Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
August 21, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ADL RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; REMAINS
OPPOSED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
— Sharp Reversal Comes in Wake of Nation-wide Protests
WASHINGTON, DC – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), under pressure
from a national campaign of protests initiated by the Armenian
National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts, backed nationally by
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), and supported by
leading voices in the Jewish American community, today reversed its
longstanding policy of complicity in Turkey’s denial of the
Armenian Genocide.
In a statement issued today, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman
formally recognized the Armenian Genocide but – in what appeared to
be a gesture intended to appease the Turkish government – voiced
the organization’s continued opposition to legislation before
Congress (H.Res.106 / S.Res.106) marking this crime against
humanity.
"The ANCA welcomes the Anti-Defamation’s League’s decision to
finally end its longstanding complicity in Turkey’s international
denial campaign by properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide. We
remain deeply troubled, however, that elements of its national
leadership seek to prevent the United States from taking this very
same principled step by adopting the Armenian Genocide Resolution
currently before Congress," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "Much work remains, both in bringing the ADL fully to
the right side of this issue and on the broader challenge of
achieving proper U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. But we
are, today, gratified by this step forward, and want to offer our
thanks to all the many Armenians and Jews who cooperated together
on this issue on the basis of our shared values of tolerance, truth
and justice."
The ADL’s actions come in the wake of a growing controversy
stemming from the decision last week by the Watertown,
Massachusetts Town Council to end its association with the ADL’s
"No Place for Hate" program due to the ADL’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide. This decision led to sharp divisions within the ADL,
with Foxman firing New England Regional Director Andrew Tarsy for
his public recognition of the Genocide, a move that precipitated
the resignations of two regional board members.
The ADL National’s heavy-handed response was greeted by a
groundswell of support by the Jewish American community for Tarsy
and for ADL National recognition of the Armenian Genocide and its
reaffirmation by Congress. The Boston Globe reported today that
"Nancy K. Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of Greater Boston, e-mailed a letter yesterday to
some 40 prominent Jewish leaders in Massachusetts, asking them to
support the ousted director [Tarsy] and to recognize the genocide
against Armenians. . . Within hours of sending the letter, Kaufman
said that 11 groups had signed and that more were expected to do so
shortly."
Members of Congress also added their concerns about the ADL’s
Genocide denial and its effects on its credibility as a civil
rights organization. In a statement issued yesterday,
Congressional Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor Adam Schiff
(D-CA) condemned Tarsy’s firing, stating that "this decision does
not reflect well on the organization and compound’s the error of
failing to speak candidly about the past with firing someone who
did." Rep. Schiff compared the move to the State Department’s
decision to fire former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans for
properly characterizing the Armenian Genocide."
Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) stated that "The Armenian Genocide is not an
historic dispute or a rhetorical argument over semantics. The
failure of the international community to deter and, if necessary,
stop genocide by use of force, has only served to embolden those
who seek to do evil. . . As a friend of the ADL, I encourage the
national organization to reconsider its position and recognize the
Armenian Genocide, and I also commend the New England region for
its principled decision on this important issue."
For a full listing of the press coverage this issue has received,
visit:
The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.106), introduced on January
30th by Rep. Adam Schiff and spearheaded by Rep. George Radanovich
(R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-
NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Brad
Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), calls upon the
President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning
issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide
documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian
Genocide. The measure currently has over 220 cosponsors, more
than 50% of the membership of the U.S. House. A similar resolution
in the Senate (S.Res.106), introduced by Assistant Majority Leader
Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) currently has 31
cosponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and
presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY).
The complete text of the Abraham Foxman’s statement is provided
below.
#####
ADL Statement on the Armenian Genocide
New York, NY, August 21, 2007 … Abraham H. Foxman, National
Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today issued the
following statement:
In light of the heated controversy that has surrounded the Turkish-
Armenian issue in recent weeks, and because of our concern for the
unity of the Jewish community at a time of increased threats
against the Jewish people, ADL has decided to revisit the tragedy
that befell the Armenians.
We have never negated but have always described the painful events
of 1915-1918 perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the
Armenians as massacres and atrocities. On reflection, we have come
to share the view of Henry Morgenthau, Sr. that the consequences of
those actions were indeed tantamount to genocide. If the word
genocide had existed then, they would have called it genocide.
I have consulted with my friend and mentor Nobel Laureate Elie
Wiesel and other respected historians who acknowledge this
consensus. I hope that Turkey will understand that it is Turkey’s
friends who urge that nation to confront its past and work to
reconcile with Armenians over this dark chapter in history.
Having said that, we continue to firmly believe that a
Congressional resolution on such matters is a counterproductive
diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and
Armenians and may put at risk the Turkish Jewish community and the
important multilateral relationship between Turkey, Israel and the
United States.
#####