ‘devoted’ people" and states that
"the killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the systematic
destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and
cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble
civilization with a history of more than 3000 years."

The proclamation additionally states that "it is essential to raise
awareness about the Armenian Genocide not only because it is an
undeniable chapter of world history, but also because learning more
about this unconscionable tragedy will help better understand the
necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities."

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.

###

Sixtieth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota
In Regular Session Commencing Wednesday, January 3, 2007

House Concurrent Resolution NO. 3003
(Representatives Hanson, Kroeber)
(Senator Nething)

A concurrent resolution proclaiming April 24 as a day of remembrance of
the Armenian Genocide.

WHEREAS, 1,500,000 men, women, and children of Armenian descent were
victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and
thereafter; and

WHEREAS, the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry
Morgenthau, Sr., stated, "Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts
of the human mind can devise, and whatever refinement of persecutions
and injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the
daily misfortunes of these ‘devoted people.’"; and

WHEREAS, the killing of the Armenian people was accomplished by the
systematic destruction of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of
art, and cultural monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a
noble civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years; and

WHEREAS, the Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by several
countries and international bodies; and

WHEREAS, each year Armenians throughout the world honor those who
perished from 1915 to 1923, and all the world’s people should
commemorate the Armenian Genocide because it stands as an ugly testament
to man’s inhumanity to man; and

WHEREAS, it is essential to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide
not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but also
because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help better
understand the necessity of eliminating hatred from our own communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NORTH
DAKOTA, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

That April 24 is proclaimed as a day of remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State forward copies of
this resolution to the chairman of the Armenian community of North
Dakota, the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National
Committee, each member of the North Dakota Congressional Delegation, and
the President of the United States.

Signed,

Speaker of the House – Jeff Delzer

Chief Clerk of the House – Buell Reich

President of the Senate – John Dalrymple

Secretary of the Senate – Timothy Wood

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress